I don't "combat" my clients.  I work for and with them.

We screen them out before entering into a contractual relationship with them - however - if one slipped through.  FIRE. THEM.  I mean - refer them to someone else.  Anyone else! 

I try not to judge whether there are issues or try to determine whether a decision is rational or not.   There's typically a story behind every action.  

We are mere messengers in a transaction and hopefully one where the decision of one client does not determines our level of happiness or success.  

point of view has a lot to do with how you handle anyone. I often see it as a person who is not comfortable where they are thus I help them to find cozy

I had a buyer call off my sign, wrote an offer, and then saw very irrational thoughts.  They wanted me to list their home too, and after they opted out of the transaction at inspection, said they would be better off with someone else.   Life is too short to deal with irrational people!

I don't "combat" my Clients irrational ( to me  ) decisions. I try to understand them the best I can and work with them presuming the decisions are legal and the client fully understands the potential consequenses of the decision.. Emotions are part of Real estate. Estates, Divorce, moving from a home a seller raised a family in etc. etc. are emotional. I understand this and I work with it.

I just try to stay professional but I have had to "fire" clients on occasion when they were too "crazy".

I try to "ride the tide" and remain calm and professional.

We try to just talk them through it, but for some people, misery loves company. 

I try to get to the real reason for the behavior and come to terms so to speak. There are some clients however that just like controversy and when I discover that is the issue I have to decide if I want to continue to be in the middle of it.

We try to work with them, but if it ends up looking like it will be just insane to work with I'll hand them off to someone else to work with.

I don't want to get embroiled in semantics over your choice of "combat" but there are no irrational decisions in my opinion.  We have two modes of thought. One is logical, analytical and unhurried, and we’re aware of its gears grinding away whenever we approach a complex problem. The other is fast, intuitive and hidden from us. Bad decisions and the biases that drive them are a result of us thinking fast when we need to think slow.

I like to advise my clients to Slow Down, Dangerous Curves Ahead.

Depends on how severe, but I may actually drop them if I can't get them under control

I try and "scale them back" or "reel them back in"...it really is about them but it is YOUR BUSINESS...I step in more than usual when this happens and "throw my opinion out there"...following it up with ..."But I won't be the one living there-just something to think about"...amazing-any client who respects your opinion will actually stop their emotional & irrational ways...and at least take in some normal decision making opinions :)

Stay calm. Others' emotions are theirs. Be the cool one -- it is contagious. Usually, they just need a steadying influence.

Knowing that a real estate transaction can be loaded with emotions from the buyer, seller, and at times the other agent.  Just address the issue up front.

I truly HATE questions that have an embedded link.

We have all encountered elevated emotions and irrational thinking.

The first step MUST be to determine if the issue is physiological. If it is, you are in for a ride. If not, reflective listening and sound guidance goes a long way.

Listen and respond

I work with them unless they get abusive toward me, then I fire them.

ALL the time! I'm used to it. I just give them usually some time to come down and in a few hours I try again. The conversation face to face works the best, but phone is ok too. Being kind and very very patient always works for me. 

I remain rational and explain calmly, but ultimately even when it's their decision I respect it.

There is no shortage of these clients. Deal with them the best you can and know when to move on to other clients.

One of the great things about success is choice so I prefer to move on because if I spend too much time in an impossible situation I will miss out on positive opportunities.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink ....