12 most productive ways to charm difficult people

Theodore Roosevelt said, “The single most important ingredient of success is knowing how to get along with people.” He never met that annoying guy in accounting you have to deal with every week, did he? And he certainly didn’t have your in-laws…

Funny thing, it seems that even the folks we find particularly difficult to deal with have friends, spouses, and social lives. So it’s clear that someone is able to get along with them. Why not us?

By putting in just a little effort up front, dealing with the difficult people in your life can become a lot easier. Here’s how:

1. Identify their difficult-ness

Just what is it about them that you find so “difficult?” Think back to the original situation when you officially classified them as such. Make sure that your assessment is the result of a pattern of demonstrated behavior, and not the result of a single interaction upon which you’ve been focusing. Once you’re sure there’s a pattern, come up with a few examples.

2. Think about their overall goals