GI Griffin | Dealing With Difficult Personalities In The Workplace

03 Nov Dealing With Difficult Personalities in the Workplace or School

Posted at 07:22h in Featured, GI SAID IT by GI Griffin

Have you ever had to deal with overly difficult or problematic personalities in the work place? GI talks about how to turn an L with problematic people into a win so you can progress.

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Dealing with difficult people is unavoidable. Whether you’re in a classroom or the corporate jungle, you’re going to encounter personalities that grind your gears. Some folks are lazy, some thrive on drama, others are just flat-out impossible to work with. Sound familiar? Let’s cut through the sugarcoating and get real about how to tackle these personalities.

First Rule of Survival

Know when to walk away. My personal approach? I don’t waste my time on people who are perpetual problems. Why? Because most difficult behavior stems from internal issues—you’re not their therapist, and you sure can’t fix them. When I see someone with a track record of disruptive or toxic actions, I chalk it up as an “L” and move on. Life’s too short to entertain nonsense, and frankly, so is your time in school or at work.

But hey, I get it—it’s not always that simple. Sometimes, due to professional obligations or group projects, you can’t just ghost problem people. That’s where the strategy comes into play.

How to Deal With Difficult People (When You Have No Choice)

If you’re stuck dealing with a difficult personality, here’s my no-nonsense guide to navigating the chaos effectively without losing your cool—or your sanity.

1. Know Yourself First

Before anything else, you’ve got to understand who you are. What are your values? What are your non-negotiables? Knowing this creates a boundary line, so you’re clear about what you’re willing to put up with and what you’re not. “Self-awareness” might sound like buzzword fluff, but trust me—it’s the foundation for taking control.

Once you know your boundaries, you’ll have clarity on what behavior you can tolerate and what isn’t worth your energy. For example, if helping a lazy co-worker doesn’t align with your own standards of effort and time, you won’t feel guilty saying no.

2. Master the Art of Observation

Actions speak louder than words. Forget what difficult people say—a lot of folks don’t even know they’re lying to themselves. Instead, pay attention to what they do. Analyze their behaviors like a chessboard. Learn their strengths, weaknesses, and patterns.

This isn’t about becoming their cheerleader. This is about positioning yourself like a strategist. For example, in a school group project, maybe one person is lazy but entertaining. Cool. Assign them the “easier” tasks—or something where their antics won’t hold up the group’s progress. Others might be great researchers but bad communicators. Perfect, put them to work behind the scenes with minimal team interaction. The goal is about understanding people’s natural skills and using them to create efficiency despite their flaws.

3. Be Strategic, Always

Unfortunately, sometimes avoiding problem people isn’t an option. That’s when it’s time to suit up and play the strategy game. If you’re in an office, think of workplace communication like an actual chess match. Position people in roles that minimize damage.

For instance, say you’ve got someone who loves to gossip but has a high energy for people. Put them in roles where they need to talk to clients or external stakeholders. They’ll channel their energy externally instead of creating drama internally. Similarly, create buffer zones. If you know someone is prone to outbursts or negativity, don’t put them in situations where conflict will escalate.

This requires observation, patience, and most importantly—detachment. Don’t take their nonsense personally. Your goal is to neutralize the problem, not fix the person.

4. The Lazy & Clueless Crowd

Here’s the thing that grinds my gears most about difficult personalities—laziness. Whether in school or at work, we’ve all met someone who doesn’t care about the assignment, misses deadlines, or relies on everyone else to carry them.

To make matters worse, this isn’t just disrespectful to the collective effort, but it’s also disrespectful to themselves. Seriously, if you’re paying to be in school or getting compensated for a job, why would you not show up 100%? This level of apathy highlights a lack of foresight and maturity. These are often the people who will derail projects and waste everyone’s time.

Truth bomb? You won’t change their mindset. Your best bet is to call them out directly—professionally, of course. Address expectations, document when they drop the ball, and keep receipts so you’re not the one holding the bag when things hit the fan.

5. Know When It’s Time to Escalate

Sometimes, difficult personalities go beyond annoying—they become toxic or downright destructive. Maybe someone is stirring up fights, sabotaging projects, or creating such tension that it affects your mental health or productivity.

When that happens, it’s time to take action. You have options:

Try Talking It Out—Give them a chance to explain themselves. Sometimes open dialogue can de-escalate. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t always work, but giving someone a chance is the respectful first step.
Document Everything—When things go sideways, documentation is your best ally. Keep emails, texts, and any records that show behavior patterns.
Get Leadership Involved—Taking issues to a boss, professor, or team lead can feel awkward, but sometimes it’s necessary. Frame it professionally and stick to the facts.

The harsh reality? People who cause chaos are often fueled by internal emotional issues—issues you won’t solve. At best, professional management can handle their behavior. At worst, it becomes a long-term annoyance.

6. Keep Your Priorities Clear

Ultimately, you have to look after yourself. At the end of the day, your success, your goals, and your mental well-being come first. You’ll encounter people who thrive on drama or create chaos, but you don’t have to participate in their spiral.

Know your worth, respect your time, and don’t hesitate to pivot when necessary. If someone disrupts your flow and doesn’t contribute value, you owe them nothing. Just remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup—so protect your energy at all costs.

Real Talk Recap

Dealing with difficult personalities boils down to one thing—strategic self-preservation. Avoid problem people when you can. If you can’t, become a master strategist and figure out how to minimize their impact while securing your sanity. Remember, your success is always top priority.

And here’s the kicker—life is full of problem people. From entitled co-workers to lazy project partners, they’re everywhere. You can cry about it, or you can play the game and come out on top. The choice is yours.

Stay sharp, stay focused, and stay unbothered.

GI’s unique perspective delivered in a style that is unapologetically honest, straight to the point, and at times a bit brutal. GI SAID IT: Brutally honest, no BS. Click for more GI SAID IT shows and articles.