As a project manager you will at some point come into contact with toxic people. Perhaps it will be a team member, an IT guy, a member of senior management, a stakeholder - they come in all different shapes, sizes, ages and job roles. What's difficult is the fact that no amount of project management training can teach you exactly how to deal with toxic people - so it's one of those lessons that needs to be learnt through experience and seeing how the pro's get it done.

Here are a few ways pro's deal with toxic people:

They Keep Their Distance

It won't be possible to avoid toxic people, but it is possible to keep your distance so you don't get sucked into their sea of negativity. As much as it is in your nature as a project manager to be a problem solver and to give them limitless ways to get around the issues they constantly bring up - they do not want your solutions, they thrive on negativity and drama so you're wasting your energy even trying to help them. Know where to draw the line, set limits and keep your distance when you need to, physical or emotional.

They Don't Try To Change Them

Consistently hoping the toxic person will change will only drain you and force you to receive various negative emotions of resistance from the toxic person. In terms of the project, if the person's behaviour is having a direct effect on its progress then you may need to directly provide feedback - but remember what they do with that feedback is up to them. Don't try to change the way they are - keep an empathetic but professional front and stay focused on the tasks in hand.

They Don't Get Into Conflict

One of the worst things you can do with a toxic person is get into a conflict with them. You're a project manager, you know how important it is to manage your emotions. By avoiding conflict with a toxic person you live to fight another day, to choose your battles wisely and use your energy when it counts.

They Don't Get Down About It

Throughout your project management career, toxic people will try and get you down and indeed the job role will have its highs and lows. However, it is important you never allow someone else's opinions to affect your mood. Yes a person you respect providing you with constructive criticism might leave you a little low momentarily before you see the positive in it and push for self improvement, but toxic people do not offer anything for your benefit. Their toxic opinions are only designed to get you down, and as a successful and professional person - you do not allow those opinions to get you down.

Other Things Pro's Do To Deal With Toxic People

●     They don't hold grudges, but they don't forget either

●     They surround themselves with positive and supportive people

●     They get plenty of r&r to enable them to be able to have the energy to deal with the demands of work, personal life and toxic people

●     They focus on the positives, always looking to find solutions

●     They are self aware

●     They never play the martyr

●     They are not judgemental