Your colleague says one thing in a meeting but then does another. He passes you in the hallway without saying hello and talks over you in meetings. But when you ask to speak with him about it, he insists that everything’s fine and the problem is all in your head. What should you do? First, don’t lose your cool, and don’t accuse the person of acting passive-aggressively — that will only make him madder. Take a step back and ask yourself if you’re contributing to the issue in some way. Then talk to the person to address the underlying business issue in a calm, matter-of-fact way. Recount how some of your previous interactions have played out, explaining the impact it’s having on you and possibly others. If feasible, show that the behavior is working against something your counterpart cares about, like achieving the team’s goals.
Adapted from "How to Deal with a Passive-Aggressive Colleague," by Amy Gallo
