For instance, if you are dealing with a narcissist at work, you may turn their characteristics into a useful tool. You can try humoring them to put to use their talents. If you are working on a project together, if your job involves a lot of teamwork, or if you need help, you can encourage and complement them; they will be happy to show off their talents and this will benefit your work too.
Another option, if you are having difficulty with them at work, would be to escalate the matter to the management. They will take measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the workplace. Taking a more general perspective, regardless of what context you have to face a narcissist in, there are some general points to keep in mind.
The first and most important thing is to know how to identify narcissism. Luckily for you, you already know how to do this.
2. Set clear boundaries with them.
You need to be ready to stand your ground and not let them discredit you. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself and let your voice be heard. When resisting a narcissist, be clear, concise, and stay on track. Do not get carried away in the conversation or let it turn into something else. Stay on topic, be assertive and once you have stated your position, end the conversation.
Narcissists may try to provoke or derail you, so make sure to remain calm. Even if they strike a nerve, remind yourself you are dealing with someone from the narcissistic spectrum, and do not give in. Be aware that narcissists readily strike back. If they believe you have wronged them, even if this is not the case, they will attempt to belittle you or trick you into feeling guilty. As they can only see the story from their side, they believe that your intentions are malicious and any attempt to broaden their perspective will be considered from their point of view to be a way to undermine them.
Another method they could use is to play with your sympathy – they can create an elaborate story in which they make you out to be the villain. Therefore, prepare mentally and be sure of yourself, do not let them arouse doubt in your mind if you want to defend your boundaries. Remember that this is not your fault, and you are simply defending your stance. You should not make a compromise to please others if that is against your interests or wellbeing.
If the narcissist in your life is a part of your family or a person you cannot really avoid, they are other measures you can take to ensure serenity in your life.
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