How to Deal with Difficult People

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Devon and Robert bring real-world situations into this greater podcast.  They have tried and true tips and advice that has served them for years, and will serve you as well.  In this podcast, they discuss using each of these tips:</span></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Speak Less - When you say less, people tend to think you agree with them.  When you keep my mouth close, people naturally assume you are aligned with them because you have not given them any reason to think otherwise. It takes two people to have a disagreement - when one side believes you think the same as them, there is little space for disagreement.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Compassion - When you hold the other person in mind as another human - someone who needs compassion and love - you are naturally accepting them for who they are, and in turn, you are not in disagreement with them. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your Part - Are you engaging?  Looking for an argument?  Are you trying to provoke the other person?  From time to time, we all want to mix it up.  Check yourself.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leave - Everyone has the ability to walk away.  Unless you are locked up in prison, you have the ability to leave the situation.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ask open-ended questions - This allows you to listen more.  When the other person talks, they feel empowered and heard - granted you are actively listening.  Allow them to give you as much information as possible so that you can extract what is needed.  </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Build rapport - Sometimes difficult people hold power, and it takes building rapport to tap into that power.  Rapport building takes time, a valiant effort showing that one cares, and being thoughtful.  An example is