Don’t know how to deal with an arrogant person and would like to change that? Is arrogance in your relationship spoiling your life with your partner? Or can you no longer stand an arrogant colleague and boss at work? In our article, you will learn how to recognise arrogant people and, above all, we will explain how to deal with them.
What is arrogance?
Arrogant also means insolent, proud, conceited, haughty or self-important, pompous and superior. An arrogant person undervalues and overlooks other colleagues, friends or family members. Arrogance towards other people is a negative trait.
The word arrogance comes from French, but its real origin lies in the Latin ad-rogans. Ad-rogans describes a person who claims the position, entitlements or rights of others. The word arrogance also had a meaning in Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks believed that if misfortune struck a person, it was caused by pride and arrogance shown towards the gods. Achilles and Odysseus had to bear misfortune for their arrogant behaviour. You can read their story in Homer’s books.
Arrogance in a relationship, how to deal with it
Does your partner feel they are unique, use you and others to achieve their aims or demand a lot of admiration? Do they think they can get away with anything and you will dance to their tune? How do you tell your partner that this is not the way?
There are two scenarios. The first is that you haven’t let anything show, but deep down their behaviour annoys and upsets you. Have you let your other half play games with you or say unkind things you don’t deserve? Enough. Stop doubting yourself and start saying out loud what you think. Communicate.
An arrogant partner often says things that hurt others. You must not keep it to yourself. Tell them: ‘You hurt me.’ Or: ‘What you’re saying isn’t nice.’ Only then will they realise what they are saying. And if they keep hurting you anyway, it’s time to say goodbye.
The second version is that you never keep your feelings to yourself and your conversations always end in an argument. In that case, only one rule applies: stay calm, and speak slowly, confidently and without strong emotion.
Never make assumptions about why your partner said what they did, ask them. Ask them one of the following questions and see what they answer:
- And why do you think that?
- Do you know how arrogant that sounds?
- Are you aware that there is more than one point of view?
Arrogance in a working relationship
Is your manager or colleague arrogant? You have surely tried talking to him normally, but without success. He won’t accept any discussion or compromise. He is always right and convinced of his own superiority and uniqueness. What can you do about it?
Build relationships, don’t destroy them.
Arrogance in the relationship between a manager and a subordinate is often a big problem in the workplace. Communicating with an arrogant boss takes patience, and you have to keep your nerves and fear in check. Don’t play his game. Create your own.
How to handle an arrogant boss
As I have already mentioned, keep a cool head and deal with everything completely calmly. Never humble yourself or put yourself down in front of an arrogant person. At the same time, though, don’t be the centre of attention, because he would start to see you as a rival and would destroy you. The arrogance of power is great.
Arrogant people like it when you agree with them, praise them and tell them how amazing and brilliant they are. But everything in moderation. Admire his latest project and try to get him to adopt your views and solutions as his own. This way you will win him over to your side and can push through the solutions or projects you propose, which he would otherwise never agree to.
If it doesn’t go so smoothly and the discussion is more likely to lead to conflict, point only to bare facts and research by prominent and important people in your field. Don’t speculate, don’t give your opinion, just stick to verified data.
If nothing helps, back down and walk away. It’s not for nothing that people say the wiser one gives way. It is only a matter of time before your arrogant manager ruins his own path to the top. People use arrogant behaviour to hide deep insecurity. And if your manager is a psychopath, then it’s better to leave the job altogether, as you only have one life.
We hope our article has given you a clearer picture of arrogant people and that you now know how to recognise them. I also hope that communicating with an arrogant person will now be easier for you. Why let other people’s arrogance ruin a great day?
