(Inspired by Lori’s PMI session: Volunteers Don’t Come with Warning Labels)
Every workplace has them—challenging personalities who derail meetings, resist change, or stir up conflict.
Most professionals respond by getting defensive, shutting down, or avoiding the person entirely. That doesn’t solve the problem—it just delays it.
Instead, try these quick tools:
- Separate the person from the behavior. Labeling someone as “difficult” locks them into that role. Focus on the behavior, not the personality.
- Stay curious. Ask questions to uncover what’s driving their resistance. Often, pushback is rooted in fear or misunderstanding.
- Lead with calm. The more emotional they get, the more grounded you need to be. Calm is contagious—and powerful.
With the right communication tools, even the most challenging personalities can become productive collaborators.
→ Want to learn more? Check out Lori’s Dealing with Difficult People Training to build confidence and calm under pressure.
Every workplace has challenging personalities—but with the right tools, you can turn conflict into collaboration.