Day in, day out, people come into my office seeking insight into how to manage difficult people in their lives. Whether it’s a boss, family member, ex-partner, or co-parent, we all have difficult people in our lives. Bill Eddy, an international expert on managing high-conflict disputes, recently published an article that clearly explains common mistakes used when dealing with difficult people. What is so interesting about these common mistakes, is that they are often used as an attempt to improve difficult relationships or to help these people. Well, stop now. These are his 4 top mistakes:
- Trying to give them insight into their own behavior
- Focusing on the past
- Having emotional confrontations
- Telling them they have a personality disorder(or high-conflict personality)
Nicole Stover, LCSW 