A person with an attitude of entitlement believes they deserve special treatment or preferential treatment over others, and may even attempt to manipulate their own actions in order to obtain what they desire.
Unmanaged entitlement can cause many issues for those around it, and in extreme cases it may even become a mental health issue. Read on to discover helpful coping strategies when dealing with an entitled individual.
1. Set Your Boundaries
When dealing with someone who seems entitled, it’s essential to set boundaries. Doing so not only keeps yourself safe and avoids getting hurt, but it is also an integral component of building healthy relationships.
Setting boundaries is the first step to maintaining mental and emotional safety. Boundaries act like invisible walls that keep us from going too far in any one area.
They aren’t an act of self-sacrifice, but rather a way to take care of yourself so you can give your best to those around you and enjoy life itself. Setting boundaries when others require sacrifice can be challenging, but it’s essential for maintaining healthy relationships and avoiding unhealthy ones.
Start by making a list of all people and situations in your life that cause you discomfort, pain, or anger. This could include things such as people who are always late for appointments, those who spend too much time with you or your children, and those who use you as an instrument of control over their lives.
Once you’ve identified all these people and situations, create a boundary for each. This could include things like no-spending rules at work, no-talking-to-you-in-the background rules with your children, and no-spending money rules with your partner.
Setting boundaries before meeting someone can help establish them for everyone involved. Be specific and direct when communicating your expectations so the other doesn’t feel attacked or taken advantage of. Soft language may also be beneficial when communicating boundaries to prevent anyone from feeling attacked or taken advantage of.
2. Say No
If you’ve ever encountered someone who feels entitled to everything, you know the challenge of managing their expectations. They may not always be rude or aggressive but they usually become resentful when not given what they desire. Additionally, they could act out and cause havoc in your home. If these scenarios repeat themselves often enough, managing these people can become overwhelming.
It can be beneficial to take a step back and consider the person with whom you are dealing. Ask yourself what they hope to gain by demanding something they don’t require.
Entitlement can often mask deeper-seated insecurity. They might worry about being ignored or not getting enough praise and recognition.
They might feel they deserve preferential treatment from you or your company, such as high salaries, perks, employment benefits or schedule flexibility.
But it could also be a mask for their own lack of self-worth or confidence. They might not be able to recognize when their requests are unreasonable, leading them to act out in anger against those closest to them.
No matter the source of their entitlement, there are steps you can take to stop them in their tracks. One effective way of doing this is by understanding where it comes from and what drives their behavior.
It may be difficult to change someone’s mindset when they feel entitled, but it is essential to remember that life has its own set of causes and conditions. By helping this individual identify their own needs and needs, you can break the cycle of entitled behavior. Even if they are just resentful or feel their needs haven’t been met, giving them a voice could put an end to it once and for all.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
If you find it difficult to say no, it may be due to an underlying fear that you will hurt someone’s feelings. By conquering this fear, you will be able to advocate for yourself without feeling as though you are being judgmental or unhelpful.
Entitlement occurs when people believe they deserve special treatment or a better life than others. They feel as if the world owes them something, and will often put up with any unfair or unethical treatment in order to receive what they desire.
Entitled people tend to be self-centered, demanding, and unwilling to compromise with others. They may behave in an arrogant or even deceptive manner in order to achieve their desires.
They may be acting out of anger, frustration, or hurt but it’s essential to remember that they are also suffering. You might be able to work with them and help them realize the wrongdoing by treating them unfairly.
No matter if it’s someone at work or from your family, knowing how to effectively communicate with them can be invaluable. Not only will this save you stress, but it will also keep your relationships healthy and strong.
One way to determine whether someone has truly earned their rights is by asking them about their expectations of you. Do they expect that you will be available for their needs and provide assistance whenever necessary?
You can also inquire about their motivations. Does this person really need your assistance, or are they simply trying to cause trouble?
Determining what drives someone to claim entitlement makes working with them much simpler. You can then decide whether it is worthwhile to address the issue, or if you need to part ways completely.
4. Be Flexible
When dealing with an entitled person, it is essential to remember that their actions may not be motivated by malice. They may be experiencing hardship and having difficulty managing their situation.
To effectively communicate with them, the best course of action is to be as accommodating as possible. Doing this makes it much more likely that they’ll understand that you aren’t simply trying to gain what you want; rather, be open and willing to compromise when necessary.
Entitled individuals often believe they are above the law and should be able to get whatever they desire, even if it doesn’t serve their best interests or yours. This can lead to conflict and irritation if they do not comprehend that others cannot always give them what they desire.
An entitlement mindset may cause your employer to make unreasonable requests and impose additional costs on you, which should never be expected or accepted – especially if you have a disability or health issue.
For instance, if an employee requests a compressed work schedule to care for their 83-year-old mother who requires dialysis, employers should not expect them to go through the same hurdles as other employees without disabilities.
In other areas of your life, such as family, friends and relationships, compassion can help you be more flexible and accommodating when dealing with others. Doing this helps avoid making them feel unloved or unappreciated and also prevents them from escalating their behavior into bigger issues in the long run. While it’s not your job to change their personality, you can model appropriate behavior by being respectful and accommodating towards them.
5. Be Honest
When dealing with someone who holds high authority, it is essential to be honest with them. While this may be challenging, honesty is the cornerstone of a successful relationship.
Psychologically entitled individuals often feel an immense sense of importance and value the admiration and approval of others more than anything else. This leads to a thin skin and an extreme sensitivity when faced with criticism or hostility.
Many individuals feel they deserve preference over others and will do things that aren’t fair or appropriate in order to obtain what they desire. Such behaviors can be particularly damaging in relationships, as they could hurt their partner’s feelings or lead to disengagement or depression.
No, these behaviors aren’t always wrong; however, they may indicate an unhealthy pattern of thinking or acting. It’s best to be open with them and let them know they have the power to stop these actions if desired.
Furthermore, lying is often used as a coping mechanism by those suffering from addictions. Lying can help the individual conceal their bad habits and present a clean image to those close to them while still abusing drugs.
But in the workplace, an overinflated sense of deservingness can have negative outcomes for a business or company. That is why managers need to be educated on psychological entitlement and its effect on employees. Managers can then utilize performance monitoring software to better comprehend this issue and provide feedback that holds entitled workers more accountable for their work – improving morale and productivity within their team while decreasing employee turnover rates.
