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UdemyCommunication SkillsPaid courseAll LevelsCertificate

12 Strategies for Dealing With Difficult People (Udemy.com)

Learn how to confidently implement different strategies for dealing with difficult people.

Created by: Steve Schmidt

Last updated September 2026

Our take

Based on the ratings of 20,757 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.

Steve Schmidt is a former Kansas City police officer and Verbal Judo instructor, and the course draws on that background. It is a compact communication course for anyone who regularly deals with angry customers, prickly coworkers or a tough boss. It runs about 2.4 hours across 21 lectures in two sections, with no quizzes or exercises. The first section is a 28 minute introduction, and the twelve strategies fill the rest. The course description says it was updated in August 2026 with new material on using AI and avoiding psychological reactance.

Reviewers like how clear and direct it is. One says the strategies build on each other and are repeated as the course goes on, and another liked the point that empathy does not require sympathy. Two reviewers are bothered by the instructor's habit of asking whether it makes sense. The complaints are consistent. Examples feel vague for specific workplaces, one reviewer wants to hear difficult conversations played out well and badly, and two say the audio volume wobbles in places. One reviewer called the long intro a time stealer.

Close to 47,500 students have enrolled, and the 4.6 average holds up across more than 20,000 ratings, with most of them four or five stars. Treat it as a primer rather than a training program. With no practice tasks, the real learning happens when you try the tactics at work. It is a good pick for a quick, practical overview, and a weaker one if you need scripted scenarios for your own field.

Best forCustomer-facing staff, managers and new supervisors who want a quick, practical set of tactics for tense conversations.
Skip it ifYou want industry-specific role plays, graded exercises or a deep psychology course on conflict.

Pros

  • Short at about 2.4 hours, so the twelve strategies can be finished in a couple of sittings
  • Reviewers call it clear and straight to the point, with strategies that build on each other
  • Instructor draws on policing, sales and customer service stories to explain each tactic
  • The description says material on AI and psychological reactance was added in August 2026

Cons

  • The intro section runs 28 minutes, which one reviewer found far too long for what it covers
  • Examples can feel vague, and reviewers want more specific workplace scenarios and role plays
  • Audio volume is uneven in places according to two reviewers, and one notes edit errors
Much better than most of the other video's I have seen on how to deal with people!
Amanda Schooling, a student

Listed for all levels with no prerequisites. It suits working adults in service, sales or supervisory roles most.

Featured in our guide: The 10 Best Communication Skills Courses on Udemy in 2026

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What you will learn

  • Utilize communication tactics to prevent the difficult situation before it starts.
  • Implement a host of communication strategies to take control of a difficult situation.
  • Better articulate the reasoning behind the specific communication skills used in difficult situations.
  • Build communications skills
  • Increase confidence

Course content

2 sections · 21 lectures · 2.4 hours of video

  1. 1The who, what, when where and why information about this course. 3 free previews5 lectures · 28 min
  2. 2The 12 Strategies for Dealing With Difficult People16 lectures · 1.9 hours

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Have you ever said, “No, that’s not what I meant.” Or “You heard me wrong.”? Then this course might be for you.
  • This course is also best suited for professionals who work with difficult customers, sly coworkers, and angry bosses.
  • This course has also been designed for business professionals (sales & customer service), medical personnel, law enforcement, military,
  • This course has also been designed for business professionals (sales & customer service), medical personnel, law enforcement, military, and anybody that may deal with difficult and challenging people.
  • This course is for those people who want or need to move into a conversation. This is about engaging and taking control of your communications. This is the elite way.
  • If you desire a more passive laid-back communications style, this course may not be for you.
  • 12 Strategies for dealing with difficult people was designed for individuals and teams who experience difficult situations where professional communications are essential.

What you need before you start

  • You should not need any outside materials or programs to take this course.

How it compares

Against the other 392 rated Udemy courses in Communication Skills on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 73% of them
  • Reviews20,757#22 of 393 by number of reviews
  • Length2.4 hourslonger than 58% of them
  • Last updatedSeptember 2026more recently than 98% of them

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Course Description

Updated in August of 2026 to include new ways to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help you better deal with difficult people and how to avoid generating what is called Psychological Reactance.

Are you tired of feeling like a prisoner of your own stress and frustration? Have difficult people in your life left you physically and mentally exhausted, with your well-being hanging by a thread? We get it. The struggle is real, and it's time for a change.


Imagine a life where you sleep peacefully throughout the night, no longer haunted by the dread of facing challenging individuals the next day. Envision having a toolkit of strategies that effortlessly transform your interactions with difficult people. Picture yourself finally taking control of your circumstances, leaving work-related stress behind, and embracing each day with anticipation.


Here's what you can achieve when you enroll:


12 Strategies: Learn a comprehensive set of battle-tested techniques to conquer challenging personalities effectively.


Enhance Your Safety: Gain valuable skills to safeguard your emotional and physical well-being in any situation.


Elevate Your Professionalism: Elevate your professional image and build respect among colleagues, clients, and supervisors.


Stress Reduction: Bid farewell to sleepless nights and the physical tension that has plagued you. Restore peace and balance to your life.


