Dealing With Difficult Behaviours - Adelaide

Dealing With Difficult Behaviours - Adelaide

You know that person. The one who derails every meeting with their negativity, the colleague who takes credit for everyone else's work, or the team member who always finds a reason why nothing will work. We've all been there - sitting in a meeting thinking "here we go again" as someone launches into their latest complaint or passive-aggressive comment. It's exhausting, it kills productivity, and honestly, it makes you dread coming to work some days.

Here's the thing: difficult behaviours aren't going anywhere. But your ability to handle them effectively can completely transform your work experience. This isn't about becoming a workplace therapist or trying to "fix" people. It's about giving you practical tools to navigate these situations without losing your sanity or your professionalism.

I've worked with hundreds of managers and team members who thought they just had to "put up with" difficult colleagues. The reality is, when you know how to respond appropriately, you can actually redirect conversations, set boundaries that stick, and sometimes even turn a challenging relationship around. You'll learn to spot the difference between someone having a bad day and someone with a pattern of difficult behaviours that needs addressing.

We'll cover the most common difficult behaviours you encounter: the chronic complainer, the know-it-all, the passive-aggressive colleague, the credit-stealer, and the person who seems to thrive on drama. For each type, you'll get specific language to use, ways to redirect the conversation, and strategies to protect your own energy and focus. We'll also tackle those tricky situations where you need to address behaviour without escalating conflict - because let's face it, sometimes your approach can make things worse if you're not careful.

This training is particularly valuable for anyone who's tired of walking on eggshells around certain colleagues or spending their commute home replaying frustrating interactions. You'll learn how to stay calm when someone's pushing your buttons, how to set clear expectations without being confrontational, and how to document incidents properly if things need to escalate to HR.

What You'll Learn

How to identify different types of difficult behaviours and what drives them
Specific phrases and responses that de-escalate tense situations
Ways to set boundaries that actually get respected
How to stay professional when someone's being unreasonable
Techniques to redirect negative conversations back to productive topics
When and how to involve your manager or HR appropriately
Strategies to protect your own wellbeing while dealing with challenging colleagues

The Bottom Line

You'll walk away with a toolkit of responses that you can use immediately. No more lying awake at night replaying difficult conversations or dreading interactions with certain people. You'll have confidence in your ability to handle workplace challenges professionally and effectively. Most importantly, you'll stop letting other people's workplace negativity derail your day or your career progression. This training gives you back control over your work environment, one interaction at a time.