Dealing with Difficult People: The HR Version

Dealing with Difficult People: The HR  Version 2.0

Presented by Jen Vaughn, Keeling Company (N Little Rock, AR)  

Managing workplace conflict is a constant challenge for HR professionals, who are often expected to act as the primary buffer when personalities clash and morale begins to dip. It can be incredibly draining to navigate the space between conflicting styles or to coach employees through behaviors that feel genuinely disruptive to the team. This session offers HR managers the opportunity to step back and decode the "why" behind these difficult dynamics, moving them beyond the role of "office referee" toward building a more resilient and professional culture.

The course focuses on empowering HR leaders to stay grounded and effective even when tensions are high. Participants will gain a tactical toolkit designed to help them manage their own internal triggers and establish the firm, healthy boundaries necessary to protect both their time and the organization’s productivity. By mastering these strategies, HR managers can facilitate difficult conversations with greater confidence and prevent a few challenging personalities from dictating the energy of the entire workplace.

Program Objectives

• Decode the Drama: Understand the actual motivations behind disruptive behaviors.
• Find Your Triggers: Identify personal reactions before a situation escalates.
• Talk Like a Pro: Master communication scripts to navigate high-stakes conversations with confidence.
• Master Self-Control: Learn how to keep composure and manage emotions under pressure.
• Draw the Line: Practice setting healthy professional boundaries that stick.
• Protect Your Focus: Adopt strategies to stay productive and keep someone else's attitude from tanking performance.

Free parking is available in a number of locations including the lots

Dealing with Difficult People: The HR Edition has been submitted to SHRM and HRCI. 

Thank you to Jessica Day, Brittane Taylor, and the team at Firstar Bank® for sponsoring WAHRA's November meeting. We appreciate all Firstar does for our community and their support of WAHRA's mission to provide professional development for those in Human Resource Management.