How to Handle a Rude Comment at Work

1. Accept Your Emotional Response to the Comment Consider how the comment makes you feel and why it makes you feel a certain way. Your emotional response to a comment is valid, no matter how you feel. Meanwhile, think about why the worker or customer that made the comment may have done so in the first place. If you empathize with the worker or customer, you may be better equipped than ever before to respond to this individual without causing any conflicts.

2. Weigh the Pros and Cons of Your Potential Responses Examine how you can respond to the comment both in the moment and in the future. For example, you may choose to confront a coworker or customer about a comment as soon as you hear it. You can ask questions to learn about the comment and share your feelings about it with the individual who said it. On the other hand, you may choose to let a comment go without confrontation. But, doing so may cause you to experience internal turmoil. Ultimately, any response you choose has its pros and cons. Evaluate your options closely, and you can select a response that aligns with who you are and what you're all about.

3. Use "I" Statements If you speak directly to a coworker or customer about a rude comment, utilize "I" statements to describe your feelings about it. This allows you to avoid assigning blame for the comment. Conversely, you can let the individual that made the comment know how you feel and allow him or her to respond accordingly.

4. Consult with Your Manager Speak to your manager about a rude comment that you are struggling to address. Your manager can discuss the comment with you and offer tips and recommendations on how to deal with it.

How You Respond to a Rude Comment at Work Can Help You in the Long Run No one likes dealing with a rude comment at work or anywhere else. Regardless, how you respond to a comment can help you grow your career. If you respond to a comment with poise and composure, you may prevent such comments at work moving forward. Plus, you may be able to show your manager and coworkers that you are worthy of a work promotion. Lastly, if you are looking for opportunities to take your career to the next level, Ascend Staffing can assist. We can put you in touch with employers searching for talent to fill full-time, part-time, and temporary roles. Browse our job board today.