Description
HDP1013 – Handling Difficult People (1 Day)
Overview
Handling Difficult People is a practical one-day programme designed to equip participants with the skills, confidence, and strategies needed to manage challenging behaviours in the workplace effectively.
Difficult individuals—whether colleagues, team members, managers, or external stakeholders—can create tense situations that impact productivity, morale, and working relationships. This programme focuses on developing strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, and conflict management techniques to help participants navigate difficult interactions professionally. By learning how to understand underlying behaviours, manage emotions, and respond constructively, participants will be able to turn challenging situations into opportunities for collaboration and improved relationships.
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- 1431 students
This program can be tailored to your specific business needs.
A little bit of personalization goes a long way. Ask us for a no-obligation Training Needs Analysis (TNA) so we can tailor this, or any other CSG program to meet your learning outcomes.
Objectives
Objectives At the end of the training, participants would be able to:
- Identify common reasons and triggers behind difficult behaviour
- Understand techniques for managing challenging individuals effectively
- Build better workplace relationships by handling tough situations with confidence and professionalism
- Apply practical communication strategies to de-escalate conflict
- Turn difficult interactions into opportunities for improved collaboration and understanding
Duration
Duration 1 Day
Target Audience
Target Audience - Employees at all levels
- Team Leaders and Supervisors
- Managers and Department Heads
- Customer-facing professionals
- HR and People Managers
- Individuals who frequently deal with challenging behaviours at work
Modules:
Module 1: Understanding Difficult People
- Identifying different types of difficult individuals
- Understanding triggers and causes of challenging behaviour
- Recognizing the impact of unresolved conflict in the workplace
- Shifting perspectives to view conflict as an opportunity for growth
Module 2: Getting to the Root Cause
- Identifying communication styles and personality differences
- Managing different behaviours and challenging personalities
- Developing self-awareness of personal communication styles
- Building rapport to create trust and defuse tension
- Using effective questioning techniques to gather facts and gain clarity
Module 3: Managing Interactions Effectively
- Choosing positive and professional language
- Avoiding words and phrases that escalate conflict
- Understanding non-verbal communication: tone, body language, and intent
- Techniques to calm challenging individuals
- Strategies for handling criticism, fear, and embarrassment during conflict
Module 4: Managing Difficult and Angry Behaviour
- Techniques for handling frustration, anger, and hostility
- Conveying tough messages tactfully using the 3R’s: Regret, Reason, Remedy
- Expressing empathy using the 3F’s: Feel, Felt, Found
- Managing emotions and diffusing tension using the 3A’s: Acknowledge, Apologize, Action
- Maintaining control and professionalism in high-pressure situations