Five Ways to Manage Difficult People in the Workplace
Difficult people exist in all walks of life, but what is difficult for one person may not be difficult for someone else; the secret is to keep an open mind and learn a range of techniques to manage difficult people in the workplace, friendship groups, family life, or anywhere that you find them.
Empathize
When someone is difficult in the workplace, they are difficult for a reason. Perhaps they have an issue in the workplace themselves, or they have an issue in their personal lives; they might be going through a divorce or have been kept up all night because of a new arrival in the family.
If someone is rude or mean to you at work, adopt a responsible and empathetic approach to them. Ask them if there is anything going on in the background at the moment, listen to what they have to say, and empathize with them. Soon, their meanness and stress will transform.
Keep your Cool
When someone is mean or difficult in the workplace, our initial reactions can be equally harmful. When we feel a negative emotion stimulated by someone else, we tend to blame them for how we feel and hit back. Often, this is the worst possible response, and it reflects poorly on you too.
It is better to maintain a cool head and keep your integrity when you encounter a difficult person in the workplace. Even if they are correct about what they are saying to you, the way they are telling you may not be acceptable. We can also benefit from bible verses about loving others.
Manage Emotions
When it comes to managing difficult people in the workplace, there are a lot of emotions involved; some of these emotions belong to you, and others belong to the person in question. Either way, you can use the power of mindfulness to manage emotions and resolve situations.
Managing emotions with mindfulness is quite straightforward when you know how it works. Think of mindfulness as the presence or background to all your emotions. When you feel an emotion, place your attention on the presence instead and notice how the feeling resolves.
Include Them
Chances are, someone is difficult for a reason. There might be something happening in their personal life, or they might need some attention or inclusion in the workplace. As a responsible person, you can take the lead in this situation and include them more in the office interactions.
Often, when people get what they need from a situation, they start to become more easygoing and integrated into the workplace. First, however, you will need to find out what the underlying issue is, which will require some conversations. Sometimes, you may never find out what’s up.
Conclusion
There is no way to avoid difficult people in your life, and you might be a difficult person yourself for someone else. The best you can do is to learn empathetic techniques and mindfulness techniques to manage your emotions, pacify situations, and live your life full of your integrity.