It’s important not to try to one-up them. If you do, you’re escalating the situation which will cause them to escalate. They’ll double-down and you’ll have an even bigger headache to deal with. Instead of shoving back, try leaning into it instead. A good way to lean in is by asking their opinion on something or utilizing some of their good ideas where you can, then praising them for it. In many cases, it can’t be about winning because you can’t win.
6. Be direct when necessary.
Stay direct, fact-oriented, and to the point. The more direct you are, the less material they have to use against you. Furthermore, facts are powerful because it’s much harder to dispute them, particularly if you won’t argue semantics with them. In many cases, they will try to argue around the facts or your point to prove you wrong and elevate themselves in the situation. Bring them back to the point, and make sure they stay on topic.
7. Don’t compete.
Try not to engage in direct competition with this type of person whenever you can avoid it. They’re likely to escalate things and take them much further than you would, since their actions often stem from insecurity rather than reason. Instead, stay focused on your own goals and stand up for yourself when necessary. Individuals who believe they’re superior may attempt to claim credit for your hard work — don’t allow that to happen.
8. Use humor.
A lighthearted comment can diffuse tension and disarm arrogance by preventing a situation from escalating. It’s a common technique that works so well because it pulls a train of thought from anger and combativeness to interpreting the humor. They may not laugh or engage, but the important thing is that the humor disrupts the escalation going on in their head.
9. Lean on supportive people.
You might encounter situations where you feel drained, often in a work environment. This can happen when you’re forced to spend excessive time around someone who tries to diminish you to boost themselves. Having supportive people around can help keep you grounded and encouraged, especially when your mental health, life challenges, or negative individuals threaten to pull you down.
10. Walk away.
Sometimes, the only solution is to walk away from the situation. Of course, there are situations where you can’t just do that. There may be a familial connection that you can’t break or a job that you can’t just leave. In that case, if the person’s attitude continues to harm your well-being, you may have to limit your actions or distance yourself from that person. The “gray rock” method is to make yourself unnoticeable and as disengaged as a gray rock by not engaging. It works.
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