1. Trust your instincts. If your gut is saying, this is going downhill fast , be ready to do what you need to do to remain safe. Look for an exit strategy.
2. One response does not fit all. You have to remain flexible. Although these guidelines ha...

These tips may feel unnatural at first. When you're dealing with a person behaving unreasonably, the fear response center in your brain (the fight-flight-freeze part) is going to be activated. This part of the brain can't distinguish be...

1. Give yourself credit for getting through an uncomfortable situation. It takes a lot of energy not to act like a jerk when someone else is behaving badly. Don’t skip this step!

We’ve all been there—trying valiantly to reason with an incredibly difficult person. The situation proves frustrating, maddening, and sometimes even frightening. The truth is, you can’t reason with an unreasonable person. However, there are proven techniques to better manage such dicey situations...

1. Don't demand compliance. For example, telling someone who's upset to be quiet and calm down will just make him or her irate. Instead, ask the person what they are upset about—and allow them to vent.
2. Saying, "I understand," usually makes things worse.

1. Listen. Listening is the number one step in dealing with "unreasonable" people. Everyone wants to feel heard. No progress can take place until the other person feels acknowledged. While you're listening, really focus on what the other person is saying, not what you want to s...

1. Don't argue or try to convince the other person of anything.
2. Keep extra space between you and the other person. Your instinct may be to try to calm the other person down by putting your arm on theirs, or some other similar gesture that may be approp...

1. Don’t judge . You don't know what the other person is going through. Chances are, if a person is acting unreasonable, they are likely feeling some s...