Dealing with Emotionally Difficult People at Work

Getting started for the day, you appear at work in one of your best moods, only to have the moods shattered in an instant by ominous demeanour portrayed by one of your co-workers? Relax. Chances are, you are not alone.

Along your career journey, there will be a time when you have to deal with toxic people who always exacerbate the situation. In order to stay unaffected by their negative impacts, you need to prepare an effective strategy to deal with emotionally difficult people.

Given the fact that human beings are social creatures, we are required to constantly cross pathways with people of different types, characters, and backgrounds, including those at the workplace. The problem is, you cannot choose with whom you can build relationships and work together.

Now, you might be lucky enough at times to find pleasant and inspiring co-workers. However, during other times, you can also end up meeting toxic people who are difficult to understand and do not allow getting your job done on time.

Be it excessive anger, resistance to change, or uncontrollable sentiments, dealing with emotionally difficult people is undeniably not a comfortable circumstance. However, the truth is, everything depends on how you respond. If you have high self-esteem and self-confidence, then you will not be bothered much with such attitudes.

Research shows that 90 percent top performers at work belong to those who have high emotional intelligence. Further, it is explained that emotional intelligence is the most important factor determining an individual’s success in their work performance, with 58 percent employees’ success being affected by the lack of it.

Since you cannot avoid toxic people nor allow problems to be left unaddressed, the best way is to confront them and resolve the issue once and for all. If you need some help, here are some best ways to deal with emotionally difficult people at work:

Control your own emotions

Sometimes, getting in touch with toxic people will drain you off your energies and emotions. Hence, even during the most heated moments at work, it is important to always stay in control of your emotions and not get carried away.

When they start acting up, give them a reasonable response and do not let yourself get sucked into the chaos. If you get a negative remark or discouraging comments from difficult people, do not take it personally.

Observe their behaviour

Difficult people usually display certain pattern of behaviour during certain times. For example, when they are not appointed as team leader for a project, they tend to blame others and play victim such that they gain sympathy considerations.

Do not be deceived by such behaviours, you must observe how difficult people respond to a particular situation at work. This would help you plan your appropriate response to stop the attitude.

Focus on solutions

Toxic people often exaggerate trivial issues. Rather than paying close attention to the problems posed by them, and ending up stressing yourself, it will be better if you could focus on the solution to improve the whole situation.

Stay happy

Difficult people have a tendency to always look at everything, even the most favourable terms, through darker lenses. If you do not want to be a part of them, start choosing happiness in everything you do. Do not let others define your happiness and limit your joy.

When you have done your best and others still complain, close your eyes to their words and focus on yourself.

Disconnect

If you feel you are no longer able to handle emotionally difficult people, then you should close this negative circle by disconnecting with them. Constantly exposed to their pessimism will make you easily dragged into the field of negativity. So, if you are no longer able to keep your objectivity towards certain issues, it is time to distance yourself from toxic people at work.

The main problem with emotionally difficult people is that, sometimes they are unaware of their bad behaviours and how it affects the team. Therefore, if you want to succeed at work, you have to master the art of handling toxic people. Keep yourself surrounded with inspiring people who make you feel thrilled, experience joy at work and grow better.

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