HOW TO AVOID CONFLICT AND DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
We would all love to live in a world where we all get on, and without the need for conflict. However, its important to remember that we don’t all want to be the same, so some conflict is necessary. What’s important is how we manage ourselves during a time of conflict. Like it or not, conflict provides us with an opportunity to learn. Learn about ourselves and others, and hopefully from that, grow and develop as individuals.
Research shows that supportive relationships are good for our mental and physical health. However, dealing with difficult people and maintaining on-going negative relationships is actually detrimental to our health. It’s a good idea to diminish or eliminate relationships that are filled with conflict. But what do you do if the person in question is a family member, co-worker, or someone you otherwise can’t easily eliminate from your life?
The following are tips for dealing with difficult people who are in your life, for better or for worse:
– Keep Conversations Neutral. Avoid discussing divisive and personal issues, like religion and politics, or other issues that tend to cause conflict. If the other person tries to engage you in a discussion that will probably become an argument, change the subject or leave the room.
– Accept The Reality of Who They Are. In dealing with difficult people, don’t try to change the other person; you will only get into a power struggle, cause defensiveness, invite criticism, or otherwise make things worse. It also makes you a more difficult person to deal with.
– Know What’s Under Your Control. Change your response to the other person; this is all you have the power to change. For example, don’t feel you need to accept abusive behaviour. You can use assertive communication to draw boundaries when the other person chooses to treat you in an unacceptable way.
– Create Healthier Patterns. Remember that most relationship difficulties are due to a dynamic between two people rather than one person being unilaterally “bad.” Chances are good that you’re repeating the same patterns of interaction over and over; changing your response could get you out of this rut, and responding in a healthy way can improve your chances of a healthier pattern forming. Here’s a list of things to avoid in dealing with conflict. Do you do any of them?
- Avoiding conflict altogether
- Being defensive
- Overgeneralising
- Being right
- ‘Psychoanalyzing’ / Mind reading
- Forgetting to listen
- Playing the blame game
- Trying to ‘win’ the argument
– Also, here are some healthy communication skills to remember.
- Stay focussed on the current issue
- Listen carefully
- Try to see their point of view
- Respond to criticism with empathy
- Own what’s ‘Yours’
- Use ‘I’ messages not ‘You’ messages
- Look for compromise
- Take a time-out
- Don’t give up
- Ask for help if you need it
– See The Best In People. Try to look for the positive aspects of others, especially when dealing with family, and focus on them. (Developing your optimism and reframing skills can help here!) The other person will feel more appreciated, and you will likely enjoy your time together more.
– Remember Who You’re Dealing With. Seeing the best in someone is important; however, don’t pretend the other person’s negative traits don’t exist. Don’t tell your secrets to a gossip, rely on a flake, or look for affection from someone who isn’t able to give it. This is part of accepting them for who they are.
– Get Support Where You Can Find It. Get your needs met from others who are able to meet your needs. Tell your secrets to a trustworthy friend who’s a good listener, or process your feelings through journaling, for example. Rely on people who have proven themselves to be trustworthy and supportive, or find a good therapist if you need one. This will help you and the other person by taking pressure off the relationship and removing a source of conflict.
– Let Go Or Get Space If You Need It. Know when it’s time to distance yourself, and do so. If the other person can’t be around you without antagonizing you, minimizing contact may be key. If they’re continually abusive, it’s best to cut ties and let them know why. Explain what needs to happen if there ever is to be a relationship, and let it go. (If the offending party is a boss or co-worker, you may consider switching jobs.)
TIPS:
- Try not to place blame on yourself or the other person for the negative interactions. It may just be a case of your two personalities fitting poorly.
- Remember that you don’t have to be close with everyone; just being polite goes a long way toward getting along and appropriately dealing with difficult people.
- Work to maintain a sense of humour — difficulties will roll off your back much more easily. Shows like “Modern Family” and books like David Sedaris’ Naked can help you see the humour in dealing with difficult people.
- Be sure to cultivate other more positive relationships in your life to offset the negativity of dealing with difficult people.
So what difficult relationships do you have in your life and how are you, or have you been, managing them? I’d love to hear from you so get in touch.
Either post your comments below, on facebook, twitter or email me at lydia@yourvelvetevolution.com
Thanks for reading and hope this helps you!
Lydia x
www.yourvelvetevolution.com