07 Phrases for responding to RUDE people - Personality Development & Communication Skills Video
I think it largely depends on circumstance and I say this because I told two grown men to “shut up and listen” tonight and I absolutely do not regret it, let alone, feel bad about it, and here is why…
I was working and I’m in a customer service role, but at the same time, I’m also a kind of authoritative figure so I have to be strong in my role and not take any crap if I am to do my best for the majority of customers.
Two grown men start to verbally, and aggressively fight, so I go in all cool, calm and collected to start with and one of the men decides to ask me a question. I try to answer it and both men continue to cut me off as I’m trying to answer this question (which to a reasonable person, 1/ you’d want to listen to the answer and 2/ my answer should put a stop to the argument as neither I, nor anyone else can really do much about the issue at hand because it’s one of those situations where people are better off minding their own business), so because both men continued to cut me off when I was trying to answer the question and put a stop to the argument as an authoritative figure, I ended up saying rather loudly and out of pure frustration, “will the both of you just shut up and listen!”
Some people may consider that to be rude. I don’t. Because:
1/ Don’t ask a question if you’re not prepared to listen to the answer.
2/ Don’t request my involvement, if my involvement is not going to stop you from doing what you want anyway.
3/ don’t waste mine and other people’s time just because you don’t want to mind your own business by focusing on yourself instead of others.
4/ if you’re going to cut me off before I can answer the question, then you are being rude and you will receive the appropriate response to your rudeness. If you don’t respect me enough to listen for my answer to a question you just asked me, then don’t expect me to give you optimum respect back. You get what you give.
5/ My job is based on a strict schedule of time, so I also don’t have the time to waste in being patient while people carry on like petulant kids. I appreciate that some people have more flexibility regarding time, but not in my job. If it was a major incident, sure, I’d make time. But not for something petty where two adults don’t know how to pick their battles and behave appropriately. You’ll get a quick serving of pedestal falling from a swift, serve of tongue lashing! A person’s behaviour, dictates the response they deserve to receive. And if I have to tell people to shut up just to sort a disagreement out from 2 irrational people, then so be it.
