How to deal with people who are very difficult?

Yes, that guy who pushes your button… It is that lady who is always creating problems for you… Your kids who can’t obey any orientation, or your partner who avoid talking about deeper subjects.

World is full of difficult people around you, after all, you are a very easy guy or gal, right?

In the past, we humans used to live in tribes, so we would be surrounded by similar people, following similar instructions and beliefs. Nowadays, as world population is 80% in the cities, this is not happening anymore and so it becomes an interesting challenge.

With the rise of social network, ironically people are becoming less and less social, at least in presence, being able to filter people and to be with those they want. Are we recreating our old tribes?

But for those people who are very difficult and you have to deal with, here are a few tips.

• Develop empathy. Reflect on the other’s life and understand their point of view.
• Cultivate respect and regard. In your heart, start to respect more and more people regardless of what they are.
• Find common grounds. When a problem comes, go to the common ground, subjects you and others agree and love.
• Don’t avoid conflict. Learn how to deal with it in a positive way, with both sides winning.
• If you know their weak spot, avoid it. It is part of the respect towards another person…
• If they know your weak spot, strengthen it. Do a course or go to a coach and fix that as much as possible.
• Create excuses to be with them. That will prevent you to look for refuge in the bat cave.
• Maybe you are the difficult one… If you are too surrounded by difficult people, that is a strong possibility. Reflect and find a friend whom you trust, and ask him or her about it.

This will make your work more productive and your social life much more enjoyable!