Difficult People

by Flinkliv · Updated November. 13, 2024

  1. Why do you need to know how to deal with difficult people?
  2. Characteristics of difficult people
  3. Types of difficult people
  4. Examples of dealing with difficult people


Why do you need to know how to deal with difficult people?

We interact with people every day, and some of them, let’s say it, are difficult to handle.
Difficult people’s behaviors have a negative impact on our brains and diminish our quality of life dramatically.
We need to know how to detect, process, and deal with a different types of difficult people to protect our quality of life.

Conversation about difficult people
Conversation between A and B about the importance of dealing with difficult people. B: "We need to know how to deal with difficult people to protect our quality of life." By Flinkliv.com.


Characteristics of difficult people

There are many characteristics of difficult people, here are the most common difficult people characteristics:

  • Lack of empathy
  • Self-centered
  • Pose as victims
  • Whining
  • Good at blaming
  • Expert in gossiping
Conversation about the characteristics of difficult people
Conversation between A and B about common characteristics of difficult people. B lists: Lack of empathy, self-centered, pose as victims, whining, good at blaming, and gossiping. By Flinkliv.com.


Types of difficult people

There are many types of difficult people that we deal with daily at home, work, school, gym, street, etc. Here are the most common types of difficult people:

Difficult People Types
Difficult People Types
Slacker Manipulator Grenade
Whiner Psychopath No person
Maybe person Nothing person Gossiper
Yes man Delegator Naysayer

Examples of dealing with difficult poeple

How to deal with difficult people?

Knowing how to deal with difficult people is a handy skill. There are many tactics to deal with difficult people depending on your relationship with the person and the type of difficulty. However, no matters the situation, keep in mind to always separate the people from their behavior: it is not the person; it is the behavior.

Example of inclusive language

Use inclusive language to influence people positively and bring them.

Conversation about using inclusive language to deal with difficult people.
Conversation between A and B about using inclusive language to improve communication and avoid conflict. A complains about someone being offended. B suggests using inclusive language like, "We are having trouble communicating." By Flinkliv.com.


Example of dealing with the delegator

The delegating or the master delegator keeps burdening their coworkers or team members without considering their workload.

Conversation about dealing with a delegator.
Conversation between A and B about how to deal with a delegator who overloads others with tasks. B suggests showing the boss your task list and asking how to prioritize. By Flinkliv.com.


Gaslighting

Addressing and preventing gaslighting is crucial for maintaining a healthy, productive, and respectful workplace. Consequences of gaslighting:

  • Undermines trust
  • Impacts mental health
  • Distorts reality
  • Reduces productivity
  • Promotes a toxic culture
  • Hinders professional growth
  • Increases turnover
Conversation about gaslighting in the workplace.
Conversation about gaslighting, where one person invalidates the feelings of another. B expresses feeling isolated, and A dismisses it, suggesting they 'man up.' By Flinkliv.com.


Absence due to illness and sick-pay

To prevent burnout and unnecessary sick days, we need to support each other in the workplace. A compassionate environment helps everyone stay healthy, both mentally and physically

Conversation about absence due to illness and sick-pay.
Conversation about sickness and the impact of a toxic work environment. A questions high sickness rates, and B relates it to a bad boss. By Flinkliv.com.


People judge

It is importance of being mindful about how one presents themselves to avoid negative perceptions from others

Conversation about how people judge you depending on what you say.
Conversation about people judging others based on what they say. A complains about feeling foolish, and B advises being mindful of one's presentation. By Flinkliv.com.


Choose your focus wisely

You are what you focus on. By concentrating on positive goals and constructive ideas, you shape a path toward growth and success. Contrarily, dwelling on negative thoughts and worries can lead to stress and hinder your progress. Choose your focus wisely.

Conversation about how what you focus on shapes who you are.
Conversation about the importance of focusing on positive goals. A complains about the world's problems, and B advises focusing on solutions and staying positive. By Flinkliv.com.


Toxic leaders transfer

Transferring toxic leaders instead of addressing their behavior worsens the issue and spreads harm. To ensure a safe workplace, organizations must hold abusive leaders accountable, not move them around.

Conversation about how transferring toxic leaders harms organizations.
Conversation about how transferring toxic leaders instead of addressing their behavior harms organizations. B compares it to playing with a grenade, and A mentions cost-saving. By Flinkliv.com.


Feedback

It is essential to understand the context and culture of the situation. In some settings, a competitive and direct approach may be the norm, while in others, a more collaborative and supportive atmosphere is encouraged. It's crucial to be aware of the expectations and dynamics of the environment where you seek feedback.

