Workplaces are fraught with people of every variety. Of them, rude people are particularly troublesome since their behavior impacts your peace of mind and ability to perform at work in a big way. Hence, keeping in mind such considerations, here are a few ways to help you deal with rude people at work.
Stay calm
Having sudden outbursts of anger and lashing out at the other person isnât typically the best way to deal with a particularly rude colleague. Until and unless you know that the only way of tackling the rudeness is through rudeness itself, assuming a cool persona would be the best option for you. A calm person is always regarded as one who knows how to control his or her emotions, and thereby draws respect from other people around. It has to be borne in mind that patience always pays. Whenever the senior or colleague behaves rudely with you and you, in turn, remain calm against their constant lashings, you end up gaining their attention. In extreme situations, you may even be able to change the way they talk and behave. So what does it take to practice this calmness? Start by taking a deep breath. When the rude colleague gives you a piece of his or her mind, take a few calm breaths and remind yourself that these 5 minutes constitute a negligible part of your entire day.
Don’t stand there and take it all
The problem with a majority of rude people is that they seem to be thinking that their rudeness will not be met by protests from others. Such individuals simply donât realize that by being rude they are hurting the feeling of other people. However, the person at the other end must not allow this to happen and should assume control immediately. Start by letting the rude person know that you have done nothing to deserve his or her verbal lashings. However, be sure not to sound rude as you do so. Refrain from arguing or fighting with the rude person. There are times when standing up for yourself becomes absolutely important. In fact, every person should be courageous enough to tell a foul tempered person off. Never allow the person who is being rude to manipulate the conversation. Convey your needs in the most dignified manner possible. If, despite the effort, you donât get a desired reply then start avoiding the person. Do not get into any argument whatsoever.
Try and concentrate your attention on other things
If the rudeness affects you mentally, then try and divert the attention elsewhere. There are so many things you can do to avoid the foul mouthed person. You may consider chatting with other colleagues, put some good and soulful music, or visit some nice eatery for lunch. While the plan cannot be regarded absolutely perfect, yet with little practice it may ease the tension or make you feel less irritated all the time. Whenever a person is being rude to you, do not keep the emotions bottled up inside. Instead, try and reshape your thought processes. Taking an optimistic approach may prove helpful. Try and develop a lot of positive vibe. Do not spend your time alone and allow the sadness to sink deeper. Rather, keep yourself as busy as possible. Getting on with some productive work will definitely help a lot.
Project yourself as an example
More often than not, realization is something that comes late to a rude person. They continue unabashed and unaware, hurting so many people in the process. Hence, when somebody annoys you, refrain from getting impulsive or giving them a piece of your mind. Instead, for once follow their wishes politely. This will definitely impact the thought process of the person in question. It will make them feel ashamed of their immaturity and the way they have been behaving impolitely with others. The technique has benefited countless people back through time. It is also one that throws people off.
Interact less with the rude colleague
It is the innate nature of a rude person to behave impolitely all the time. Hence, if you feel that their behavior is too much for you to put up with, then start avoiding them. Maintain a safe distance from people for whom rudeness is a way of life. If possible, severe all ties with the rude person. However, if your work requires you to stay in touch with them constantly, try and keep the conversations sweet and short. Concentrate on things that need to be done, instead of on the rude colleague itself. Losing temper at the work place will only reflect your values in a negative manner. Hence, people who wish to deal with rude people at work must learn to respect their personal values on the outset.
Avoid the rude person
Try your best to avoid people who are impolite and rude. Whenever they attempt to strike up a conversation, find an excuse and simply walk away. This will help you in avoiding unnecessary conflicts and at the same time keep you protected from the rude person. Once your avoidance become clear to them, they will automatically stop contacting you. In case they ask you the reasons for avoiding their constant approaches, just say that you have been too busy with work to answer them. Once you stop going around with the person altogether, the hints will become clear to them.
Seek the help of higher authorities
When every attempt fails, resort to higher authorities for help. However, it has to be borne in mind that this is the last option you have. Hence, be sure not to use it until and unless you have nothing else to fall back on. Remember that you cannot use the option every time a colleague misbehaves with you. Complaining to the senior on a frequent note leaves them with a wrong impression about you. It indicates that you are incapable of managing things on your own. Therefore, when you find no other option of dealing with the rude person at work, go ahead and seek the assistance of your manager.
