Dealing with Difficult People Cards: Managing Difficult People Who Are Negative Norms
Grab yourself a pack of playing cards – we’re going to start dealing. Well not actually dealing cards, we are going to start dealing difficult people. In your life you deal with all sorts of people and sometimes you pick a card and find yourself dealing with a difficult person.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE PACK OF CARDS
One type of person in the Dealing with Difficult People Pack of Cards that you will come across is the Negative Norm. We’ve all met such draining, hurtful, disagreeable and disparaging people. It is worth keeping them out of your house. If there is a dark cloud to be found, then they will find it. Turn your back for a moment and they are able to drown optimism in a huge pile of pessimism. These people are able to oppose and resist any glimmer of possible hope. With these people there is no such thing as a silver lining. They believe it is all a house of cards ready to fall down at any moment. They are rarely into building but are certainly into tearing down.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE AT WORK AND HOME
But how can you be sure that someone is a Negative Norm? That was the question sent in by Sandra: “I feel I’m dealing with difficult people at work who are very negative. There are two people in particular that always seem to have a negative outlook. But I’m not sure if I’m just over-reacting and they are not as negative as I think. How do I know?”
DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND THE NEGATIVITY TEST
Great question Sandra! Often we can over-react in handling difficult people and interpret their behavior consistently in a certain way. But here’s a very simple test to confirm whether you are dealing with difficult people who are very negative.
LISTEN TO THE WORDS PEOPLE USE
This negativity test involves listening to the words, the language that these people use. When someone is particularly negative, their negative thoughts are reflected in very negative language. Listen carefully to these difficult people in casual conversation with others. Do you hear a majority of negative words or positive words?
COPING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE WORD LIST
When dealing with difficult people at work or in your personal life, you will come across those who wallow in negativity. Here are so many negative words that you may well hear from these Negative Norms:
> Anxious
> Hard
> Concerned
> Disappointed
> Upset
> Let Down
> Unable
> Uneasy
> Distressed
> Worried
> Gloomy
> Undoable
> Uncooperative
> Impossible
> Troubled
> Offended
> Uneasy
> Unlikely
> Problematic
> Difficult
> Failure
But be warned! For the truly Negative Norms these words are just the beginning.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE NEGATIVE WORDS
So Sandra, add them up! Are the majority of words used by these people negative or positive? The more negative the language used the more certain you are dealing with difficult people who are Negative Norms.
HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NEGATIVE
When playing with the Dealing with Difficult People Pack of Cards be prepared for Negative Norms. And in a further article we’ll discuss some strategies in coping and dealing with these difficult people in your life.
MORE IDEAS ON MANAGING DIFFICULT PEOPLE
Would you like even more ideas on handling difficult people? Then I invite you to download a complimentary copy of the Dealing with Difficult People Guide by signing up right now.
© Dr Judy Esmond. This article may be shared with others on the understanding that it remains intact and credit is given to the author and included is the website link http://dealingwithdifficultpeople.com
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