Don’t let other people bring you down. At work. Or anywhere.
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Recently, a marketing firm called to solicit my business. They wanted me to sign up for their services, which included an online forum to produce and market classes based on my content. The young marketing rep was explaining all the features and benefits to me.
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Among them was a commitment to help produce social media posts, he explained, asking me in a rather condescending tone, “Do you know what social media is, Lea?” Could he have been more patronizing—or less informed about his potential customer?
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Read the complete article now on The Muse.
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Patronizing people talk down to you. Their goal is to feel superior at your expense, resulting in you feeling belittled and inferior.
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You need a good game plan to defend against this type of behavior—or else your self-confidence is going to take a big hit.
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Try one of these strategies to keep your cool and not sink to the level of the offending party.
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1. Don’t Take it Personally
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2. Call Him on It
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3. Neutralize Your Body Language
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4. Ask for Clarification
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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.”
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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.
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