Dealing with Difficult People: A Better Way in Business
Resolving Conflict in Combative Relationships
Conflict is one of life’s unavoidable realities. At some point, each of us will encounter difficult people who are combative, arrogant, or simply hard to deal with. The question is not if we will face conflict, but how we will respond to it. In Supernatural business, conflict is not a battlefield to destroy our opponent but an opportunity to live out the gospel in how we engage with others.
The Cost of Combative Relationships in Business
In the workplace, unresolved conflict does more than create tension—it steals time, drains energy, and distracts from the goals of the business. Teams lose focus when energy is wasted on arguments instead of progress. Leaders know that productivity is impossible in an atmosphere of constant strife. A single combative relationship can slow projects, erode trust, and even create a culture of division. That’s why learning to resolve conflict with difficult people is not only a biblical principle but also a practical necessity for success.
Kindness That Disarms
One of the most powerful tools in a combative relationship is kindness. Don’t underestimate the power of kindness in your approach. Paul reminds us that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). If His kindness has the power to change hearts, then ours can too. Kindness disarms arrogance and interrupts cycles of hostility. It communicates dignity, even when none is being offered in return. A gentle word, a gracious response, or a refusal to retaliate may not immediately end the conflict, but it creates space for hearts to soften. In business, this kind of posture often opens the door to solutions that anger, and pride would have kept locked.
When You Can’t Make Things Better
There are moments when no amount of effort seems to improve the situation. In those times, we must shift our focus: if we cannot make things better, we can at least avoid making things worse. “We do not wage war as the world does” (2 Corinthians 10:3). Humility becomes our shield, because pride always escalates conflict, while humility diffuses it. Choosing not to fight fire with fire is an act of faith, trusting God to work where our words and actions cannot. In a business setting, this discipline protects the mission of the team from being hijacked by personal battles.
Finding Common Ground
Conflict often narrows our vision, so we see only division. But even in strained relationships, there is usually at least one point of agreement to be found. Start there. Celebrate even the smallest breakthrough. Elijah saw only a cloud the size of a man’s hand (1 Kings 18:44), yet he knew God was about to send rain. In the same way, a small sign of progress in a difficult relationship can be evidence that God is at work. In a company, one moment of agreement can shift an entire project back on course.
Do All You Can, Then Stand
Paul urges us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). That doesn’t mean peace is always possible, but it does mean we are called to do all we can on our end. When we have prayed, forgiven, extended kindness, and humbled ourselves, sometimes all that remains is to stand in faith, trusting that God will move in His timing. In the meantime, doing our part ensures we are not adding fuel to the fire or distracting from the broader mission of the organization.
Let Prayer Lead
When conflict arises, our reflex is often to argue, justify, or defend. Difficult people have a way of appealing to our lesser nature. Jesus calls us to something greater: “Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst… when someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer” (Matthew 5:44 MSG). Prayer shifts our posture from winning an argument to blessing a person. It reminds us that people are not our enemies; the real battle is spiritual, not flesh and blood.
Living Worthy of the Gospel
Ultimately, how we handle conflict with difficult people reflects our witness. Paul writes, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Our response in combative relationships is less about managing others’ behavior and more about shaping our own. By choosing kindness, humility, prayer, and perseverance, we not only protect the mission of our workplace but also show that Christ has transformed our hearts—even in the heat of conflict.