6 effective approaches when dealing with difficult people at work

When you have difficulty dealing with a colleague at work, throwing in the towel and leaving your job is always tempting, but that isn’t always possible. The best thing you can do is learn effective communication and conflict resolution methods to deal with the situation.

Difficult people may resist feedback, criticism (however constructive) or even your views on the company. Other traits include stubbornness, unwillingness to work as a team, inability to compromise, passive-aggressive, poor listening skills, etc.

The problem is you can’t cut people off when they do this. Simply because what if it was not one but several people? Then you end up working in a workplace that makes you just plain unhappy.

So here are a few things you can do to get around and improve the situation when people at work become hard to deal with:

Ask for a time slot to discuss the issue

Find a suitable time to address some of the issues you are having and ask your colleague or superior to please allocate some time for you so you can put forth what is troubling you. This meeting and discussion aim to help iron out the issues between both of you.

Stay on topic and don’t get carried away with past grouses

Don’t go off tangent when addressing the issues at hand. Show you mean business and keep it professional. Do not bring up the past and use words like always and never, as that tends to escalate things and make the other party hostile and antagonistic. Similarly, never resort to name-calling, no matter how you are provoked.

Don’t share details with your office colleagues

Keep personal information to a minimum as that may encourage even more gossip and drama; however, sometimes some information may be important to divulge to help the other party understand where you are coming from, for example, needing extra days off if you are sick or going in for surgery.

Adopt a listening attitude

Hear what the other person has to say, don’t interrupt and don’t jump in all the time. They may have a good reason for doing what they did.

Compromise

If you just want to win, it is very unlikely that you will get anywhere. Be wise and give in if and when you have to.

Don’t react and call time-out if things are getting too heated

Resume the conversation at another time if things are escalating and the other party cannot have a conversation without being rude or belligerent.

Very often, a toxic co-worker may want a reaction out of you. Don’t play into their hands and get triggered. Stay on course and be indifferent if you have to.

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