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Being a “difficult person” is a personality trait that makes some people virtually impossible to please.

It can also be shaped by lack of self-determination and clear expression, manifesting as anxiety/depression.

The implications of this psychological trait are big for employers and employees.

This past Mother’s Day was particularly poignant for me. This year marks the 10th year of my mother’s passing away in Bangalore, India, from a rare cancer.

Social media was filled with tributes to the world’s wonderful moms. My mother, Lakshmi, was also amazing.

And she was also… difficult.

Reflecting on my mother leaves me with lasting lessons about the impact of “difficult people” in our lives and careers. Calling someone “difficult” could seem pejorative, but it’s actually descriptive of the complex interpersonal dynamics that may not be as simple as we would like, but are active reflections of reality.

Mom gave my brother and me our strength, resilience, drive, and, above all, moral fiber. She was also kind and generous, especially to those less fortunate than us. She was a feminist in her own right, establishing boundaries for herself in the deeply traditional culture of........

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