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Have you ever worked with or for someone who had delusions of greatness? I’m talking about dealing with toxic and difficult people on the job. Most of us have run into the person who was domineering and controlling—or trying to be.
Dealing with a Domineering Co-worker
These domineering types seem to assume that they have a right to manage other people, even though they had not earned the position of manager. How should a Christian respond to this person when you’re face-to-face with him or her every day?
We always want to look for biblical principles that apply to our relationship issues. The Bible gives us important foundational guidelines that should govern our responses to difficult people. And one of those principles is to humble ourselves. Sometimes God brings people into our lives for the purpose of teaching us to practice his principles, and there’s no question that a domineering person can really bring out the worst in us.
In responding to a domineering person who is trying to run your life, tell you what to do, and generally control you, here are some responses that would be a way for you to humble yourself:
- Refrain from any verbal response. Just hold your tongue and don’t say the angry words you started to say.
- Be willing to do what they ask/demand, even though you may not be required to do so. I don’t mean that you always jump through their hoops, but on occasion God may direct you to be in submission to them and do it their way.
- Respond in a quiet, controlled manner. This is always a Christ-like response.
There may be times when you simply explain that you’re not able to do what they ask, in cases where they have no authority over you but simply want to boss you around. But one thing for sure, and that is don’t join in any gossip or character assassination of this co-worker.
We are offering a free resource to help you deal with the difficult people in your life. It’s a chapter from Mary’s Bible study, “Improving Your Relationships.”