The hardest skill I had to learn

Managing people. Sounds harmless and uncomplicated, right? Like herding cats or coordinating a group text.

Except it’s not.

It’s a wild rollercoaster of personalities, miscommunications, and the occasional “Oh, I didn’t get the memo.”

Spoiler alert: they did get the memo.

My Crash Course in Chaos

When I started coaching, I thought people just needed a game plan and a pep talk.

Turns out, people come with a mix of fears, quirks, and habits that make herding those metaphorical cats feel like a breeze.

There was the client who canceled last-minute, every time. I thought, maybe they’re busy.

Nope.

They were avoiding accountability like it was a gym session on leg day.

Confronting them? Cue sweaty palms and me rehearsing my “Can we talk?” speech in the mirror.

The Rookie Mistakes I Made

• Assuming that everyone thinks like me.

Newsflash: they don’t. Some people overthink, some underthink, and some just don’t think.

• Avoiding tough conversations

Turns out, ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away—it just lets them throw a house party in your brain.

How I Got My Act Together

• Shut Up and Listen

I stopped cutting people off with solutions. Listening? It’s free, and it works.

• Boundaries > People-Pleasing

Saying “No, you can’t reschedule for the fifth time this week” wasn’t fun. But it was necessary.

• Emotional Intelligence is Magic

Sometimes, people just need you to nod and say, “That sucks.” It’s oddly effective.

• Embracing Feedback (Even When It Burns)

Asking “How am I doing?” is scary, but it’s the cheat code to self-improvement.

Why It Was Worth the Trouble

Managing people didn’t just make me a better coach—it made me a better human. I’m less reactive, more empathetic, and 10x better at dodging drama these days.

So, if you’re struggling with people management, remember: it’s not about controlling others. It’s about figuring out how to work with their chaos—while managing your own.

And when all else fails? Smile, breathe, and remind yourself that cats eventually come down from trees.

What’s the hardest people-related lesson you’ve learned? Hit reply and share your story—I promise not to cancel on you last minute.

That’s it for now. I’ll catch you again soon. For more on lifestyle, productivity and mental clarity, follow @pranotihere on X.

For all the ladies here, if you’re curious about what my coaching looks like and wish to give it a shot, go ahead and book a trial discovery call with me here.