- Don’t Take it Personally. First and foremost, keep calm and carry on, as they say. …
- Call Him on It. You can address bad office behavior by telling people when their actions are not OK with you. …
- Neutralize Your Body Language. …
- Ask for Clarification.
Benefits of dealing with condescending coworkers
The following are a few of the most significant advantages of working with such colleagues:
How to handle condescending coworkers
Consider following these steps when presented with such a scenario:
1. Keep in mind that it is a purely professional situation
Avoiding taking it personally is usually the first thing you need to do when dealing with any interpersonal issues at work. Despite the fact that people naturally take such comments and actions personally, you must always remember that this is a work situation and that you are not the target of any personal animus.
You can avoid being impacted by certain comments and behaviors and maintain the mental clarity necessary to respond to them appropriately by always keeping professional and personal situations separate.
2. Identify the elements of their behavior
You should observe your coworker for a while to pinpoint specific instances and circumstances in which their behavior can be objectively deemed inappropriate before bringing up the matter with them.
This can include a variety of remarks, deeds, and other behavioral components. A thorough account of such incidents can demonstrate to your coworker that you put some thought and effort into this situation.
3. Consider the level of truth in their remarks
You can also evaluate what your coworker said to see if their statements are at least partially accurate if you don’t take the situation personally. Despite the fact that they didn’t convey their message in a constructive manner, some of it might contain constructive criticism that you can use to enhance your performance at work. Analyzing your remarks can give you logical arguments to counter them even if you don’t find any truth in them.
4. Keep a positive attitude
You should avoid adopting that attitude and instead be as positive and upbeat as you can, even though the majority of these behaviors and remarks are the result of a negative attitude. You must keep in mind that being angry and generally having a negative attitude, even when provoked, is not likely to solve the situation, even though this is typically harder in theory than in practice. Working on maintaining a positive outlook in challenging circumstances can help you achieve the mental clarity necessary to successfully navigate them.
5. Speak to them about it
After considering their comments and managing to remain composed and upbeat, you must firmly inform the coworker that their attitude is inappropriate. As this type of conversation typically works best when there are no other participants, you should request to speak with them in private.
Before explaining the situation, you should firmly inform them that your goal is to forge an amicable and constructive relationship with them rather than to criticize or attack them.
Instead of directly criticizing their actions, you should convey to them how their words or behavior affected you in a professional manner. This increases the likelihood that the coworker won’t feel cornered and will recognize that the problem is how their behavior affects others. You should remain composed and committed to building a new foundation for your professional relationship regardless of their response.
6. Prepare for resistance
You should be aware that there’s a good chance the coworker won’t acknowledge that their conduct is improper right away. Given that you have had more time to develop your arguments than they have, you must be ready for them to refute you and present your case calmly. Your chances of convincing your coworker to change their behavior increase if you politely and professionally address each of their concerns one at a time.
7. Mention what you appreciate about them
Additionally, your coworker needs to be aware that not everything they do or say is the cause of your problems. Outlining the qualities you appreciate about them, which may include both professional and personal qualities, will help you keep the conversation positive. This can demonstrate to your coworker that your concerns are professional and that you are able to evaluate them objectively.
8. Try to approach each issue individually
If your coworker acknowledges that some aspects of their behavior were inappropriate, you should try to address those aspects one at a time because bringing them up all at once might make your coworker feel defensive and uncomfortable. Talking about a single problem can help them concentrate and become genuinely motivated to find a solution.
9. Ask a supervisor for help
You should speak with your direct supervisor if calmly addressing the issues with your coworker hasn’t helped and if they are affecting your ability to produce quality work. One of the main responsibilities of a manager is overseeing interoffice communications, and they typically have the power to act right away.
Similar to how you would explain the situation to a coworker, you should describe specific instances of the behavior in question to your supervisor. Also, you should emphasize your desire for a positive resolution.
When Someone is Belittling & Condescending
FAQ
How do you tell a coworker they are condescending?
Be professional. Instead of using “You” language (you are so condescending in the way you talk to me), use “I” language (I feel devalued as a person when you speak to me in a condescending tone). It’s less confrontational and easier to receive.
What are the signs of a toxic coworker?
Using phrases like “well, that’s never happened to me,” “acting as if you know everything and are not open to new ideas,” “well, that’s never happened to me,” or “well, that’s never happened to me” when upset are examples of condescending behavior. Unsolicited advice is also an example of condescending behavior, unless you are a supervisor.
When an employee is condescending?
- If they’re rude and disrespectful.
- If they’re confrontational and aggressive.
- If they blame others for their mistakes.
- If they’re always greedy and unsatisfied.
- If they act like they know everything.
- If they regularly undermine others with sarcasm and mockery
