A good way to address condescending behavior in the workplace is to have a conversation with the employee. Employees can calmly and professionally set a time to have a proper conversation with the condescending co-worker without making a scene.
In this post
How do you handle a condescending employee?
How to Deal with Condescending Coworkers
- 1 Stay calm in the moment.
- 2 Maintain neutral body language.
- 3 Try not to take the condescension personally.
- 4 Look for elements of truth in what they say.
- 5 Weigh the pros and cons of confrontation.
- 6 Ask to speak with your coworker in private.
- 7 Explain what you observed.
How do you professionally tell someone they are condescending?
Call Them On It. You can address bad office behavior by telling people when their actions are not okay 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.
What to say to someone who is condescending?
Keep calm.
In communicating with a condescending person, try not to lose your temper, since this can make the situation worse. Before replying to the person, pause for a moment and take a deep breath. Tell yourself something like “I’m trying to point out a problem, but I’m going to stay calm and be civil.”
What to say to an employee who is disrespectful?
How do you deal with disrespectful employees?
- Remain calm when facing disrespect. When someone is being disrespectful, it’s tempting to react with anger in the heat of the moment.
- Listen.
- Provide clear feedback.
- Document incidents.
- Be consistent.
- Enforce rules.
- Check in on other employees.
How do you tell an employee they need to improve their attitude?
Tips for speaking to an employee with an attitude
- Try to make the employee feel more comfortable.
- Focus on results and productivity, do not make it personal.
- Focus on the positive.
- Be specific, have an example of a bad attitude that you want changing and avoid being vague about what your issue is.
What causes a person to be condescending?
They’re looking for a way to to demonstrate their superiority and comfort themselves that you’re no threat to them and that they’re worthier than anyone else. Others who condescend may, in fact, think too much of themselves, and use condescension to make themselves the focus of attention.
How do you tell a coworker to stay in their lane?
You should also say, “To be clear, it’s fine to ask for more information about why we’ve chosen a particular direction if you genuinely want to better understand to do your own job better. But I need you to stop the frequent criticism of projects that you haven’t been involved with.”
What is condescending behavior?
Condescending behavior is having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority; showing that you consider yourself better or more intelligent. It is usually intended to make people feel bad about not knowing or having something and it often works.
How do you talk to an employee about their tone?
Give feedback that your employees can hear and use.
Do:
- Plan ahead by thinking about what you wish to convey and how you want to convey it.
- State factual observations of your employee’s actions. Then describe the impact of the behavior and why you believe it’s problematic.
- Engage in joint problem solving.
Why is my coworker so condescending?
In these cases, condescension can be traced back to insecurity, control issues and/or a wound from the person’s past. They believe there is something about themselves is lacking that must be compensated for. They feel a need to establish feelings of self-worth, or to not feel out of control of the situation.
What’s the difference between condescending and patronizing?
Condescending – “having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority.” Patronizing – “apparently kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority; condescending.”
How do you deal with disrespectful coworkers?
How to deal with a rude coworker
- Discuss with the team member in private and make your feelings known.
- Consider the cause of the behavior.
- Check with trusted colleagues and see if they notice the same thing.
- Detach from the situation and objectively observe.
- Limit your interactions as much as possible.
How do you coach an arrogant employee?
Coaching for Change: Developing Arrogant Employees
- Having trouble with overconfident employees? Use Ariel’s Coaching for Change tips to get them back on track.
- Set up an extended coaching session (or two or three).
- Start off with praise.
- Make a smooth feedback transition.
- Give forward-thinking developmental feedback.
How do you tell an employee to act more professionally?
Here are some tips for handling this conversation with ease.
- Put Aside Any Negative Feelings.
- Don’t Assume Bad Intent.
- Address It Early (and Privately)
- Reflect on the Person’s History.
- Consider Your Own Role.
- Ask Thoughtful Questions.
- Give Examples (But Avoid Being Accusatory)
- Keep an Eye on Their Progress.
What is considered disrespectful behavior in the workplace?
Disrespectful employees are verbally abusive and they use harsh and inappropriate words for other employees which sparks argument. It includes demeaning and insulting statements, shouting, throwing things while talking, and hostile tone. An employee is disrespecting by keeping a harsh tone.
How do you coach an employee with a negative attitude?
6 different approaches for how to coach an employee with a negative attitude
- Give them productive outlets.
- Give them some responsibility.
- Listen to the root cause.
- Get them to adjust their delivery of negative comments.
- Clarify their impact on the team.
- Increase their confidence.
How do you address a negative employee?
How to Manage a Negative Employee
- When We Can Work It out Doesn’t Work.
- Convey Their Negative Impact on the Team.
- Avoid Becoming Defensive.
- Ask About Problems Outside Work.
- Use Active Listening.
- Focus on Creating Solutions.
- Help Build Work Self-Image.
- Create Positive Interactions.
How do you counsel employees with attitude problems?
Provide examples of bad behavior – One way to make feedback specific is to highlight past examples of the employee’s poor attitude. Give actionable advice – After you provide examples of bad behavior, clearly let the employee know how they should have behaved so they know what is expected of them going forward.
What type of personality is condescending?
Condescending people think that they’re so much better than everyone else, and they treat them as if they were inferior. They ignore you or give you fake compliments to make it seem like they’re tolerant toward you, but deep down inside, all they want is to show off how smart and cool they are compared to the others.
What does disrespect look like at work?
Signs of disrespect in the workplace:
Managers micromanage everything and everyone. Those in charge continually change their mind without considering the impact on the rest of the team. Everyone feels replaceable within their role. There’s a lack of transparency—only certain team members are kept in the loop.