The document discusses how to deal with difficult people by following four steps: understanding yourself, managing yourself, understanding the other person, and doing something to change the relationship. It defines types of difficult people and common beliefs they may hold. Some tips for influencing others include starting with compliments, praising progress, and letting the other person save face. Interviews can help understand someone's values to predict their behavior and find approaches to respect them. Having an action plan that anticipates reactions is also advised for dealing with difficult individuals.