How to Deal with a Narcissist at Work when you are your job but not the environment? If you are struggling with a narcissist at work, there is help available. With the right support, you can learn how to deal with narcissistic behaviour and restore your sanity.
If you find yourself dealing with a narcissist at work, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, don’t take anything that they say seriously.
10 Ways to Deal with Narcissists at Work
Recognize that something is wrong
First things first: It’s important to recognize that not all narcissists are bad. In fact, some may be very successful in their field or positions. They may seem like great leaders or managers. But, inside they’re empty and self-centred people who only care about themselves.
Recognize that something is wrong and take action on autopilot by talking to someone about what’s going on. You may not be able to fix everything yourself, but getting an outside perspective will help you make better decisions moving forward.
Set boundaries
Narcissists love chaos and disorder; if there are clear lines between what is yours and what isn’t theirs, they won’t be able to compete effectively.
Draw arbitrary lines where necessary (like keeping personal belongings out of office space), enforce time limits for conversations/ visits/ and so on.
Set specific times for returned phone calls/emails etc., establish ground rules for social activities (eagers let events such as happy hours happen exclusively during working hours), etc..
Try not to take everything the narcissist says seriously.
Remember that they’re probably feeling insecure and paranoid right now due to their own low self-esteem issues. Ignore anything they say that makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened.” Be honest with the narcissist about your concerns.
Point out that their behaviour is making you feel uncomfortable and stressed, and ask them to stop. If they don’t respond or continue to behave in a harmful way, it may be necessary to take measures such as filing a complaint with an HR department or taking legal action.
It can be hard to deal with a narcissist at work, especially if you’re the target of their abuse. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Narcissists often prey on people who feel vulnerable and insecure, which is why they typically attack their targets from behind the scenes.
Be self-aware
Narcissists are often extremely self-centred, and they view everything through the lens of their own needs and desires. This makes it hard for them to empathize or respond positively towards other people’s feelings or needs.
To survive in such an environment, you need to have good self-awareness and know how to protect yourself from narcissistic attacks.
Keep your head up
Don’t let them get to you emotionally or intellectually. Remember that they won’t care about your feelings one way or another, so don’t waste your energy trying to understand them or placate them.
Don’t engage
Avoiding conversations will only make things worse because narcissists thrive off of attention and interaction. Resist the urge to respond when they yell or berate you–it only makes things worse.
Document everything
Keep track of what was said and what was agreed upon so that there is unimpeachable evidence should anything happen later on (i.e., filing a sexual harassment complaint). This will help prove your case if necessary..
Most importantly, remember that any type of relationship with a narcissist is toxic and ultimately harmful. You deserve better than this, no matter how painful it may be right now.
Don’t react emotionally
Narcissists thrive off of reactions from other people, so try not to feed into their antics by getting emotional. Keep your composure and maintain control over your emotions in order to remain levelheaded and focused.
Don’t Respond Directly
Don’t respond directly to the narcissist’s comments or demands. Instead, stick to your objectives and focus on doing your job properly. Let them talk to other people if that is what they need – you don’t want anything to do with them anyway!
Have a clear Objective
If you want to survive working closely with a narcissistic person, it’s important that you keep an open mind and refrain from letting your emotions get in the way of rational thought or decision-making. Remember: They don’t care about you or what will make YOUR life easier; they only care about themselves!
Stay organized
A chaotic work environment is best avoided when possible, so be sure to keep all of your paperwork neat and tidy (and avoid bringing any unnecessary drama into the office). Also note that narcissists tend towards poor time management skills, so keeping track of deadlines can be extremely challenging for them.
Stay calm
It’s important not to react emotionally to what is happening; instead, remain composed and levelheaded throughout the entire process. This will help you stay in control and minimize damage done both to yourself and your team.
Don’t let them win!
If possible, try to stand up for yourself no matter what even if that means drawing attention to their behaviour. Narcissists believe that they are always right, so trying put them in their place will make them feel uncomfortable and insecure about themselves.
Seek professional counseling.
If you feel like you can’t handle this on your own, talking to a therapist could be a beneficial step. They can help focus and organize your thoughts, which can make dealing with this challenge much easier.
Stay away from conversations about work unless absolutely necessary
It’s easy for a narcissist to turn workplace discussion into an opportunity to micromanage or criticize you. Stick to topics such as food preferences or leisure activities instead.
Stick together
It’s important that you support one another during this tough time. Build alliances with other employees who can help protect each other, and stay away from direct confrontation or argumentation with the narcissist – it’ll just backfire!
Avoid confrontation
It will only make things worse! Instead, keep track of all the times the narcissist has wronged you (and document them), and take action based on that information later on when conditions are right.
Bottom Line
Finally, remember that YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NARCISSIST’S FEELINGS OR BEHAVIOR! Do whatever necessary steps necessary to protect yourself from harm, but don’t let them control your life or emotions.
Remember that you have rights both at work and outside of work – be sure to speak up if something is wrong! You deserve to be treated fairly and with respect no matter what situation you’re in.
This is how to deal with a narcissist at work. Do comment below if you have faced or are facing any such situation.