Jun 19,2017
In every workplace, one needs to face difficult coworkers. The way we handle them can affect our job, our advancement, and even our health.
Here are 8 ideas for dealing with difficult people:
1.Judge and analyze the signals people send: Reading the body language, the eyes and hands of the individual, and analyzing it carefully followed with a proper interpretation helps identifying the intentions of the opposite person position, with less risk of confrontation.
2.Ask questions instead of making statements: Difficult people often have strong opinions. And it’s better to ask questions to point out the person’s fault rather than making statements. This way, one helps the person to recognize the issue in his or her own
3.Ensure Understanding and Communication: effective communication is always important, but not more so when dealing with difficult people because an argument might develop while a communication breakdown. One should always listen and understand carefully and expect the same from the opposite side.
4.Don’t take things personally: At times people are difficult just because of who they are and not because of their particular reaction to a specific individual. In such cases one should always avoid taking their attitude and comments personally, lest it would make dealing with that person only harder.
5.Be assertive: Simply stating reasons and arguments instead of attacking the other person can be a helpful approach to deal with difficult people. Neither being a doormat, nor being as rude as the other person, just sticking to the facts and arguments and being professional.
6.Overcome fear of Confrontation and Conflict: Confronting a coworker is not easy but required if one stand up for rights at work. The confrontation can be regarding sharing credits for work accomplished, coworker habits and approaches that are irritating and sloppy.
7.Team up with Coworkers: Every worker wants to be well known and liked among the people in the company. Building alliances at work is a smart, effective behavior to develop a positive coworker relationship. Such alliances also become important to confront difficult or destructive coworker behavior in the workplace.
8.Develop effective work Relationships: A job, even a career can be ruined by the relationship one develops with their coworkers at work. One cannot succeed unless they learn how to build a positive relationship with their colleagues, however impressive their educational qualification, experiences are.
Dealing with difficult coworkers, bosses, customers, clients, and friends is an art worth perfecting. Dealing with difficult situations at work is challenging, yet rewarding.