Conversation about check the people before asking them for feedback.
Conversation about how one should be mindful of the environment when seeking feedback. B asks for feedback, but A advises against constantly begging for it in competitive environments. By Flinkliv.com.


Office rumors

As whispers travel from one cubicle to another, it's easy to see how rumors can gain traction. Yet, as the old saying goes, "Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots." This adage reminds us to approach such talk cautiously, recognizing that not everything we hear is rooted in truth. Focus instead on fostering a positive and productive work environment

Conversation about the office rumors.
Conversation about how rumors spread in the workplace. B warns against giving attention to office gossip, using a quote about rumors being carried by haters and accepted by fools. By Flinkliv.com.


Example of changing behavior

Sometimes you have to change your mindset and control your feeling to have a piece of mind.

Conversation about changing your behavior to deal with difficult people.
Conversation about changing one's mindset to cope with difficult behavior. A expresses frustration with someone's behavior, and B advises changing mindset and emotional control to avoid stress. By Flinkliv.com.


Roots to a healthier workplace

Organizations often prioritize profit over addressing the root causes of employee burnout, such as unsustainable workloads and toxic work environments, focusing instead on developing coping skills. Despite recognizing the importance of mental health, many fail to create supportive, healthy workplaces, leading to widespread burnout. Solutions exist, like better work-life balance and supportive policies, but require genuine commitment from leadership to implement meaningful change.

Conversation about how to get to the Roots to a healthier workplace.
Conversation about addressing the root causes of employee stress in the workplace. A suggests a stress management course, while B points out the need to fix workload and environmental issues instead. By Flinkliv.com.


Be flexible

"Sometimes, flexibility is better," reinforces the idea that the ability to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances can be more effective and beneficial than always sticking rigidly to set procedures. This highlights the balance between maintaining structure and being open to change, suggesting that flexibility is crucial in both personal and professional contexts.

Conversation about how flexibility is sometimes a good thing.
Conversation about the value of flexibility. B compares strictness to pasta, which becomes flexible in hot water, suggesting that sometimes flexibility is more effective than rigid adherence to rules. By Flinkliv.com.


Stimming

Let's avoid judging how people cope or stim with challenges. Stimming is a diverse world of repetitive movements and helps neurodivergent (people with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia) with self-regulation and coping. From spinning pens to twirling hair, there's no wrong way to stim.

Conversation about how to not judge how people stim.
Conversation about understanding stimming in neurodivergent individuals. B explains that stimming helps with self-regulation, and A learns about its role for people with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. By Flinkliv.com.


Boundaries vs ghosting

Personal boundaries are the limits and rules you set for yourself within relationships. However, ghosting is not setting boundaries, ghosting someone is an unhealthy tool of communication in any relationship.

Conversation about boundaries vs ghosting.
Conversation about personal boundaries versus ghosting in communication. A mentions setting boundaries by not responding, while B advises being open about boundaries instead of ghosting others. By Flinkliv.com.


Life is only as good as your mindset

Conversation about Life is only as good as your mindset.
Conversation about the importance of mindset. B emphasizes the value of having a positive mindset, while A humorously responds that positivity doesn't pay bills, highlighting the need for practical solutions. By Flinkliv.com.


Talk to people not about people

Many problems in the world would disappear if we talked to each other, instead of about each other.

Conversation about talking to people and not about people.
Conversation about resolving issues through direct communication. B suggests that many problems would disappear if people spoke directly to one another instead of talking about others. A asks for thoughts on the idea. By Flinkliv.com.


Corporate transformations

Corporate transformations aren't just top-down. Everyine, and especially middle managers and supervisors can create significant change with the right mindset.

Conversation about how people can impact corporate transformations.
Conversation about the role individuals play in corporate transformations. B asserts that everyone, especially those with the right mindset, can make a difference in corporate change. A humorously reacts to this suggestion. By Flinkliv.com.


Talented employee but no initiative

Employees may not be using their talents to the fullest, and the reasons could be personal challenges, interpersonal issues, and leadership problems. Leadership plays a significant role in employees' performance. Managers can unknowingly hinder talents through micromanagement or unclear objectives.

Conversation about how managers can affect talented people performance.
Conversation about the challenges with talented employees who lack initiative. B suggests that managerial issues such as poor communication and manipulation could be to blame. A focuses on achieving objectives, even if employees don't align. By Flinkliv.com.







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