Coping with Enemies
People who succeed will make enemies along the way. No matter how careful they are, there will always be individuals who are jealous of their success and rivals who have it out for them.
Some tips for dealing with enemies:
- Attempt to identify the reason for their enmity. In some cases, there are those who have a reason to dislike you (which you may attempt to address); in others, there are simply those who resent your success
- In some instances, criticism may be warranted: don't merely dismiss it as enmity without considering whether there's something you may have done wrong
- In some instances, enmity is created or exaggerated by third parties. In some cases, you can diffuse things by confronting the issue directly with the person
- Humor, particularly self-deprecating humor, can diffuse hostility, or it may exacerbate the situation. In many cases, using a joke to criticize yourself can diffuse issues others may use against you.
- Do not return fire: getting draw into a fight with someone else undermines your professionalism.
- Consider whether it's worth the effort even to respond. In some instances, your reaction may be seen as a validation of your enemy's perspective