4 Better Ways to Handle a Condescending Co-Worker Than Stooping to His Level

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1. Don't Take it Personally

First and foremost, keep calm and carry on, as they say. If you take things personally, it'll feel like this person is attacking you, and in turn, you'll trigger a fear response mechanism in your brain.

When that happens you tend to make less clear and logical decisions, and you resort to more emotional ones. Remember, this person might be trying to provoke you. And if you let her, say, by lashing out to defend yourself and telling her what a jerk she is, you'll just be playing right into her hands. Be calm, positive, and never underestimate the power of kindness in a negative situation.



2. Call Him on It

You can address bad office behavior by telling people when their actions are not OK with you. Calmly and professionally call out the patronizing person without without making a scene or being dramatic by pointedly yet politely saying, "Gee, that comment sounded a bit condescending to me. Mind dropping the attitude?" Hopefully, he takes you up on the do-over opportunity.

If you're feeling defensive and as though you might react emotionally, the best thing might be to walk away and not deal with this person right now. You can say something like, "When you're ready to speak to me in a less condescending tone, I'll be at my desk." This gives you a chance to breathe, decompress, and gather your thoughts before speaking to this person again.



3. Neutralize Your Body Language

Assuming that the annoying co-worker is trying to provoke you, it's best to respond as neutrally as possible. That means maintaining positive body language and non-hostile expressions. Avoid pointing fingers, rolling your eyes, invading the person's personal space, and crossing your arms. Those are signals that tell her she nailed it—if, in fact, she was trying to piss you off.

Do your best to maintain a calm and neutral demeanor. Stand up straight, take up your space, don't shrink back in offense, and hold your ground—both physically and mentally.



4. Ask for Clarification

Some colleagues may come from a different workplace culture or be accustomed to speaking to others in a certain way that they don't recognize as being inappropriate. Your co-worker who asks if you understand the boss' memo in a tone that you find reproachable? He may literally be clueless, completely unaware of how he's offended you. If your co-worker has other recognizable good traits, and the occasional dip into this kind of rudeness is rare, you might want to focus on the context of what he's saying and not the tone.

If you need to, ask for clarification. You could say something like, "I want to make sure we're on the same page and what you're saying now is throwing me off. I understand [what your co-worker's being condescending about], is there anything else I'm missing?"

Depending on your comfort level with this colleague, you could consider letting him know how you (and possibly others) are perceiving the message based on tone of voice. He may appreciate the heads up.


Remember that other people's behavior is always more about them than it is about you. An excerpt from Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, explains this idea well: "What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering."

You may not be able to change the behavior of others, but you can at least learn to effectively deal with them to minimize the impact and suffering on you, your confidence, and your work.

https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-better-ways-to-handle-a-condescending-coworker-than-stooping-to-his-level