MARATE Skills

Managing angry, rude, abusive, threatening, and emotional people

Overview

Do you feel overwhelmed and unsure how to deal with someone when they won’t stop yelling at you? Maybe you keep trying to calm someone down, but find what you’re doing seems to make things worse. If you can relate to any of these, then our ‘MARATE Skills’ (pronounced just like KARATE) could be just the workshop you are looking for.  No one likes dealing with difficult, aggressive, threatening people. It takes patience, good emotional management, and strong communication skills to manage and resolve issues with angry people. The social fallout of recent global stress has impacted frontline services across all industries. 

This workshop will help you navigate and understand the mechanisms and psychology at play when dealing with difficult people and what steps to take. It equips participants with the ability to diagnose and apply the correct strategies for diverse personalities, aggression, and defusing emotional charges. This program will also teach practical frameworks to help your team develop healthy self-support strategies. 

Our solution

Success in managing and communicating effectively during challenging conversations relies on more than just quick thinking, it requires patience, awareness, and a structured approach.

The following key result areas have been developed with over 20 years of experience working with frontline roles and form our road-tested, proven approach, the MARATE method. This method provides a practical framework that builds on these three core principles. 

Man wearing a blazer using a hot desk in an office

Diagnose

Identifying the underlying drivers of aggressive behaviours, and recognising early warning signs to stay ahead of the situation. This allows you to create effective strategies to work through various situations.

Defuse

Understanding the most effective defusing techniques when tensions rise, and knowing how to read diverse communication styles and adapting accordingly. Applying assertiveness techniques to respond to difficult people and implement healthy boundaries.

Direct

Understanding what works and what doesn’t when communicating in tense situations. Adopting influencing strategies to steer conversations toward a positive desired outcome.

Learning outcomes

Text about learning outcomes

head-side-gear-light-full
Identify

Identify the underlying drivers of aggressive behaviours.

user-message-light-full
Defuse

Use effective defusing techniques when things get heated or emotional.

graduation-cap-light-full
Understand

Understand what works when communicating is difficult

hand-holding-seedling-light-full
Triggers

Know your personal reaction triggers and work towards developing successful self-management behaviours.

arrows-split-up-and-left-light-full
Strategies

Adopt influencing strategies to steer towards desired outcomes and build better rapport.

repeat-light-full
Apply

Apply assertiveness techniques to respond to difficult people and implement healthy boundaries. 

comments-light-full
Agression

Identify aggression styles to form effective response strategies.

leaf-heart-light-full
Emotional impact

Apply healthy self-care techniques to reduce negative emotional impact.

clipboard-list-check-light-full
Warning signs

Identify the early warning signs to stay ahead of the situation.

user-headset-light-full
Adapt

Understand how to read diverse communication styles and adapt accordingly.

Download our free guide now.

Success Stories

Providing dynamic learning experiences

Get In Touch WITH US

Let’s transform your workforce together.