Executive Coaching for Communicating with Difficult People - Three Important Questions

Are you working in an organization where leaders are good at dealing with problematic behavior in the workplace? Are the leaders in your organization highly emotionally intelligent?

One of the most powerful questions one can ask oneself is “Do I effectively deal with difficult people and intense emotions?” Emotionally intelligent leaders work with difficult interpersonal situations by being transparent and authentic.

Are you adept at managing conflict with people at work? Do you demonstrate styles of leadership that facilitates good interpersonal communication? Are you adept at communicating with difficult people who may display intense emotions?

Three Important Questions

Three major questions will emerge when you start to explore how to deal with difficult people:

1.  How do you respond to specific types of problematic behavior?
2.  What is the impact of your own behaviors and attitudes on others?
3.  How do you communicate effectively in a disciplinary conversation?

It’s a challenge to deal with behavior that’s not criminal, but nonetheless destructive to the company’s operations and culture. You can’t fire someone for complaining or whining. So, what can you do?

Attempt to clarify and understand the causes of problematic behaviors and intense emotions. You may also need to learn more about handling your own and others’ emotions. This enables you to reflect on your own behaviors and attitudes, as well as identify your part in any given situation. You can then articulate your feelings with transparency and authenticity.

Finally, smart managers know how to deliver constructive feedback that helps others grow and improve their performance. They are not afraid to facilitate discussions. Open-door communication prevents problematic behavior from arising in the first place.

Working with a seasoned executive coach trained in emotional intelligence and incorporating leadership assessments such as the Bar-On EQ-i and CPI 260 can help you become a leader who effectively manages interpersonal conflict. You can become a leader who models emotional intelligence, and who inspires people to become happily engaged with the strategy and vision of the company.