Self centered people have only one topic to talk about… Themselves. -Stet Harder
THE BACK STORY
There he goes again. His favorite topic is: Me. Me Me. How annoying! The staff wonders why the boss bothers to call for meetings. After all, it will always be a monologue instead of a dialogue, conversation or discussion. Obviously, he just wants an audience.
Have you experienced working with someone like that? Dealing with self-centered people can be a challenging task. These folks tend to hog the limelight and make it all about them. With practical conversation skills, however, you will be able to handle these types of people with confidence and ease.
SOMETHING TO GAIN
One way to handle self-centered communicators is to allow them to speak and share their thoughts and feelings without interrupting. Let them feel that you value their input, and that you are interested in what they have to say. You might gain some insight into their perspectives. Plus, you can learn something new to help you resolve conflicts or find common ground.
SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES
Self-centered individuals often push the limits of what is acceptable.
- Draw the line.
- Don’t be afraid to speak up and redirect the conversation back to the original topic when it becomes one-sided.
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
Use assertive ‘I’ instead of aggressive ‘you’ statements.
Example:
- Don’t say this: You're always talking about yourself.
- Say this: I feel like I don't get a chance to share my perspective when we talk.
This way, you won’t come across as aggressive or confrontational. The self-centered person may be more receptive to your message.
Dealing with self-centered communicators is a skill worth learning. Why? Because when you master the art, you will experience more balanced and engaging conversations.