There will always be people in your life that seem impossible to deal with. It could be that relative constantly posting nonsense on social media, that coworker who makes you dread coming into the office, or a messy roommate who never cleans up after themselves.
At some point, everyone will have that person in their life that they can’t deal with and yet cannot get away from, either. So, what can you do to deal with someone you can’t stand?
1. Focus on The Problem, Not the Person
Image Credit: Vadymvdrobot via Depositphotos.com.I came across a quote years ago that resonated with me:
“If you are willing to look at another person’s behavior toward you as a reflection of the state of their relationship with themselves rather than a statement about your value as a person, then you will, over a period of time cease to react at all.” ― Yogi Bhajan
In other words, you should start thinking of the conflict as a problem you can solve, not as a person you cannot force to change. Especially if you are in a situation where avoiding them or cutting them out of your life isn’t an option, such as a coworker, neighbor, or family member.
Reframing your thinking this way can help you find more effective solutions and approach the whole situation more objectively and with less emotion. It allows you to view the problem from a different perspective and take a more proactive and constructive approach to overcoming your challenges.
2. Communication Is Key
Image Credit: AlexFedorenko via Depositphotos.People say they like someone who says what’s on their mind but then can suddenly be offended when they hear the person’s views.
Direct communication is important for resolving conflicts, but you should do it in a way that is focused on solving problems rather than attacking the other person. When you’re having a discussion with someone you disagree with, always keep the objective of resolving the issue in mind to avoid allowing communication to boil over into traded insults.
You may solve your problem by speaking directly to the person who is annoying you. For example, tell them, “I am working on part 1 of the project alone,” or “You cannot leave your shoes in the doorway.”
Hopefully, you’ll find the other person is cooperative in reducing the annoying behavior.
3. Find Common Ground
No matter how much people fight, arguments can quickly dissolve when something happens to remind them that they share a common goal. So figure out what each other really wants.
Your coworker may never communicate with you, but you both want to complete the project. Or you argue with your spouse and kids about the household chores, but you all want clean clothes and delicious meals.
Finding the shared goal can shift the focus away from the conflict and towards finding a solution. It can also foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration, which can improve the overall quality of the relationship.
4. Offer Solutions
No one wants to hear you complain. So when you have an issue that needs to be fixed, don’t just whine about it—offer solutions.
When you come up with potential solutions to a problem, you’re taking ownership of the issue and demonstrating a willingness to work towards a resolution.
5. Compromise
Compromising can be a powerful tool to help you move beyond your differences and work together to find a solution that satisfies everyone—at least to some extent.
So figure out what you’re willing to give to get more of what you want, even if you only want that person to leave you alone.
6. Control What You Can
Ideally, both sides will come to some agreement or compromise, but that’s not always possible. If you don’t have that commitment from the other person, you’ll need to set boundaries to cope and protect yourself – especially if it becomes bullying.
A good example would be to set limits on how much time and energy you spend dealing with the conflict or others involved and follow this limit. Don’t let it consume you!
7. Think Long Term
It’s doubtful that you will only have one conflict with a difficult person. Chances are that another disagreement will happen again, or they’ll never let go of this first dispute—especially if you two never resolved it.
When dealing with difficult people, it’s important to remember that their behavior often arises from deeper underlying issues. Individuals hold onto grudges or resentments, so you need a long-term plan.
Finding the answer will require patience and persistence. You may need to adapt your approach and try different strategies until you find one that works.
8. Protect Yourself From Their Negative Influence
Image Credit: HayDmitriy via Depositphotos.How you handle toxic people in your life says a lot about you. So how do you respond to their negativity? Are you resilient and able to handle them gracefully, or do you get pulled down to their level?
If you consistently let them get the best of you, take a step back and reflect on your actions. Perhaps you’re not setting clear boundaries, or you’re not being assertive enough.
By learning from your actions and reactions, you can take steps to improve your responses and become more effective at handling the negative people in your life.
Don’t Let “That Person” Ruin Your Day
Image Credit: Krakenimages.com via Depositphotos.com.Dealing with difficult people is inevitable and can be a challenging experience that tests our patience. However, there are several strategies that we can use to effectively handle dealing with people we can’t stand. Ultimately, we shouldn’t let one person’s negativity ruin our day… or week… or month…
Don’t let difficult people bring you down! With these effective strategies, you can handle anyone, no matter how challenging.
Learn to Get Along
Strong interpersonal skills are just as crucial to your career as technical hard skills and expertise. They help you navigate the day-to-day tasks and challenges you face at work. No one wants to work with someone who is negative and always complaining. And no manager wants to hire or promote someone who is rude, temperamental, or unreliable.
So what exactly are these skills, and how do you improve them?
Learn More: 18 Easy Ways to Learn and Improve Your Interpersonal Skills
Why Failure Is Key to Success
Image Credit: Elnur_ via Depositphotos.com.Failure is often viewed as something negative, a setback that can demotivate and discourage us from pursuing our goals. However, if we embrace failure, it can also be an opportunity for growth.
Learning from your failures and applying those hard-won lessons can pave the way for remarkable achievements and unprecedented success. So, instead of fearing failure, let’s explore ways to turn it into a powerful tool for growth and development.
Read More: Why Successful People Embrace Failure (And You Should Too)
It’s Easy to Forget How Far You’ve Come
It’s so easy to forget about how far you’ve come, especially when there’s still so much further left to go. Where were you at this time last year? What have you accomplished? What are you proud of? What positive habits or changes did you make? What worked for you? And what didn’t?
Read More: You’ve Probably Come A Lot Further Than You Think
Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.