Elegantly Dealing with Difficult People
In life, we all encounter people who challenge our patience, are rude or intentionally seek to offend us. While it can be tempting to react, there’s power in handling difficult situations with grace and calm. Elegance in difficult conversations can make a lasting impression—not only on others but also on ourselves. Here are three tips to keep in mind:
Stay Calm and Centered: When faced with negativity, take a deep breath before responding. Ground yourself, maintain eye contact, and don’t let emotions drive your reaction. Staying calm disarms tension and often prevents a situation from escalating.
Listen with Empathy: Often, difficult people are dealing with unseen struggles. By listening attentively, you might uncover reasons behind their behavior. Approach the conversation with empathy, asking questions to show that you’re genuinely interested in understanding their point of view.
Have Prepared Responses: Taking a cue from media training, if you know someone will make rude inquiries or statements, prepare a classy response in advance. For example, a relative is known to make comments about the cost of your handbag in comparison to your contribution to a family meal. You may respond with something like “It’s nice to know you recognize quality and good taste when you see it.” You can leave it there or if you feel the need to turn the table with ‘classy shade” you might add, “I’m sure you agree good taste goes beyond a mere handbag and applies to conversation as well.”
Or perhaps you are cornered by someone you don’t necessarily care for. The graceful behavior would be to look past your dislikes and focus on their positive qualities. Be kind and patient, giving your best effort to treat them as you would want them to treat you.
The point here is to anticipate these situations and have a plan as to how you will respond or act.
Set Boundaries Politely: It’s essential to set boundaries without being confrontational. Kindly but firmly let the person know what’s acceptable. You can express this with phrases like, “I value our conversation, but let’s keep it respectful.” Setting boundaries shows you’re willing to engage, but only in a healthy, respectful way.
Grace under pressure isn’t easy, but with practice, it can become second nature. Handling conflict with elegance not only preserves your peace but often inspires those around you to do the same.
I will have a video out later this week that breaks down the touchpoints mentioned above.
Head over to my YouTube video Dealing With Difficult People where give you media training tips to handle such situations.
The advice of a trusted and knowledgeable friend is always helpful when you’re unsure. I am here to help. Click the link below to book your coaching or training today.
