Dealing with a Rude Senior at Work: How Can I Manage My Emotions and Stay Focused?

Dear Seniors,

This is Saba from Mumbai. I am working as an HR Executive (Generalist) in an IT company. I was a fresher when I started working here. Now, it has been 8 months, and I have been enjoying my work here. However, recently, I have been feeling upset because a senior person from my company is always rude and arrogant towards me. I am unsure of what problem she has with me. Initially, she was very good to me, but now, whenever I talk to her, she behaves very rudely. This behavior is really affecting my morale, and I find it difficult to focus on my work. People often say that one should not mix personal life with professional life, but whenever I see her around, I feel a surge of anger inside, and I do not feel like talking to her. What should I do? Please help.

Thank you.

I am Mouli from Hyderabad. I am also working as an HR Executive in the power sector for a year. I would like to advise you not to overthink it. Keep focusing on your work and avoid getting involved in any disputes. Just communicate with her as necessary and maintain a professional and decent interaction. I also suggest applying the same approach with your other colleagues. Foster a professional relationship and be friendly, but remember to maintain appropriate boundaries in the office. I hope my suggestions will be helpful.

Regards,
Mouli Shrivastava

In my experience, wherever you go, you may encounter such personalities. Though she is experienced, the tendency is that she may want you to depend on her for all your work. Just let it go their way; do your work. Give her the usual respect. Get her comments on important work. But don't smile when you look at her in the workplace. This is the right learning stage. In HR, you have to face many obstacles like this.

All the best. Have a bright future.

Regards,
Sekar K

Thank you all for your valuable suggestions. @mouli: You are right, one should always be professional in the office. It took some time for me to learn that this is not my college and not everyone here is a friend. There is competition in every step you take, and there are people who are always behind you, trying to pull you back. Thank you all.

I am happy that my suggestion will work for you. Hope you have a great future ahead. Don't be tense; it happens with every fresher. Just be dedicated and sincere towards your work, and you will surely be recognized.

Regards,
Mouli

Yes, I expected the same kind of comments from all of you. It's just human psychology when you don't smile at a person whom you regularly engage with at your workplace. The person who is affected will come forward to speak with you about such problems because she will not tolerate such behavior from a junior. This may be a platform to find a solution to resolve the conflicts because it's natural for seniors to expect junior staff to show them full respect.

Regards,
Sekar K

Well, Saba, you have mentioned that she was very nice to you earlier, but now she is not treating you well. How is that possible? Either she has some issues with you regarding certain matters, or she is unhappy with your current work compared to what you did before.

In your situation, try to have a conversation with her to understand what the problem is. Ask her if there was something you did that she didn't like. Express that you genuinely apologize for any mistake.

Apologizing does not diminish your stature; instead, it helps in identifying the root cause of the problem and resolving it promptly. Otherwise, it may escalate into a more significant issue.

The Importance of Personal Connection in HR

As an HR professional, always remember the importance of maintaining a personal connection with your team while also upholding professionalism. Both personal and professional aspects are essential for HR professionals as they go hand in hand.

It's crucial for everyone to acknowledge that HR plays a vital role in taking care of employees both personally and professionally.