Coping with Difficult People

Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?"
2 Samuel 21:3

Every leader faces difficult people and draining circumstances. The Gibeonites were difficult for David.

The following difficult personality types commonly accost leaders today:

Personality Type	Coping Strategy
The Sherman Tank: rides over people	Consider the issue; stand up if important
The Space Cadet: lives in another world	Find and develop their unique gifts
The Volcano: explosive, unpredictable	Remove from crowd, listen, be direct
The Thumb Sucker: self-pity, pouts to real trouble	Don't reward; expose them
The Wet Blanket: always down	Be honest, don't cater; don't let them lead
The Garbage Collector: attracts the worst	Challenge their statements; force honesty
The User: demands lots of time, energy	Set boundaries; require accountability

The Maxwell Leadership Bible