Having a rude coworker/colleague in a profession is the worst thing ever to happen to an employee. You have to live with it for the time being but not for the rest of your life. It is said that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. If you are to deal with rude coworkers it is easy when you develop a strong coping mechanism and the right strategies to implement it. You can lessen the damages it may cause to your professional and emotional life.
Researchers discovered that while the majority of employees experienced rudeness at work, these incidents were caused by a tiny percentage of coworkers. Although 70% of respondents reported being disrespectful at work, just 16% of workplace relationships were defined by rude behavior.
Here are 7 ways you can deal with a rude coworker.
1. Focus on yourself, not on others
Simply ignore them. Focus on improving yourself. Show what you’ve got. Put them in their place respectfully. Never stand to their level. Work harder, be better, make more money, be adored and get promoted.
You 100% control your own thoughts and reactions. Think good things about them and brush them off. You are not responsible for someone else’s attitude. Rudeness is a sort of disrespect, and you should never tolerate it; else, you will be fighting a constant war within yourself.
2. Avoid the person where possible
To deal with a rude coworker, stay clear from nonsense; it has a way of drawing you in if you don’t. Don’t sit in the lunchroom with these folks, don’t gossip about them, don’t lash out, and don’t let them know how much they annoy you. Be above it all by concentrating on yourself and your work, and you’ll set yourself up for success. Let your work/performance do the talking.
3. Don’t add to the noise with your negativity
Take a deep breath, sit back, and simply watch their show as if it were on a TV in the corner of a waiting room – you won’t be able to avoid seeing or hearing it, but you don’t have to pay attention, get involved, or become emotionally attached just because it’s on.
When it comes to dealing with rude coworkers and workplace drama, you want to make sure you’re in the audience rather than the cast. Unless they are harassing you or making it difficult to do your job, you just ignore them.
4. Try closing the conversation
Rude coworkers have the tendency to involve and blame you in unnecessary situations. The less you interact with them the less you are going to get the trouble. When you finish a conversation, smile and be friendly so the other person knows you enjoyed it and doesn’t assume you’re leaving it because you’re annoyed. Make a good statement, then say you have to leave or give a cause for the conversation to conclude.
Keep it strictly business, not every coworker is going to be a good friend. Know your roles and limit in the workplace. Also, you are not getting paid for talking extra to your coworkers. Keep your conversation short, simple and to the point. If they annoy you, closing the conversation is the best way of completing your task as well as getting out of their rudeness.
5. Approach the person politely in private
Be polite and direct. Many times the source of rudeness is misunderstanding the goal and ways of achieving a goal. Ask them what is causing the problem and find out the root cause of the misunderstanding. Even it may be your own behavior that is causing the problem. Be clear about it and try to solve it with mutual understanding. Sometimes, such mastery and artistic ability in speech are required to make your workspace friendly.
6. Discuss it with your superiors
Rudeness is a weak person’s idea of strength. If you are a manager, bring that person in as soon as possible and do not allow them to destroy morale. Point out their faults and give them an action plan. Let them know there is no alternative to the action plan that allows them to stay employed.
If unable to approach them, speak to your senior, or manager about your concerns, keep it professional, and courteous and never personalize a complaint or take it to a personal level within yourself. Also, let the HR department know about it. Let them handle it carefully because it is their work. It’s not your primary job to manage co-workers and their emotional/psychological part in the workspace.
7. Don’t stay in a toxic workplace
Living in a toxic workplace is never good for your emotional health and career objectives. You have to realize that you are doing that particular job either for money or to gain the relevant skills that you need to advance your career. It’s not your whole life and you are not going to stay there forever. It’s just a step in your career goal and you are going up to the next level when you are ready. If it is that time in your professional life, just wait for a favorable moment to come and leave the toxic workplace.
Moreover, if you never want to deal with a rude coworker, never have a coworker! Be an entrepreneur and start your own company.
To sum up
You may find rude coworkers in any profession. Unless they are really up in your face, simply rise above it. Keep your cool and make management aware. Try to deal with them with your own strategies.
If you can’t deal with the rude coworkers, just leave the job. Nobody should be subjected to rudeness and aggravation.
