How to Deal with Difficult People at Work, at Home & at Play: The book on effective ways of coping & managing difficult people daily, whether bosses, employees business customers, friends & family

Introduction

There's no doubt that dealing with difficult people can be tough, whether they are coworkers who raise their voices constantly, family members who are hard to please, or customers who are always demanding. However, there are ways to deal with difficult people effectively; walking away from them quietly is an obvious remedy. It's simple to distance yourself from an unpleasant colleague or hang up on an annoying sales phone call, but backing away from your parents, siblings, partners, or friends is more difficult.

Recognizing how and why other people can be so difficult is a different yet practical approach to coping with them. It will become clear to you that hard habits follow a cycle. We'll dig deeper into these behavioral patterns in this book. We'll also consider the numerous ways you might cope with difficult individuals and provide insight into why they behave the way they do.

In that case, how can you turn such a negative point into a positive one?

When dealing with conflict, your feelings and attitude are crucial, as is your ability to remain fair while telling the truth to a difficult person. It is therefore important to learn assertiveness and how to handle conflict fairly, to avoid damaging relationships.

When dealing with difficult people regularly, it's important to remember that every story has two sides. Rather than getting swept up in their negative attitude, try to understand why they're acting that way. Turning a difficult situation into a positive one is possible if you take the time to understand their perspective and behavior.

Difficult Behaviors

Some people know exactly how to be difficult. They’ve mastered it! Let's examine these behavioral patterns in more detail.

Openly aggressive and hostile behavior

This is the most difficult type of behavior. Openly hostile people may disrupt and talk over you. They might be feeling impatient, frustrated, or simply mad. People who behave hostile want to ensure that things go according to their wishes.

In general, hostile people won't treat you well. They may even try to make your life miserable. They are also extremely hard to deal with because they are determined to get their way. They have strong personalities but usually don't have good manners and will not be afraid to act aggressively. When you are in a situation where you feel threatened, you should leave immediately. Although you may be able to reason with the person, it is best to avoid conflict at all costs.

Disguised hostility: passive-aggressive behavior

You might become distressed and upset, but how can you be sure if they’re doing something, or you’re just imagining it? Passive-aggressive habits can be among the most difficult behaviors to handle. The individual may appear passive, but in reality, they express their displeasure indirectly because they often have difficulty expressing their true feelings. They may not be able to express what they think and feel or may not be able to admit that they were wrong or made a mistake. An example of passive-aggressive behavior might be someone pretending to be happy to see you while secretly angry and making snide remarks. The behavior is so subtle that it is easy to miss, and the person may not even realize that they are engaging in it.

Verbal passive-aggressive behavior

People with this type of behavior might use sarcasm or indirect insults like joking and teasing. When someone does this, it can be difficult to tell if they are being truthful or not. You may or may not know if they are being sarcastic or trying to be witty. The person may not answer the question directly or reply vaguely. In other words, verbal passive-aggressive people have a hidden agenda, but they are unable to express it directly. In situations where the person's feelings are hurt, they may say things like I'm only kidding or You're overreacting.

Passive behavior

It is when people do not share their real thoughts, feelings, or needs. Rather than articulating their opinions, they wait for others to speak first and