Dealing with Difficult People

Welcome to this weeks’ episode of The Australian Small Business Show!Today we’re talking about dealing with difficult people – because let’s face it, if you’re in business, you’ll need to deal with difficult people at some point or another. Whether it’s a customer, client, supplier, even the ATO. It’s not a maybe, it’s a guarantee.As business owners there are different types of difficult people we might encounter. Customers or clients is one type. This might be the complainers, the slow payers, the ones who “know better” or the boundary breakers.Then there are suppliers, ones who provide unreliable deliveries, shifting terms, or ghost you when things go wrong. We also have Referral Partners, perhaps they promise too much and underdeliver, or send you nightmare clients. Then of course there is staff – but that’s for a whole other episode.We then share some practical strategies to help you deal with difficult people:Set Boundaries EarlyContracts, clear payment terms, upfront expectations.Don’t let “just this once” become the norm.Stay Calm, Stay ProfessionalDon’t mirror aggression or emotion — it escalates.Script for customers: “I hear your concern. Here’s what we can do.”Know When to Walk AwayFire a client/referral partner if they’re draining your business.Red flag: If they cost more than they bring in (time, energy, money).Document EverythingEspecially with suppliers and regulators. Email > phone call.Keeps emotion out, creates a paper trail.Connect with Us: If you're an Australian Small Business Owner, we'd love to connect with you on socials. You can give our Facebook Page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/theaustraliansmallbusinessshowOr follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/aussmallbizshow/Exciting news: our website is live – check it out at: https://www.theaustraliansmallbusinessshow.com.au/ * Disclaimer: The information shared on The Australian Small Business Show is general in nature and does not constitute professional advice, legal or otherwise. We recommend consulting with your advisors on your specific circumstances.Mentioned in this episode:Invitation to Join Kristy-Lee for this Free Webinar?Are you across the Fair Work changes that take effect on 1 July? Join Kristy-Lee for this free webinar to discover exactly what's changing and what you need to do about it, so you don't end up in hot water with Fair Work (even if you only have 5 staff and one of them is your sister-in-law). Free live webinar for Australian small business owners Tuesday 23rd June | 12pm AEST | Online via Zoom https://www.peoplepoweredbusiness.com.au/webinar