Do you ever think to yourself, “Am I the only one dealing with a narcissist at work”? You are certainly not alone. It can be very difficult trying to navigate an office space on a daily basis when your coworker or supervisor is exhibiting traits of narcissistic personality disorder. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by their behavior, it’s time to take some steps to protect yourself and manage the situation effectively. In this blog post, Darren Dohme discusses five key strategies that will help you cope with being a narcissist in the workplace so that you can focus on being successful without sacrificing your mental well-being.
Darren Dohme Lists Ways To Deal With A Narcissist At Work
1. Set boundaries: Establishing clear, firm boundaries with a narcissist is key to preventing yourself from overworking or being taken advantage of. Darren Dohme recommends explaining to them what you can and cannot do and setting consequences for when they violate your space or integrity. Make sure that the boundaries are reasonable and will be respected by both parties.
2. Avoid Confrontation: Narcissists don’t take kindly to criticism or confrontation, so it’s best to avoid engaging in any type of argument with them as much as possible. If need be, handle any disputes or issues calmly and professionally but never give in to their emotional manipulations – if you do, then it only reinforces their behavior and encourages it in the future.
3. Document Everything: Documents such as emails, texts, notes, and other written communications can be extremely helpful when working with a narcissist. Having evidence of conversations or agreements can help protect you and your rights if something goes wrong. It also serves to keep them accountable for their own actions, which can often serve as a deterrent for bad behavior in the future.
4. Maintain Professionalism: While it may be hard to resist engaging in drama or gossip around the office, try your best to maintain professionalism at all times. If a narcissist is trying to get you involved in their games or attempts to manipulate the situation, just walk away from it – don’t participate or encourage it anyway.
5. Seek Support: Don’t suffer alone – seek out support from your supervisor, HR representatives, or even colleagues that are in the same boat as you. Having someone to vent your frustrations to can be a great help, and it also serves to strengthen relationships among coworkers.
6. Take Care of Yourself: Working with a narcissist can be emotionally draining, so make sure to take care of yourself. Find healthy outlets such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with supportive people who can help remind you of your worth and provide reassurance that everything will be okay in the end. Self-care is essential in any difficult situation!
7. Speak Up: If all other methods fail, then speak up for yourself when necessary but don’t forget to stay on topic and remain professional at all times. According to Darren Dohme, narcissists have a tendency to try and derail conversations, so consider writing down what you want to say before saying it out loud – this way, you’ll be able to stay on track no matter how much they try to distract or manipulate the conversation.
Darren Dohme’s Concluding Thoughts
Overall, dealing with a narcissist can be difficult, but if approached in the right manner, then it’s absolutely doable, says Darren Dohme. Establishing boundaries, avoiding confrontation, documenting everything, maintaining professionalism, and speaking up for yourself can all help protect your rights and make sure that narcissist is held accountable for their own actions. Self-care is also essential when trying to cope with such an individual, so don’t forget to take care of yourself as well! With enough perseverance and determination, you’ll be able to make it through this situation in no time.