Some jobs require the ability to deal with challenging behaviour. This is particularly experienced by caregivers, care workers, nurses and support staff, for example. Here are some ways that challenging behaviour can be dealt with effectively:
- Appreciate – is this normal for this person? Try to think about what’s going on in their mind, adjust your mindset to a positive one and try to refocus on helping them move forward.
- Empathy – try to build a rapport appropriate to their state of mind by staying calm and understanding their feelings. If they are angry, lower your voice to calm the situation.
- Environment – sometimes a change in the environment is enough to diffuse a situation. Moving to a different room, moving furniture to give more space or going outside can change the dynamics of the exchange.
- Deal with outburst – in order to identify the root cause of the behaviour, the emotional response should be addressed first. A person is unlikely to explain what’s causing their outburst while they are angry or upset. For help with a Challenging behaviour training course, try visiting www.tidaltraining.co.uk
- Root cause – when it is possible to ask questions about why the person feels the way they do, actively listen, reflect their answers back to ensure understanding and they will recognise that you are taking them seriously.
- Forward focus – ask positive and focused questions like what would make things better and how can we move forward. This helps to develop a desired outcome and an agreed positive plan for getting past the negative behaviour or situation.