Have there ever been moments in your life when you had to laugh otherwise you would cry? That’s probably how the bird hunter felt when his dog shot him in the buttocks.
Seems a 46-year-old Utah man was duck hunting with a friend when he laid his 12-gauge shotgun across the bow of the boat. When he climbed out of the boat to move decoys, his dog inadvertently stepped on the gun, causing it to fire. Because the man was wearing waders, he wasn’t seriously injured.
Just like the duck hunter, there are likely times when you will find yourself in difficult situations wondering what to do – laugh or cry. Mike Leibling, special correspondent to CNN has a few suggestions in his September 8, 2011 article, “Dealing with difficult situations – and people.”
Change Your Mindset
What I get from this is that it is very easy to hang onto your viewpoint and not be willing to see the other side. However, Leibling specifically focuses on the topic of power – someone else’s over you. It’s important to remember when you’re dealing with another person – subordinate, peer, superior, customer, vendor – that you treat them like a professional. The same way you want them to treat you.
Learn How to Get to “Yes”
In the national bestseller, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, the authors examine how to get the best outcome for all concerned. Their chosen path is through negotiation. Learning how to negotiate properly can be difficult, but it is not impossible as suggested in my October 24, 2011 blog, “Learn How to Negotiate by Peeling an Orange.”
Include the Right People in the Decision-Making Process
If you’ve ever been in a position to make a decision that you knew required input from another source, you understand this step. Yes, very often a decision requires a sense of urgency. However, taking time to gather sufficient information and gain input from those who are knowledgeable can make the difference in what choice you ultimately make.
Don’t Let Bad Situations Fester
One of the worst things that anyone can do when there is a difficult situation looming on the horizon is to ignore it. Leibling suggests planning and rehearsing how to handle an issue in order to avoid sounding confrontational. That includes choosing the right time and place.
Don’t Try to Teach Pigs to Fly
Ultimately, you may find that the “best option is to get out, rather than get ill,” writes Leibling. He suggests you cannot make pigs fly because 1) it won’t succeed, 2) it’s hard work and 3) it annoys the pig.
When it comes to dealing with difficult business situations, don’t wait to be shot in the butt to realize when it’s time to stop fighting an uphill battle. Deal with the situation and move on.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
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