Conflict: Dealing with Difficult People

Conflict: Dealing with Difficult People

Course Overview:

These butterflies are getting on delightfully with this crocodile, a scenario we would like with all people we encounter.  However, dealing with difficult people is a universal frustration that everyone will experience in their lifetime. Despite your best efforts, difficult people will cross paths with you, and when they do, you’ll be glad you took this course.

There are a wide array of people we encounter who seem inconsiderate, stubborn, indecent, unhappy or passive-aggressive. To those we meet, we may appear that way to them. This course will teach you how to draw success from an understanding of how we behave as human beings, and how we can influence others.

You will learn how to recognise how your own attitudes and actions impact others; effective techniques for dealing with difficult people; strategies for dealing with anger; and how to cope with the difficult people and situations that we will inevitably encounter in our everyday lives.

Course Outline:

Session One: Course Overview

 Session Two: Conflict as Communication

  1. Defining Conflict
  2. Self-Assessment

Session Three: Benefits of Confrontation

Session Four: Preventing Problems

Session Five: Getting Focused

  1. Getting to the Heart of the Matter
  2. The Three F’s

Session Six: Managing Anger

  1. Coping Strategies
  2. Guidelines for Assertive Anger

Session Seven: Dealing with Problems

  1. Dealing with Problems
  2. Causes of Difficult Behaviour

Session Eight: The Three-Step Conflict Resolution Model

  1. The Three-Step Model
  2. Getting the Hang of Things

Session Nine: Practice Makes Pretty Good

Session Ten: Changing Yourself

  1. Negative vs. Positive Interactions
  2. Dealing with Negative Feelings

Session Eleven: Why Don’t People Do What They Are Supposed To?

Session Twelve: De-Stress Options to Use When Things Get Ugly


Course reference: CON115

Duration: One day (1 day)

Time: 09h00 - 15h30

Type: Onsite at your work premises, Open (Public) Course, E-learning (Online) course, Online via Google Meet


Fact: We can change the result of any interaction through dealing with it appropriately and being deliberate in what we do.


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Training Methods: This workshop includes dynamic trainee/trainer interactions and discussions, written and oral exercises, role plays, case studies, reflection, quizzes and a workbook for each participant to take back to the workplace.


Target Audience: This workshop is designed for everyone who deals with customers on the telephone or face-to-face.



  • This course makes you aware of your behaviour - excellent practical examples, clear and concise.

    Amanda: Building Lasting Relationships

Our mission

'Empowering others to help themselves through training, education & motivation.'