Handling Difficult People - Develop Rapport

When dealing with difficult people, it helps to build rapport with them. If you can build a bridge to them, there is a greater chance of getting a better outcome. Treating them less like an enemy enables you to perceive them as a human being, with their own challenges. You could also make use of the reciprocity principle. This operates on the premise that if you do something nice for the other person, this increases the likelihood that they will do something good for you.

• Develop rapport and build bridges with the person you find difficult.
• Look for areas of cooperation  find common interests.
• Match their language (if they favor logical language, speak that way; if they are more emotive, communicate accordingly).
• Mirror their body language as a way of building connection.
• Try reciprocity  do something nice for the other person, they might do it for you.