Dealing with difficult people is always challenging. So thanks to all those people who sent through their questions via email on handling difficult people and dealing with people in general. Although we won’t be able to cover all those questions people sent through, let’s see how we go throughout this year.
HOW DO I REMAIN COMPOSED WHEN DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE?
Let us start with a question from Leanne, who would like to know… “how do I stay composed when dealing with difficult people?” Great question Leanne!
Here’s some quick ideas for you to consider trying out and implementing when dealing with difficult people who upset you and push your buttons.
REMAINING CALM WITH FRUSTRATING AND ANNOYING PEOPLE
Firstly, remaining calm is very important when you are dealing with people who you find frustrating, annoying and aggravating. When you are calm, cool and collected you are able to remain unemotional and think more clearly. So always strive to remain calm. This is never easy and you do not always achieve this but always make it your aim to try and remain composed. If you have this as your goal you have a much better chance of being able to remain unemotional.
WALK AWAY IN COPING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
Secondly, if you find that someone is upsetting you and you are losing your cool then try this simple yet powerful technique. Remove yourself from the situation. Excuse yourself and walk away for awhile. Your purpose in walking away is to give yourself the space to calm yourself down before handling such a difficult and frustrating person again. Go to the toilet, go for a quick walk around the block – whatever it takes to give you a little space to calm down.
PRACTICE COMMUNICATION IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE
Thirdly, when you need to be assertive in your communication with a difficult person, practice what you want to say before you say it. Practice in the mirror remaining calm and speaking calmly. You do not want to simply be reactive in communicating with difficult people. You want to be clear about what you want to say and how you calmly want to say it.
FOCUS ON YOUR COMMUNICATION CHANGING
Fourthly, be persistent in changing your communication with this difficult person. Do not expect to see immediate changes in their communication pattern. Just be persistent in striving to remain calm. You will have to repeat many times in a calm voice what you want. Continue to walk away every time you need to do so to regain your composure. Then go back again and repeat calmly what you need to say and what you need to see happen.
YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ON DEALING WITH PEOPLE
Leanne, we hope this helps you and others to remain calmer when dealing with these demanding, aggravating and difficult people. Can you relate to Leanne and on remaining calm when handling difficult people? Then you will find our DEALING WITH PEOPLE PACKAGES extremely useful and what you are looking for to help in dealing with difficult people.
Also, make sure to get a copy of our Free Guide by adding your first name and email address and click on ‘get instant access’ to your Dealing with Difficult People Guide.
