Do you often find yourself in situations where you need to deal with difficult people? It happens. And it’s even worse when they are your co-workers. 

Dealing with a difficult co-worker can be one of the most annoying parts of having a job, but it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to deal with a difficult co-worker, and here are some helpful tips and strategies that you can use on the job.

• Try to understand why they are acting this way: The first step in dealing with a difficult co-worker is to try and understand why they are acting the way that they are. It could be that they are having a bad day, or maybe something has happened recently that is causing them stress. Once you have an understanding of what might be causing their behavior, you can start to come up with a plan to deal with it.
• You can choose to avoid them: If the difficult co-worker is someone that you work closely with, it might be best to try and avoid them as much as possible. This can be tricky if you share an office or are on a team together, but it is essential to do what you can to stay away from conflict. If you absolutely have to talk to them, try to keep the conversation short and polite.
• You can choose to confront them: If the problematic co-worker is someone that you don’t work closely with, then it might be easier to confront them about their behavior. However, this should only be done if you feel comfortable doing so. You could start by asking them how they are doing and see if they want to talk about anything. If they do, then try to keep the conversation light and friendly. 
  • If you are going to address the behavior that makes it difficult for you to work with the person, make sure you have concrete examples that show why you feel the way you do. You want to have specifics so they can see where you are coming from. Additionally, consider bringing a couple of solutions to the table to help improve your relationship.
• Remain respectful: No matter what happens during a conversation or interaction, remain respectful – even if it means walking away. You don’t want things to reach a point of no return.
• Avoid creating additional conflict: The most important part of dealing with a difficult coworker is to avoid creating additional conflict as much as possible. It might be hard to do this when they are doing things that really bother you or affect your work directly, but try and keep yourself calm so that the situation does not get out of hand.
• Seek help from a supervisor: If your relationship with your co-worker has reached a point where you are out of ideas, then seek the help of your supervisor or manager. Ask if they’d be willing to act as an intermediary to improve things at work.

Dealing with difficult people can be a challenge, but it’s important to remember that there are ways to make it work. By using these tips and strategies, you can start to manage the situation better and hopefully get along better with your difficult co-worker. Stay calm, avoid conflict as much as possible, and try not to take things too personally – these are all essential when dealing with someone who is hard to handle.