Workplace tension can occur in any office, as organizations deal with shifting deadlines and pressures. Encountering rudeness from colleagues disrupts productivity, morale, and overall well-being. However, knowing how to handle these situations effectively is crucial for maintaining a healthy and harmonious work environment. Working through rudeness can help you develop stronger long-term relationships with coworkers and managers and help prevent similar challenges in the future. Let’s look at a few strategies and techniques to navigate the complexities of dealing with rude coworkers.
By equipping ourselves with the right tools, we can assert our boundaries, maintain professionalism, and foster a more respectful and collaborative workplace culture.
Recognizing and Understanding Different Rude Behaviors
You should be able to recognize different types of rude behavior, so that you can seek resolution using the appropriate means. There are basically four types, and we have all encountered them. It is your reaction that matters the most.
- Verbal Rudeness – The coworker who never misses an opportunity to make a snide remark or belittle others. Verbal rudeness includes such behavior as sarcasm, insults, and offensive language.
- Passive-aggressive – You will recognize this behavior when a coworker indirectly expresses their aggression or frustrations through subtle actions like giving backhanded compliments or intentionally being uncooperative.
- Microaggression – These are like tiny paper cuts – eating away at your sanity. They can be seemingly innocent comments or actions that subtly undermine someone’s identity or marginalize certain groups.
- “Dropping the Dime” – This includes people openly and secretly talking badly about you or your performance. It’s terrible in a public setting and it is insidious when performed behind your back.
Tips for Dealing with Rude Behavior
First, establishing boundaries while maintaining your professionalism. Let your coworkers know what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. Communicate your expectations clearly, both individually and as a team, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
If possible, responding assertively without escalating the situation. Always try to maintain your cool, even when faced with rudeness. Addressing the behavior calmly and directly, while expressing how it affects you and the team. Lead by example and avoid stooping to their level or becoming aggressive yourself.
Focus on being the professional that you are, during the rudeness storm. Continue to do your job to the best of your abilities with a good example. Your colleagues will notice the stark contrast between your behavior and that of the rude coworker.
Second, work on effective communication strategies for dealing with rude coworkers. This may be harder than it seems. It is essential to listen actively and genuinely try to understand where the person is coming from. When cultivating empathy, you may find common ground along with a way to address their underlying concerns. In turn the rude person may become an advocate rather than a critic.
Ratcheting Up
You may try to take the high road and let the rude behavior slide, but sometimes you will need to perform some form of conflict resolution – in private. You may find addressing rude behavior will require you to provide open and honest communication with the guilty party. When doing so, provide constructive feedback to the individual, while focusing on the impact of their behavior rather than attacking them personally. If this is not working, you may then rightfully involve a coworker, mediator, or human resources person to assist in the conflict resolution. The boss is busy and does not want to know – unless the behavior has crossed a workplace boundary.
As a final note, make sure to document the incident, even if it is just a personal note. Keeping a record will be helpful if things do not change and you decide to take further action. Include the date, time, and a detailed description of what happened and your actions. Include any coworkers that may have been present. Send it in an email to yourself so that it has a time date stamp. This record will be essential, should you need to provide evidence of ongoing rudeness. Plus, it always feels satisfying to organize your thoughts and write things down.
