Managing Difficult People with Steps 11 and 12

Managing difficult people is hard work for all of us. We have already considered many of the 12 Steps in Preparation and Planning in Managing Difficult People. We have looked more closely at many of these steps in different posts – Steps 1 to 2; Steps 3 to 4; Steps 5 to 6; Steps 7 to 8 and Steps 9 and 10. Now in this blog post we will now be considering the Steps 11 to 12, the final steps in managing difficult people.

STEP 11 AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING EMPATHY

It is important when dealing with difficult people, no matter how very difficult that you understand that you are dealing with a human being. Human beings are not robots and they are complex, and are not just black and white. Everyone has both their weaknesses and areas that are their strengths. So when managing difficult people it is important to have and show empathy to their feelings. The Collins English Dictionary explains that empathy is “the power of understanding and imaginatively entering into another person’s feelings”. This does not mean the you excuse their attitude or behavior but do have empathy in communicating with such difficult people.

STEP 12 AND THE NEED TO DIG DEEPER THAN THE SURFACE

Managing difficult people requires that you are also prepared to go beyond the tip the iceberg. This means to go below the image people present and the actions that people show on the surface. To go underneath and to try and really understand why a person is behaving in a certain way.

What are the underlying motivations, reasons and feelings that result in how this person behaves towards you and others. When you go deeper you can sometimes understand why a difficult person is like they are. There are no guarantees at all. But always try and see below the surface when working with and managing difficult people.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS

Using and taking on board these 12 steps is the foundation to ensure your success in dealing with difficult people in your personal life and in your working life, managing difficult people.