9 Tactics for Dealing with Difficult Relationships

Having worked most of my career in the field, I rarely came across difficult people (farmers are heavenly, and I was the only staff!). When I started working in the office, I was shocked to find a colleague who acted in a manner that I last saw while in primary school. It is expected that we all mature at some point, right? Talking to other people, I realized that almost in every office, you find such complicated people. We have all faced that problematic relationship at home, school, or work. Strenuous relationships could bring down your productivity and harbour negative attitudes. The sooner you learn how to deal with annoying people, the better. In my bid to work out toxic relationships, these points have proven golden;

#1 Examine yourself: it is possible to think that the other person is to blame for the toxic relationship while you are to blame. Take an honest evaluation of your relationship. Can you trace where things went sour? What is the reaction of the other colleagues? Are they having difficulties with the same person?

#2 Understand the person: people behave the way they do for a reason. In his The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey narrates how he was irritated by a father who could not control his kids while traveling. Stephen later learned that the man had just lost his wife and could not handle it. While you may not diagnose a persons’s problem from a psychologist’s point of view, simple observations can help. Put on different lenses, walk a mile in their shoes, and see their perspective. Remember, competition, low self-esteem, a feeling of importance, etc., make people hostile.

#3 Do not force relationships: this has worked for me a lot- a friend suggested it to me. Friendship is two-way traffic (you have heard of that one). Keep your relationship professional, and do not be overzealous to make stubborn people like you.

#4 Hold your tongue: unreasonable people will want to trash your efforts and pick up a fight. Resist the urge. Answering them back makes them win, and you could end up saying regrettable things. Bite your tongue, walk away, and ignore the issue completely or address it on a later day when you are sober. Operate above them. This in no way makes you a weak person; sometimes, silence is the biggest weapon.

#5 Ask around: if the person is hostile to other people, there must be an effective in-house way of dealing with the person. You will get to know how other people cope.

#6 Take up the issue with a higher authority: if the harassment is beyond you or is life-threatening, report it.

#7 Maximize their good: it is tough to change people. Instead, accepting them and looking at their brighter side is the much we can do. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses; it depends on what is manifested more. Try to ignore their annoying behaviour and find something good in them.

#8 Confront: most annoying people are cowards. As long as there is someone to trample on, they keep enjoying it. But once you firmly confront them, they show respect.

#9 Pray: in all these, do not forget the one who understands the human condition–God.

Have you dealt with strenuous relationships? What was your approach?