| However smart you are, you will need to know how | | | | boost the self esteem of the person who thinks they |
| to deal with people who think they are better than you. | | | | know better to you, but it may be exactly what they |
| You are bound to meet people like this in your life. That | | | | need. Perhaps they are arrogant because they are |
| is the case even if you are an internationally acclaimed | | | | feeling neglected and they want their achievements to |
| scientist or a member of MENSA, because when | | | | be recognized. |
| people think they are better than you it is about them, | | | | If they feel secure about their capabilities they will have |
| not you. | | | | less need to boast and to make you feel inferior. |
| Reach some understanding | | | | However, if they continue to boast, you may want to |
| In order to adequately deal with people who think they | | | | try a different tactic: |
| are better than you, you need to look at them more | | | | Downplay their achievements |
| closely to find out what made them so arrogant. Often, | | | | Just treat the person who thinks they are better than |
| the reasons are deep rooted, back in childhood. | | | | you as I they were any other person. Pay them |
| By finding out more about the person's motives and | | | | attention, but if they make over-inflated claims about |
| background, you may find that they actually lack | | | | their achievements, play them, down. Point out how |
| self-confidence and so they need to make you look | | | | other people also contributed to the achievement, if |
| worse than them. It could also be that they have | | | | that is the case, or how what they did is just a part of |
| grown up with overbearing parents and so that is the | | | | routine work duties. |
| pattern of behaviour they have learned. | | | | If necessary, walk away |
| Whatever the reason is for the person thinking they | | | | People who think they are better than you need an |
| are better than you, once you uncover it, you will feel | | | | audience to show off to. Don't be part of the audience; |
| less intimidated by them and will probably pity them. | | | | you have better things to do. That should help to |
| Their arrogance will have lost its power over you. | | | | remind the arrogant person of his or her duties and |
| Boost self-esteem | | | | position. |
| This is a two-way street. If you have an increased self | | | | So, in learning how to deal with people who think they |
| esteem, you will not be worried about people who | | | | are better than you, initially you need to fight your |
| think they are better than you. You will be perfectly | | | | natural instincts to blank them. Get to know them |
| happy with your own capabilities and realize that life is | | | | better and find out why they feel the need to put |
| not a competition. | | | | others down. If they need a confidence boost, help to |
| It is also possible that if you lack self confidence, you | | | | give them one, while at the same time protecting your |
| may be mistaking confidence for arrogance. Perhaps | | | | own self esteem and self respect. If that fails or even |
| the other person has the confidence you wish you had | | | | makes them worse, they try showing up the arrogant |
| and you are jealous. You are not in control of how the | | | | person for what they are: people just like anyone else, |
| other person acts but you are in total control of how | | | | with strengths and weaknesses. This will help you deal |
| you react to it. | | | | with them even if it doesn't help them to change their |
| Also, the last thing you might want to do is further | | | | behaviour. |