How do you deal with difficult people?

If you have ever had a job in your life, or if you have ever gone to school, you will have noticed certain people who haven’t always wanted to participate in projects or complete their assignments. Maybe they were always breaking the rules or tried to show you that following the status-quo was stupid. Well, these people are everywhere and they can be quite good for the organization. Anyone who makes you think about why you are doing something has provided you a service. Don’t think so? Has a customer ever asked you a question you didn’t know the answer to? Chances are good that the difficult co-worker already brought up the subject but you didn’t listen because they are always such a pain.

So how do you deal with these people and get them to do what is needed?