From the course: Working with Difficult People

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Preventing difficult behavior

Preventing difficult behavior

If there's one thing I know to be true about life, it's that problems are almost always easier to prevent than they are to fix. So let's talk about how to take a more proactive approach when it comes to difficult behavior. So much of people's difficult behavior is just a symptom or result of underlying interpersonal dynamic issues. By addressing those head-on, or even better by investing in your relationships before there are problems, you will save yourself a lot of time and frustration. Here are a few strategies to get ahead of things. Firstly, do your own self-work. The more self-aware, empathetic, and thoughtful you are about your own behaviors, the more you'll invite healthy behaviors toward you. When you notice yourself feeling critical of someone or their behavior, reflect inward first to make sure you're owning your contribution to the dynamic. Next, invest in building some trust and rapport with the people you work with. Get to know them personally and show genuine interest…

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