Surviving and Thriving with Difficult People (4 CDs)

Eileen McDargh
IOD Press (2005)
ISBN 0962319023
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (11/06)

“Surviving and Thriving with Difficult People” by Eileen McDargh has 4 CDs.  On each CD, you go from hearing her lessons that are specific to the audience listening to her on CD to hearing her give seminars.  Each is equally enjoyable and enlightening. 

She does mention a few specific industries, such as real estate and health care, but anyone of any industry will find inspiration in “Surviving and Thriving with Difficult People”.  McDargh mentions that this set of CDs is not for learning to deal with difficult family members.  Hopefully, she will develop another series for that.  However, there are tips that I plan to use to better my relationships with difficult family members.

She explains problems in conceptual terms as well as practical terms.  She does touch on why certain people must be difficult.  She tells of voice and phone techniques to squash what she has appropriately named the “Cannon Ball Steamroller” type of person.  She explains that it is not effective to manage these types of people with meekness.  They will only see that as weakness.  You must be as strong as they are.  She delves into explanations.

She also focuses on customer service, or the lack of it in most cases.  She teaches those in customer service how to thwart battles or to solve them.  Typically tone of voice and wording is the best way to aid in these situations.

McDargh gives examples of situations and she tells of possible solutions.  Sometime it is best to walk away.  Maybe it is best to confront.  She goes into detail about specific situations and personalities.  She brilliantly describes ways of latching onto the difficult person’s negativity and using it for our benefit. 

All in all, McDargh explains that difficult people probably will not change; therefore, we must change our abilities to deal with them.  This is not a CD to simply listen to.  You must take notes.  “Surviving and Thriving with Difficult People” is a series to keep and go over time and time again as the need arises. 

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