5 Simple Tips For Dealing With Difficult People

When running your business, there is one thing that is certain - you will meet difficult people. It’s a client who never listens, a supplier who always delivers late, or a partner who drains your time. Misalignment, mismatched expectations, personality clashes—whatever the cause, dealing with these folks is part of the gig.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to let them wreck your momentum, your culture, or your wellbeing. Do this instead.

Why Difficult People Are Your Hidden Test

First, a mindset shift: difficult people are not the enemy. They can force you to build stronger boundaries, clearer communication, and better systems. The way you handle friction can even become a competitive advantage, because most business owners duck tough conversations.

4 Early-Warning Signs You’re Dealing with a Time-Bomb Person

Vague promises & shifting scope.

Today it’s “we just need X,” tomorrow it’s “also do Y and Z.”

Questions about your integrity or competence

They push your buttons, constantly second-guess you.

Repeated “crises” or urgency baiting.

They always need “quick fix now” and pile pressure on.

Unwillingness to communicate constructively.

They shut down, dodge, or deflect rather than face the issue.

When you see these, don’t bury your head—step in early.

5 Simple Tips for Dealing With Difficult People

Here’s your toolkit. You don’t need all of these in one go—pick what fits the person and situation.

1. Clarify expectations (and recalibrate)

Your contract, your proposal, your scope docs—these aren’t just formalities. They’re your defensive fence. When someone tries to push your boundaries, you go back to what was agreed.

Phrase you can use:

“I want to make sure we’re aligned. According to our original agreement, we committed to X, Y, Z. Anything extra will require an adjustment in time / cost / scope.”

2. Use “I” language and soft start

When you need to call out behaviour, frame it gently.

“I felt concerned when payment was late, because that impacts our ability to deliver. Let’s solve this.”

Soft openers win you ears; blame slams shut ears.

3. Put things in writing

Always follow up phone calls with a recap email— “As discussed, our next steps will be…” That’s your safety net. If it escalates, you have the record.

4. Offer solutions, not ultimatums

People rarely resist a path forward.

“Here’s Option A. If that doesn’t work, here’s Option B. Which one works better for you?”

You maintain control, while inviting cooperation.

5. Know your exit—then enforce it

Sometimes, the cost of keeping the relationship is greater than walking away. You need a threshold: hours wasted, energy drained, trust breached. When that’s crossed, you pull the plug.

Yes—you can fire clients. It’s ugly at first, but your business and sanity will thank you.

Final Thought

Difficult people don’t have to sideline your business—they can sharpen it. The trick is—don’t wait until things blow up. Use red flags, early action, and solid communication to stay ahead.

If you're in a moment now—navigating someone complex in your business – let us know.

Listen to our podcast episode on Dealing with Difficult people here.