Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Stay calm
• Part 2 of 3: Avoiding conflict
• Part 3 of 3: Raising the Issue

Do you have an annoying coworker that you have to work with every day, or maybe a friend who is getting on your nerves and not sure how to deal with it? Dealing with annoying people is a life experience that can come in handy in many social situations, both personally and professionally. You can deal with people who get on your nerves by working hard on your composure and finding ways to avoid conflict with them. If you really can't stand the annoying person anymore, you may need to confront him or her about his or her behavior in a respectful and proactive way.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Stay calm

1. Take a deep breath and stay calm. While you may find it difficult to deal with an annoying person, strive to stay calm and collected. If you get angry, upset, or frustrated, it can only ruin your day and will have no real effect on how that person behaves. Instead of getting carried away with your emotions, take a deep breath and try to stay calm.
   • You can do deep breathing exercises, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath in through your nose from your diaphragm, followed by a deep exhale through your nose. You can take a few deep breaths to calm down and shut out the annoying person.
2. Don't respond to it. While you may be tempted to yell or swear at the person you find annoying, your response will only upset yourself and give the other person the attention they are looking for. Instead, try to let the person's words pass you by and not respond to them. Learning to deal with it by not responding can be a good way to get used to the annoying person and prevent the person from hitting you.
   • You can try repeating a word in your head to help you not respond to the person. This word can be "compassion" or "acceptance". Try to say the word in your mind over and over until it becomes a mantra on which to lean.
3. Try to empathize with the person. To keep your cool, it can help to view a situation or problem from the person's point of view. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment and think about why or how they got so annoying. Be empathetic and show him or her some compassion. This can help you stay calm and collected around such people.
   • Suppose the person who is always focused on the negative side of a situation has not had a very happy childhood and as a result has developed a tendency to see only the worst possible outcomes. Or perhaps the family member who is often too happy and enthusiastic about everything is in fact lonely and isolated in social life, trying to always project a sense of happiness.
4. Prepare some set sentences to say to the person. When you run into this person, you may be so frustrated that you end up saying something that hurts his or her feelings. To prevent this from happening, create a few set phrases that you can use to either start a conversation with the person or end the conversation.
   • "Hm, glad you said that because ..."
   • That is interesting. I don't know about that. "
   • "It was nice to see you, but I have to go now."
   • 'Sorry. I don't have time to talk now. Maybe another time.'
5. Take care of yourself. If you are hungry, tired, or stressed, it may be more difficult to keep your cool around someone who is annoying you. Make sure to practice good self-care to help you stay calm more easily. Some things you can do about good self-care are:
   • Get enough sleep.
   • Healthy food.
   • Exercise regularly.
   • Relax.

Part 2 of 3: Avoiding conflict

1. Set boundaries. If you find it difficult to be around the annoying person often, you may need to set boundaries so that you don't end up getting too emotionally involved. Setting boundaries for yourself is an important coping mechanism and will keep you from getting into conflict situations with the person.
   • You can try to spend less time around that person, such as just talking to them briefly in the morning at work and leaving the office for lunch. You can also answer your calls or texts only when you are free, instead of answering them immediately.
   • You can also try to stay calm and distant if the person is talking to you during meetings or social situations that you need to attend. By doing this, you can set personal boundaries to help you deal with the person's irritating nature.
   • For example, if the annoying person starts talking too loudly at a family dinner, you can keep your distance and focus in your mind on something else. This will allow you to shut the person out and stay calm.
2. Try to stay positive. You should also focus on the positive when you are around the person and try not to let his or her mood affect your mood. Being positive and proactive, rather than angry and reactive, can keep the person from annoying or bothering you.
   • One way you can appear positive is through open body language. This means that you maintain eye contact with the person and nod to show him or her that you have not been taken aback by him or her. You should also relax and keep your arms at your side.
   • Avoid a passive aggressive comment or a snide comment in response to the person. Instead, say something simple and polite, such as, "Thank you for sharing that with me" or "Sounds great".
3. Stay away from the person. If you are unable to deal with the annoying person despite trying to stay positive, you may be able to avoid being around the person. Keep your distance and look for ways to avoid spending time with the person. Sometimes the best way to deal with it is to distance yourself from the person and be out of touch for some time.
   • You can try to distance yourself from the person for a period of time to catch your breath. You may be skipping a family visit to avoid seeing the person for a while. Or maybe you choose assignments at work that the person isn't involved in so you don't have to work with that coworker.

Part 3 of 3: Raising the Issue

1. Find out what's going on. You may eventually have to confront the annoying person and try to work together on ways to address any issues you have with him or her. Before confronting the person, you should sit down and try to determine what is so annoying about the person. You may ask, "What is the person doing that annoys me so much?" Or "What is it about this person that I find annoying? You can then address the problem as soon as you become aware of what it is.
   • For example, you may be annoyed that your colleague is always late for meetings and has sloppy discussions with customers. You can then realize that you are annoyed by her behavior in general and how unprofessional she is acting.
   • Another example might be that you are annoyed by the way a family member always talks about themselves and ignore the problems of others. You can then realize that you are annoyed with him because he does not consider others.
2. Discuss the matter with the person. If you want to confront the person, you should do it privately in a quiet, private setting. You can ask the person if you can speak to them privately after work or call them and ask to talk to them privately. Try to speak to him or her in person, if possible.
   • Always speak in the first person and don't blame the other. For example, "I feel" or "I think". You can start the conversation by saying, "Listen, I need to let you know that your behavior annoys me."
   • You can then set out your thoughts and be honest about why the person is annoying you. You can say something like, "I feel like your late appearance at meetings and your carelessness is giving a bad impression of our team and of the company as a whole." I'm concerned that you will appear unprofessional to customers. "
   • "Or tell the family member," I feel like you don't consider others and focus only on your own needs. I am concerned that you are not as aware of others and their problems as you could be. "
3. Both come up with solutions. You should try to work with the person on possible solutions or adjustments to the negative behavior. It may be difficult for the person to accept your feedback, but afterward they may feel uncomfortable about their own behavior and be willing to try to adapt or change.
   • Immediately ask, "What can I do to better support you?" Or "How can I help you improve things?" Show the person that you want to work together to address the problem.
4. Ask for support. It can be difficult for the person to hear your feedback and they may end up upset or angry with you if you confront them. You need to be prepared for the conversation to get a little heated. You can talk to a supervisor at work, such as someone from Human Resources, a close friend, or another family member, and ask them to support you if the conversation gets too intense.
   • You should try to get support leading up to the conversation with the person who is annoying you, as your colleagues or friends may be able to give you suggestions on how to deal with the problem.
   • Avoid gossiping or talking to anyone about others in their workspace, their group of friends, or within your family, as this can only make the problem worse. Instead, try to speak respectfully to others about the person and seek advice on how best to handle the situation.