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Handling Difficult People and Situations with Tact

Handling Difficult People and Situations With Tact

As business professionals, we are all bound to run into at least one person or difficult situation throughout our career that seems impossible to deal with. However, often we don’t know how to handle dealing with difficult people or situations without getting upset or even more frustrated. Below are some simple steps to help you get a handle on how to work with difficult people or situations by Tips for Success Org.

Tips for dealing with the difficult people and situations in your life and career:

  1. Make the decision to confront the person directly and by yourself.
     
  2. Write down the exact problem you need to handle and your goal for the confrontation.
     
  3. Write down a Plan or List of Points You Need to Make to Support Your Goal:
    Facts, Reasons and explanations you may need the other person to understand. List the points in order of priority or importance.
     
  4. Write down objections, reactions or disagreements the other person may have.
    Include everything you are afraid might happen during the meeting. Putting specific concerns and fears in writing reduces their impact on you. For each objection, reaction or disagreement you expect will happen, write a solution of how you will deal with each.
     
  5. Organise your notes and gather supportive documents.
     
  6. Arrange the meeting where you will not be disturbed, preferably in a space you control.
     
  7. Start the meeting.
    A. Look the person directly in the eye.
    B. Explain the specific problem you want to resolve as you noted in Step 2.
    C. Go over your first point on the list from Step 3.
    D. Listen carefully to the other person and make certain they feel understood.
    E. Hold a position on your points.
    F. Use your solutions to their reactions as you worked out in Step 4.
    G. Continue describing your points and listening to the person's side.
    H. Do not give up. Communicate and persist for as long as it takes to reach your goal.

Handling and confronting difficult people is never easy, but the more frequently it occurs the easier it becomes. Further, the amount of time it takes to prepare for a confrontation decreases as you become more confident. In addition, remember when you confront and handle everyone around you, people respect you for your courage, your honesty and your self-control. You may also notice that your associates, employees or co-workers follow your example and become more productive. Your enemies either become harmless or become friends. Therefore, by taking positive action to deal with a difficult person or situation, despite fear, is the type of courage all successful people must have to succeed.

For more information on this or other topics related to career advice, contact AgCareers.com atinfo@agcareers.com.

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