Everyone has interactions with difficult people at work now and then. Numerous articles in our Difficult People archive provide useful tips for handling these challenges.
Have you ever considered, however, that YOU might actually be the difficult person in some of these situations? Take a few moments to honestly assess yourself in response to the following questions:
- Do you often find it hard to be nice to other people at work?
- Do you get angry quickly?
- Do you raise your voice to others?
- Do you take your feelings out on other people?
- Do you argue a lot?
- Do you always blame other people when something goes wrong?
- Do you get defensive when someone corrects you or makes suggestions?
- Do you often think that people are trying to upset or embarrass you?
- Do you spend a lot of time complaining?
- Do you make “drama” out of little things?
- Do you take advantage of other people?
- Do you often offend or upset others because you say whatever is on your mind?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be a difficult person. Knowing this about yourself will help you change. Pay close attention to how you react to people and situations, and try very hard to avoid the behaviors just described. In addition, make it a point to greet people by name, and use eye contact and a friendly smile. This will get your interactions off to a good start.
Also be sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise. If you still find yourself getting easily upset, you might want to learn and practice anger management techniques.
As you work to become a more pleasant person, consider asking a trusted co-worker to provide you with feedback and track your progress. You’re sure to find that your workplace interactions will improve as a result of your efforts!
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