How to Deal With Difficult People in the Workplace With Hypnotherapy

When someone’s behaviour makes it difficult for you to do your job, carry out your everyday duties, or maintain a healthy relationship with them, they can be defined as “difficult.” Ranging from the words they say to their inability to work effectively with others, difficult people can drain you mentally, physically, and emotionally.

While a better understanding of the root of their behaviour doesn’t erase your frustration, it can help you with techniques to deal with difficult people. We look at common reasons for difficult behaviour, how you can remain calm and composed amid a challenging situation, and how you can deal with conflicts in the workplace and with your family.

Understanding Difficult Behavior

When a person makes life more stressful for you, it can be challenging to have empathy for them or try to understand their point of view. But knowing the background story can give you effective tools for coping.

Reasons for Difficult Behavior

A person can become irritable, aggressive, intolerant, and noncommunicative for several both internal and external reasons, including:

• Excessive stress. Whether it’s from work or family obligations, stress can cause people to exhibit difficult behaviours. They may become anxious and hard to deal with, moody, short-tempered, or critical. 1

• Personality issues. People with strong personalities tend to butt heads. That can be even more apparent when the two people disagree, and each wants their way.

• Triggering events. People who experienced verbal abuse or trauma may immediately lash out if they think that type of behaviour is being directed toward them. Triggers can also cause childhood trauma to resurface.

• Unresolved conflicts. A tense issue that hasn’t been dealt with is the constant elephant in the room. And the tension can bring irritability and frustration with it.

• Communication issues. Misunderstandings, and the inability or lack of effort to communicate clearly, lead to difficult behaviour, especially if someone feels slighted.

• Personal issues. Relationship problems, financial problems, sickness, mental health issues, and any number of personal concerns can seep into behaviour at work and with others.

Maintaining Calm and Composure

If someone is yelling at you, being rude, or even threatening, it’s hard to remain calm. But staying level-headed can be the key to keeping a difficult situation from escalating.

You can also take steps to regulate your own behaviour by taking deep, calming breaths, practicing focused mindfulness, or even taking a break from the situation by removing yourself and coming back to the conversation later. Being aware of your own triggers and coping mechanisms, and harnessing your ability to stay calm, can be the key to a more successful outcome.

“Self-awareness and self-regulation are critical skills for managing problematic behaviour. You can stay calm and composed in challenging situations by recognizing your triggers and learning to regulate your emotions,” Bowman notes.

Communicating in an understanding, compassionate way also helps.

“The way you communicate with [difficulty] is imperative as well. To avoid conflict and avoid potentially losing a relationship, I try to understand their emotions and perspectives, which is, again, demonstrating empathy. Also, use the 'I' statement. Using the 'I' statement avoids accusing or blaming a person but expresses how their feelings affect you,

Effective Communication Strategies

When you are face-to-face with someone who is being difficult, your first instinct may be to respond in anger or frustration. However, research shows that practising empathy can help foster a sense of connection. Although it takes work when you actively listen to someone and try to understand what they are going through, it can help to de-escalate the situation.

At the same time, offering a listening ear doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be mistreated. You can also effectively communicate by being assertive and letting the other person know what type of behaviour you expect. Helping them to understand what you will and will not tolerate in the workplace, in the family dynamic, or a relationship can create the boundaries that you need.

“Be clear about your boundaries and communicate them assertively. Don't let problematic behaviour cross your boundaries

Dealing With Difficult People in Specific Situations

The strategy you use to deal with an uncooperative coworker can differ from how you’d handle a rude, critical family member. And both of those methods can change when you’re dealing with a difficult friend.

With workplace challenges, understanding why a person is being difficult can help with the approach to handling them. A whopping 83% of people say they suffer from work-related stress. Do they feel like their job is threatened by you or another coworker? Do they have a long commute or stressful meetings once they arrive at work? No matter the root cause for the behaviour, experts say the key thing is not to take it personally.

“When dealing with difficult behaviour, remember that their behaviour says a lot about their character, not yours. Don't engage. When possible. If you have to engage the person, do it only one out of three times [that] they are provocative,” Let your manager know that you are constantly being challenged by your co-worker’s difficult behaviours and ask them to intervene.”

“Dealing with difficult people can be challenging, but by protecting your mental health and practising effective communication and self-care strategies, you can navigate challenging situations with resilience and grace. Remember to prioritize your well-being, set boundaries, seek support, and stay centred, and you'll be better equipped to handle difficult behaviour healthily and productively