How do you respond to somebody being rude to you at work when you can’t walk away?

4 comments

1. I usually don’t say much. If someone’s being rude to me it’s more their problem than it is mine. I let them finish, say I understand their frustration, and ask them what they want me to do to help. It usually works.. I guess it depends on if it’s a coworker/boss/client/customer though..

2. Depends on who. Is it a big boss that might get me fired for talking back? A client? Someone from another team? One of my assistants?

   It could be anything from “you’re being unnecessarily hostile, please do not talk like that” to just staying silent and then mentioning it to my boss and asking for help dealing with it.

3. Look at them with a blank stare and ask them to repeat themselves.

4. Let them finish. Give a basic, polite reply and don’t engage any further.