Boost Morale: Reclaim your enthusiasm for work, leading to a happier and more positive outlook on life.


Reduce Complaints: Drastically cut down on complaints and conflicts, making your professional environment more harmonious.


Lower Personal Liability:  Help reduce the potential liability &  personal risks associated with difficult interactions.


Unlock Greater Productivity: Imagine a workplace where everyone collaborates harmoniously. Increased productivity and profitability await.


What Sets This Course Apart:

This course isn't just another lecture series. It's a transformational journey. Dive into riveting video lectures enriched with personal stories and real-life examples from a seasoned expert who has navigated the challenges of law enforcement, customer service, sales, and life.


Join a Global Community:

Over 36,700 students from 151 different countries, each seeking the same life-changing results as you. Together, we're learning how to deal with difficult people on a new level.


Break Free from the Grip of Difficult People:

Don't let challenging individuals dictate your life. Take control of your destiny, and unlock a future where difficult people become a fun challenge.


Are you ready to rewrite your story and build a healthier, happier personal and professional life?  Let's embark on this empowering journey together. The life you've always desired is within reach!

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Instructor Details

Steve Schmidt

Steve “Schmidty” Schmidt is originally from the small town of Malta, Montana, and is a man of many uniforms.

​He served eight years as a decorated police officer for the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Wearing a blue uniform by day, he would swap it out for a giant green fur uniform by night. Officer Schmidt was also a professional Mascot (x3) for Kansas City’s Major League Soccer Team, KC’s largest country radio station, and the largest amphitheater in the KC area.

​Behind the badge, Schmidty specialized in Community Oriented Policing and loved being a Verbal Judo instructor and Field Training Officer (FTO). Schmidty was also a Firefighter/EMT at the Yellowstone Club which is one of the world's most exclusive private ski and golf resorts.

​Schmidty has a lifelong passion for sales, marketing, graphic design, and video production. He also spent many years working in sales, marketing, and business consulting.

​Schmidty is also an entertaining and engaging speaker. He speaks on stages across the country on topics usually focused around utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to influence behaviors in the realms of traffic safety, public health, emergency management, substance use disorders and dealing with difficult people. He has an online course with now over 46,000 students from 154 different countries.

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Reviews

4.6

20,757 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Suzanne Fassio-Hardy on 7/17/2026

The trainer makes you want to know more about the tips and tricks to improve on the way to communicate with difficult people.

By Anna Sobotnik on 7/10/2026

straight to the point, with some good examples. I would probably like to hear some more difficult conversations being played well and not so well and some more private context as well (where e'g' I do not represent an organisation or sometimes I know somebody doesn't like me). Yet I take the methods that were presented and given examples. I also liked the fact that empaty does not require sympathy. it helps to know we can solve problems without the sympathy, but never without understanding what's behind the other person's behaviour.

By Ada Verdugo on 6/17/2026

Thanks for the introduction of the course, Is exactly what I need, not only in my workplace especially with my Boss, also in my House, with my family and close friends, Its very exiting for me to find this course, In difficult situations, I can stayed calm, but I don't like to feel bad for days for not handle effectively the situations, for not to express my fellings properly or fot not to communicate myself effectively. Im looking forward to learn and imrpove my communication skills better.

By Chochowin.pttep.com on 5/7/2026

It's a good for learning. However, as you shared during the course that talking is easier than practical. I will try my mouth is connect with my brain while dealing with difficult people.

By Sue Slayton on 5/1/2026

I am very sensitive and am so intimidated by people at times. To the point my self esteem is very low. I want my confidence back and want to feel good about myself and my job.

By Tania Lemieux on 4/27/2026

I need this course to be able to over come the fact that I reach out already to HR for help on how to removed a toxic employee away from you at the work place!!! Now I have to figure out on how to deal with this person if she comes back to the work place?

By Paige Hagemann on 4/22/2026

Comprehensive lessons on how to positively deal with difficult people. Centers lessons not only on the other party but on how to reframe yourself and approach to situations.

By Aakanksha Satpute on 4/9/2026

The course content was good. The only thing that needs improvement is the sound. Sometimes, the sound was so low I couldn't hear it properly with my headphones on and on full volume. Please fix this issue.

By Training GIS on 3/9/2026

sangat cocok, banyak tantangan dalam menghadapi orang2 dengan semua perbedaan intinya saling menghargai satu sama lain dan menekankan bahwa pola pikir orang tidak semua sama

By Hailey Luper on 1/12/2026

I really enjoyed the quotes you added. My favorite take away is to always remember to (P)ause then respond and to take ownership or you hot buttons by naming them and figuring out a response. Solid course!

By Fadiah Alraies on 11/8/2020

I like his lectures but there is no enough practices .

By Gerri Chambers on 11/8/2020

Good information. The course introduced a couple of new approaches and aspects. One was respond instead of react. Course provide a great spin and a refresher on the approaches and aspects that I have heard before.
However, I had to forces myself to continue to listen and respect the instructor's information when he stated in his examples "that a person was guilty" during the arrest when discussing empathy and sympathy. He used a good example to explain the differences between empathy and sympathy. But should not state a person is guilty prior to going to court.

Showing 12 of 310 reviews

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Overall Score : 92 / 100