6 Simple Ways To Deal With Difficult People

We all have that one friend who gets on our nerves no matter the situation. Even with numerous cocktails to loosen you up, dealing with a difficult person can leave an icky aftertaste in your mouth.

If you’re one of the lucky few who don’t know anyone who fits into that category, then you must have at least had the displeasure of coming across unreasonable people in your life. Whether it’s the cranky car park attendant or the teller at the bank whom you somehow always get stuck with, dealing with unreasonable folks is no walk in the park, especially if you have a short temper.

# Listen well

As tempting as it is to just zone out when you are in the company of a difficult person, this is not a good idea, because for one, it’s not going to stop them from being annoying, and second, it may put you in a tough spot once people realize that you are not following the conversation.

Remember that just because you find someone difficult to deal with, you should not forsake your manners. Listen and respond when it’s appropriate for you to and you will get through the meeting without even breaking a sweat.

# Don’t let them affect you

Whether this person rubs you the wrong way with her bimbo-esque personality or if he’s just rude and loud, you should not let their bad attitude affect you. Sure, it may be difficult to keep a smile plastered on your face when all you want to do is reach across the table and smack them silly, but stay classy with this one.

Don’t let someone beneath you ruin your mood and push you over the edge. Count to ten and breathe deeply. You will be surprised at how effective simple breathing exercises can be at calming you down. In Matty’s case, he simply brushes Andy off as someone just trying to live his life in a different way from his. By not letting Andy’s behavior affect him, Matty is a far happier person than he could ever be if he let Andy bother him.

# Excuse yourself

If things get too much to bear and you feel like you are about to rip your eyebrows off in frustration, politely excuse yourself for a breather. Resist the temptation to flee.

Head to the restroom and splash some water on your face or head outside for a quick smoke. Get your bearings, center your thoughts, still your mind and you will be able to deal with this difficult person soon enough.

# Gently voice your opinion

There is no harm in standing up for what you believe in. For example, if this person is being difficult because he has opposing views on gay marriage and will not let it go, then voice your opinion. There is no harm in engaging in a polite debate so long as tempers don’t flare and things don’t get out of hand.

The thing you have to remember when debating with a difficult person is that they commonly have a competitive need to win. Be gentle and patient with this person when you voice your opinion.

If you feel like the conversation is taking a turn for the worse, find the perfect opening and step back. When dealing with a difficult and negative person, choose your battles wisely. Think about whether getting even angrier with this person is worth your time and effort.

# Stay cool

Although staying cool as a cucumber is hard to do when in the presence of a foul mouthed beast, you have to stay strong. There is a high chance that a difficult person will take great pleasure in seeing you in an uncomfortable position.

Not just that, an unreasonable person will likely twist things around to make you out to be the bad guy, if an argument gets under way. Do not kowtow to the pressure of engaging this person in a fight. Keep your cool and use your head, not emotions.

# Do not burst

This is very closely linked to the point made above. If you’re able to stay cool and calm, you will very likely not burst out in a torrent of cuss words directed at this unreasonable person. Don’t let them bask in the power that they have over you.

Once you refuse to lose your temper, they will realize that no matter how much they goad you into a fight, they will not win. Difficult people have a bizarre sixth sense within them that lets them know how far they can push someone. If you take away their hold over you, they will lose interest soon enough.