Dealing With Difficult Behaviours

Dealing With Difficult Behaviours

You know that person at work. The one who seems to challenge everything, interrupts meetings, or just makes every interaction feel like walking on eggshells. Maybe they're passive-aggressive, openly hostile, or they monopolise conversations. If you're in a leadership role or just trying to get your job done without the drama, you've probably wondered how to handle these situations without losing your mind or making things worse.

I've been training managers and teams for over fifteen years, and I can tell you that difficult behaviours aren't going anywhere. But here's the thing - most of these behaviours stem from something deeper, and once you understand what's driving them, you can actually turn these challenging interactions into productive ones. This isn't about becoming a workplace therapist or changing people's personalities. It's about giving you practical tools that work in real situations with real people.

During this session, we'll dig into the most common difficult behaviours you'll encounter - the chronic complainer who sucks the energy out of every team meeting, the know-it-all who dismisses everyone else's ideas, the person who agrees to everything but delivers nothing, and the colleague who seems to take everything personally. We'll look at specific strategies for each type, because what works with someone who's argumentative definitely won't work with someone who's withdrawn.

You'll learn how to set boundaries that actually stick, de-escalate tense situations before they blow up, and have those tough conversations without creating enemies. We'll practice with scenarios you'll recognise - like dealing with someone who constantly interrupts during presentations, handling team members who refuse to collaborate, or managing someone whose mood swings affect the entire department. No role-playing exercises that feel awkward and fake - just straightforward techniques you can use immediately.

What You'll Learn

How to identify the root causes behind common difficult behaviours instead of just reacting to symptoms. You'll understand why some people become defensive, why others withdraw, and why certain colleagues seem to thrive on conflict. We'll cover the difference between dealing with difficult behaviours that are situational versus those that are more entrenched patterns.

Specific conversation frameworks for addressing problems directly but diplomatically. You'll get scripts and phrases that work, along with body language and tone tips that help these conversations go smoothly. We'll cover how to document these interactions properly and when to involve HR or senior management.

Strategies for protecting your own emotional energy and maintaining professional relationships even when others are being unreasonable. This includes setting personal boundaries, recognising when you're being manipulated, and avoiding the trap of trying to fix everyone else's problems.

How to create team agreements and cultural norms that reduce difficult behaviours before they start. You'll learn how to run team meetings that keep discussions productive, implement feedback systems that work, and build accountability without micromanaging.

When and how to escalate issues appropriately, including what documentation you need and how to present problems to leadership in a way that gets results rather than just complaints.

The Bottom Line

This training isn't about transforming difficult people into model employees - that's not realistic and it's not your job. It's about giving you the confidence and skills to handle challenging workplace interactions professionally and effectively. You'll leave with practical tools you can use immediately, whether you're dealing with a difficult colleague, managing a challenging team member, or just want to feel more prepared for whatever personality conflicts come your way.

Most importantly, you'll discover that handling difficult behaviours isn't about avoiding conflict entirely - it's about engaging with it constructively. When you know how to address these situations early and directly, you prevent small issues from becoming major problems that drag down entire teams. The result is better working relationships, less stress, and more time spent on actual work instead of handling office politics and interpersonal drama.

Location: Geelong