Dealing with Difficult People

Conflict occurs in any negotiation. Too often, people feel cornered, which reduces their ability to respond thoughtfully and effectively. The difficulties stem from various issues and the best strategy to deal with it is to be prepared, mindful and informed which leads to be able to stand up for yourself, get the results you want and decrease the negative impact and effect of conflict.

Here are a few suggestions on how to start your process of self-empowerement:
1. Increase your personal awareness: Pay attention to thoughts and emotions, try to verbalize them, start to know yourself;
2. Keep your eyes on the prize: Be clear about your goals. Sometimes, the initial goal cannot be reached without further compromises but the long-term goal might be reachable under any circumstance;
3. See yourself as difficult!

There are a few choices on how to deal with difficult tactics:
1. Discuss it: There is sometimes a power in naming a difficult tactic to the other perrson that can often stop the behavior. Share your feelings with being loaded or use inflamatory language. Focus on the impact of the behavior. Rather than impugning the other party's intent, ask them to share why they did what they did.
2. Ignore it: The conflict style of avoidance or even accommodation can be useful when it's done well- Remember that you only control your own actions and no one else's. Be mindful about the fact that this strategy only works well if you have a strong and well-prepared BATNA
3. Deal with the issue later
4. Leave - but clearly explain your intent
5. Play the game
6. Use appropriate humor- humor is a powerful strategy that can build energy and movement in a stalemate.