Dealing with Difficult People - Online Course

This series presents strategies for handling interpersonal tension in the workplace. In each course, learners will gain insight into analyzing situations, determining the best courses of action, and resolving problems. Scenarios and examples include working with difficult people in any organizational situation - supervisors, peers, and subordinates.

This series is for anyone who is interested in establishing better working relationships with difficult peers, supervisors, or subordinates. This online course contains 7 lessons and should take approximately 8 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: Managing Against the Odds (0) hour

This course introduces the major issues involved in dealing with difficult employees. It provides a three-step process to help transcend preconceptions about difficult people and avoid missteps in managing them. Topics include How do you know there is a problem?, Why are difficult employees being difficult?, What is the biggest mistake we make in dealing with difficult employees?, What are the first steps in dealing with difficult employees?, How can you handle conversations with the difficult employee?, When is discipline or dismissal required?, and What can you do if nothing else works?.

Lesson 2: Consideration (2.0) hours

Consideration teaches you how to clarify a situation involving inconsiderate behavior, qualify your acceptance of a difficult behavior after weighing the options and mitigating factors involved, and modify the situation to resolve the problems that inconsiderate behavior causes. After taking this course, the learner will be able to identify key causes of inconsiderate behavior in the workplace and outline polite, effective strategies for resolving the problems with the other people who are involved. Situations covered in this course include workspace issues such as noise, odors, and misuse of shared spaces, as well as interpersonal issues of respect and courtesy. Topics include Your Subordinate, Your Co-workers, and Your Supervisor.

Lesson 3: Attitude (1.0) hour

Attitude teaches you how to clarify a situation involving an attitude problem, qualify the attitude problem by weighing the options and mitigating factors involved, and modify the situation to resolve the problems that attitude issues cause. This course provides an overview of problems that arise from attitude issues in the workplace. After taking this course, you will be able to identify key causes of attitude problems in the workplace and outline polite, effective strategies for resolving them. Topics include Your subordinate, Your co-worker, and Your boss.

Lesson 4: Trust (1.0) hour

Trust teaches you how to clarify a situation involving a trust problem, qualify the trust problem by weighing the options and mitigating factors involved, and modify the situation to resolve the problems that trust issues cause. This course provides an overview of problems that arise from trust issues in the workplace. After taking this course, you will be able to identify key causes of trust problems in the workplace and outline thoughtful, effective strategies for resolving them. Topics include Your subordinate, Your co-worker, and Your boss.

Lesson 5: Power (1.0) hour

Power teaches you how to clarify a situation involving a power issue, qualify the power problem by weighing the options and mitigating factors involved, and modify the situation to resolve the problems that power struggles cause. This course provides an overview of problems that arise from power issues in the workplace. After taking this course, you will be able to identify key causes of power struggles in the workplace and outline thoughtful, effective strategies for resolving them. Topics include Your subordinate, Your co-worker, and Your boss.

Lesson 6: Communication (2.0) hours

Communication teaches you how to clarify a situation involving a communication problem, qualify the communication problem by weighing the options and mitigating factors involved, and modify the situation to resolve the problems that miscommunications cause. This course provides an overview of problems that arise from communication problems in the workplace. After taking this course, you will be able to identify key causes of communication problems in the workplace and outline thoughtful, effective strategies for resolving them. Topics include Your subordinate, Your co-worker, and Your boss.

Lesson 7: Responsibility (1.0) hour

Responsibility teaches you how to clarify a situation involving a responsibility problem, qualify the responsibility problem by weighing the options and mitigating factors involved, and modify the situation to resolve the problems that irresponsible behavior causes. This course provides an overview of problems that arise from responsibility issues in the workplace. After taking this course, you will be able to identify key causes of irresponsible behavior in the workplace and outline thoughtful, effective strategies for resolving them. Topics include Your subordinate, Your co-worker, and Your boss.