If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve needed a lesson on in the past it\u2019s tricks for handling rude people, because I\u2019ve had periods of time when I\u2019ve admittedly had the shortest fuse ever. All it took was someone to look at me the wrong way and I\u2019d be set off. Those days are far in the past now though \u2014 thankfully for both me and those around me \u2014 but it doesn\u2019t change the fact that I\u2019ve had to go over, and over, and over different tactics for managing the rude people I encounter. Now, I\u2019m much happier, kinder, and oddly enough, more productive.<\/p>\n
All of us encounter our fair share of difficult people in our lives. Some creep up on us while we\u2019re ordering our daily coffee at Starbucks, others sit next to us every day at work, and yet others might even be those we\u2019re in intimate relationships with. No matter who it is, it\u2019s so important that we take time and consider ways to properly handle our reactions to them. It\u2019s really easy to give these people an attitude in return, particularly when it\u2019s someone we don\u2019t think we\u2019ll ever see again. However, by stopping, thinking, and responding correctly, you can walk away from the interaction feeling much more pleasant. Here are eight tricks I\u2019ve learned and practiced over time to help deal with any of the rude people I encounter.<\/p>\n
1. Take A Deep Breath, And Think Before You Speak
\nBack in my mean days, when someone would be rude to me, my very first thought would be to give it right back to them. It was a terrible mindset, I know. It took me a while to realize this, but taking a moment before you respond to someone who has just been rude to you can make all the difference. Specifically, it could mean the difference between a huge (and likely unnecessary) fight and a fairly civil interaction. What I like to do is physically pause, take a giant deep breath, and clear my mind before moving forward at all.<\/p>\n
2. Keep Calm
\nAccording to RobertHalf.com \u2014 a staffing service company’s blog that offered advice on handling workplace rudeness \u2014 you can effectively discourage rudeness by remaining calm and appearing in control on your response(s). That deep breath you already took? It relaxed you a bit, right? Keep that low-key momentum going throughout the interaction.<\/p>\n
3. Consider The Other Person\u2019s Point Of View
\nKeep in mind that it could be the person\u2019s behavior that day, and not the person themselves, that\u2019s causing them to be cranky to you. If you know the person, and are aware that they are not a bad person, consider it situational. Based on the scenario, quickly consider their side of the argument. Is it possible their point is valid as well? Oppositely, if you know this rude person well and this is just how they seem to act every single day, it might be a larger issue for the two of you to work on. We\u2019ll get to that!<\/p>\n
4. Consider What The Other Person Might Be Going Through
\nSometimes people are rude for a reason other than the exact situation at hand. Maybe they have a parent who\u2019s sick in the hospital, or are currently unable to pay any of their bills, or are going through a nasty divorce. These are all things you might be completely unaware of, but could be eating them up inside, thus their rude behavior. My mom used to tell me, \u201cput yourself in the other person\u2019s shoes\u201d \u2014 and this is exactly what she was referring to. Practice empathy here, where possible. Even my man Dr. Phil agrees that it\u2019s extremely important to have empathy when dealing with rude people.<\/p>\n
5. Take A Moment To Choose The Right Approach
\nTake a moment or two to stop and think about the consequences and if it\u2019s worth a dispute. According to WebMD, when dealing with a difficult person, it\u2019s a good rule of thumb to talk things over only if it\u2019s someone you\u2019re close to. Otherwise \u2014 if it\u2019s someone you rarely see, or especially someone you might not ever see again, there\u2019s simply no need to pick the situation apart together. Rather, be as kind as possible to them, and move on. If this is someone close to you, though, let\u2019s talk about what the conversation could look like\u2026<\/p>\n
6. If You\u2019re Going To Talk It Out, Do So Mindfully
\nWith this person who you\u2019re close with, or someone you have to deal with regularly, it\u2019s best to come to the table with specific examples of how the person has offended you and what you deem the problem to be, according to WebMD. It\u2019s also helpful to outline the things you want to change, as to help make things smoother between you and Madam Rude in the future.<\/p>\n
7. Resist Responding To Rudeness With Rudeness
\nAccording to RobertHalf.com, responding to the offending person with rudeness \u2014 particularly when it comes to workplace interactions \u2014 is not going to get you anywhere. In fact, at work, this can lead to trouble for you. Would it really be worth it to be reprimanded by your boss for something you didn\u2019t even initiate? No way! Also, if you don\u2019t allow yourself to get overly worked up, angry or rude, you\u2019ll likely find yourself happier due if only due to your own positive vibes.<\/p>\n
8. When All Else Fails, Kill ‘Em With Kindness
\nIt may seem like a phony way to handle it, but it\u2019s better than sparking a huge feud, am I right? According to CNN, your kind attitude in response to them may ultimately improve their attitude in a positive way. Not only will you feel happy and positive, perhaps they will feel happy and positive because of you. Of course, this isn\u2019t foolproof (we all know those extremely cranky Scrooges that wouldn\u2019t crack a smile even if we handed them a million dollars cash), but it\u2019s surely worth a try.<\/p>\n
By following some of these tricks, you might quickly find yourself feeling extremely proud of how you\u2019re handling the many difficult people you\u2019re likely to encounter. There might never be a world without rude people, but there can be one where you respond to them pleasantly and commendably \u2014 and that sounds like a good world to me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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