Hi, CareerBuddy!
I’m actually tired. I have this really annoying colleague who is outright rude and literally talks to me anyhow. She acts like she’s better than everyone just because she got a degree abroad.. literally, no one hears word again. How can I address it without coming across as confrontational?
I hear you loud and clear. It can be quite draining working with people who lack emotional intelligence and communication skills. And if you keep ignoring, they would continue to take a bite of your self-esteem until there’s nothing left.
As much as I love peace, I’m not here to teach you how to make peace with her. If you want that, you can read this article. I am here to tell you to speak up now or forever hold your peace.
4 things I suggest you do;
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Observe patterns: Some people will say mean things to you and then be like, “Hahaha…I was just joking”. No problem! Watch out for that condescending colleague ‘cos she will definitely repeat that action.
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Ask her to repeat what she just said: When someone says something rude to me, I give them one more chance to verify that they actually meant that statement and can stand by it when shit hits the fan. It’s as simple as, “Excuse me? Can you please repeat what you just said?” The cowardly ones will laugh it off, try to explain, or say nothing. Works every time 👌🏿
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SILENCE with your resting b*tch face on: This is the best dose for co-workers that crack crude jokes and make passive-aggressive comments. You know how they say, “Silence is the best answer for a …”. Instead of laughing weirdly or giving an angry retort, just keep your poker face on. There’s a way silence resets the brain and makes people realize that they just said something out of place.
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Call her out: And you want to do this calmly and assertively. You want to objectively get her to see how you interpreted what she said or did. You might discover that you’re the one who’s being overly sensitive or the she sincerely did not intend to ruffle your feathers.
The truth is, some people are going through personal issues that affects their attitude at work. Sometimes, if your colleague is rude to you or acts out of character, you might want to check up on them instead of responding haughtily.
Efen though! I know some are just ment and need to be put in their place so they know that you are not to be messed with.
Either way, I don’t encourage tolerating condescending behavior ‘cos if you don’t speak up now and nip it in the bud, the day you will blow up…
..You may end up looking really stupid and irrational.
I hope you found this helpful.