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But the advice still stands. I had tons of experience with jerks including as being one and realizing how I was best dealt with. People who get the job done and make the company money should be tolerated even if they're jerks; I tolerated productive jerks who worked for me and would even cater to them, whatever got the job done best and made the contractor money satisfied my ego. When you're mature you realize that you should never kiss ass up but kissing ass down or laterally is often productive. Big men can kiss ass down or over. But never up, never. Indeed, willingness to kiss ass down is a show of REAL power.
[quote=STT Resident;22492483]I had experience with someone who exactly fits that description. I did exactly the opposite of what christina proposes. I simply called him out in front of the office every time he was rude or condescending - but with a big smile and a cheery tone of voice, as in, "Oh no, what did I do/say to deserve THAT look/tone of voice?" It worked like a charm and before long he was acting "normally".[/quote]
Not good advice for male on male... Might start a fight, lol
I continue to have frustrations with a co-worker. He is in a lateral, or slightly lower, position than I am. We report to the same boss, but he also reports to me for some items. Yet I sense no respect from.
Today at a meeting I was leading, he had an expression that made it clear it was a total waste of his time. Many times when I speak to or email him, he answers either abruptly and rudely, or in a condescending tone.
He has an attitude about him that conveys that what he is working on is infinitely more important than anyone else is working on. For example, we recently reorganized and were supposed to move closer to other departments so we could communicate better. After one day however, he moved back to his old cubicle near the boss's office (actually he tried to snag a recently-vacated corner office but that got shot down). His reasoning was that what he was working on was so sensitive he couldn't risk having people walk by his desk and seeing what was on his screen.
It's not like I've been promoted above him even though he has better qualifications. He has about 8 years less work experience than I do. He has a bachelor's degree, I have a masters. I've been with company a few months longer than he has.
He does good work and is smart. It just really seems like he's lacking respect for certain people, when he believes he could do their jobs better. Apparently that includes me. This is really the first time I've dealt with this kind of situation. What have you all done?
Been there done that! You are singing to the choir. I had a female employee once who was rude and manipulative mainly to me. I am the OM in a medical office. She wanted my job and did everything that she could to try to get me fired. Eventually she ended up quitting and finding another place to terrorize! She didn't last long there either. My boss - the doctor just loved her though!
I forgot to add that the terrorist secretary I was referring to was an excellent worker, but not an excellent employee if that makes sense! She was very organized and punctual and on her good days could be very witty and likeable.
Jesus Christ, so you think one of the people you work with is an jerk, big deal, there are millions of jerks out there. Just put your nose to the grindstone and do your own job and quit worrying about how he does his job. Grow a thicker skin.
That's good advice if the jerk isn't involved in any projects that you're working on.
If the OP has to deal with this person in any assignments and has deadlines to meet there are people who will go out of their way to sabotoge a project to make someone else look bad.
I worked with someone just like that.
We had a meeting with a very upset client who started the meeting off by saying "I'm going to play bad cop" and then went on tirade.
This "jerk" could hardly contain their delight. I could never understand it, because they were part of the same dept, yet they would do things(including holding on to customer requests so that projects would be delayed) to make others look bad.
It wasn't normal behavior, a normal person wouldn't risk making their whole dept. look bad like that.
We were able to turn around the "bad cop's" opinion and after the meeting the jerk actually stormed off and sulked. They were upset that issues were cleared up.
There are people out there who if you have to interact with them, or work on a project with, you better document and CYA and speak to someone higher up about the problem.
Until I experienced it first hand, I couldn't believe people at work would do this.
He's not directing his attitude at you specifically so there's absolutely no need for you to respond specifically. Just do your job. There are all kinds of personalities and attitudes in the workplace and if you want a successful career, you need to learn to adapt to them so you can still get your work done.
Maybe the guy's just a jerk, or maybe he's acting this way because, despite your comparitive equality, behind the scenes he's being paid far less than you, or was promised something from the company that he's not getting. You don't know, and it ain't your business, and when it comes to your career, it doesn't matter why he is the way he is.
If the situation gets to the point that he is interfering with your ability to get your job done, then speak to your supervisor, but be careful to keep the conversation focused on tasks not on attitudes or personalities. Complaining to your boss simply because you don't like him is going to make you the problem in the eyes of management.
In my experience, people with attitude problems oftentimes dig their own grave, they don't need any help from you! In this case, for example, his decision to relocate back to his old desk could indeed cause communication issues with the other departments that will ultimately reflect in his work product and be detrimental to his career.
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