How To Handle Difficult People
How to Handle Difficult People – A Tao Perspective
How to deal with difficult people. “To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill.”
— Gichin Funakoshi, father of modern Karate “The Chinese call it Chi; the Japanese, Ki; the Indians Prana – it is the life force, and it is incredibly powerful…it can’t be explained adequately except to those who have already experienced it, but it’s one of the very few willable miracles.”
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 19-time NBA All-Star, describing how he accesses his inner strength Tao, the ancient Chinese concept of “the way,” can be interpreted as harnessing and flowing with your life force (“Chi”) so you experience composure and equanimity within, while projecting supple and effective strength without.
Bottom of Form
Below are five ways you can apply Taoist principles to the handling of difficult people. Keep in mind that these are general rules of thumb, and not all of the tips may apply to your particular situation. Simply utilize what works and leave the rest.
For more in-depth tools on how to effectively handle difficult individuals, download free excerpts of my publications (click on titles) “How to Communicate Effectively and Handle Difficult People” and “Communication Success with Four Personality Types.” 1. Empty Your Cup – Release Negative Emotions and Maintain Composure
"Emptiness the starting point…drop all your preconceived and fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is useful? Because it isempty.”
— Bruce Lee, philosopher and founder of Jeet Kune Do
It's easy to allow a difficult person to upset us and ruin our day. You may feel angry, distressed, and lose your balance within. The first rule in the face of an unreasonable person is to maintain your composure. The less reactive you are, the more you can use your better judgment to handle the challenge.
When you feel angry or upset with someone, before you say something you might later regret, take a deep breath and count slowly to
How to deal with difficult people. “To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill.”
— Gichin Funakoshi, father of modern Karate “The Chinese call it Chi; the Japanese, Ki; the Indians Prana – it is the life force, and it is incredibly powerful…it can’t be explained adequately except to those who have already experienced it, but it’s one of the very few willable miracles.”
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 19-time NBA All-Star, describing how he accesses his inner strength Tao, the ancient Chinese concept of “the way,” can be interpreted as harnessing and flowing with your life force (“Chi”) so you experience composure and equanimity within, while projecting supple and effective strength without.
Bottom of Form
Below are five ways you can apply Taoist principles to the handling of difficult people. Keep in mind that these are general rules of thumb, and not all of the tips may apply to your particular situation. Simply utilize what works and leave the rest.
For more in-depth tools on how to effectively handle difficult individuals, download free excerpts of my publications (click on titles) “How to Communicate Effectively and Handle Difficult People” and “Communication Success with Four Personality Types.” 1. Empty Your Cup – Release Negative Emotions and Maintain Composure
"Emptiness the starting point…drop all your preconceived and fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is useful? Because it isempty.”
— Bruce Lee, philosopher and founder of Jeet Kune Do
It's easy to allow a difficult person to upset us and ruin our day. You may feel angry, distressed, and lose your balance within. The first rule in the face of an unreasonable person is to maintain your composure. The less reactive you are, the more you can use your better judgment to handle the challenge.
When you feel angry or upset with someone, before you say something you might later regret, take a deep breath and count slowly to