How to Avoid People You Don't Like in a Respectful Way

With all the best intentions in the world, there will probably be at least a few people whom you don't particularly want crossing your path. Whatever the reason, disliking someone is a subjective response and it is always a good idea to do your best to be respectful. Depending on the situation, there are different things to consider — whether it is a professional or social setting, for example — in order to help you determine if you should avoid someone or respectfully confront them. Keeping things respectful avoids drama and shows that even through dislike, you can still maintain dignity.

1

Avoid working on the same team.

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    You might have to make a request to stop working with them. When you don’t like someone you work with, you might be forced to interact with them more than you like; however, whenever you have an ability to influence your situation, try to avoid working directly with them. This might be an active choice that you are able to make or a request you may have to put forward to create a better working situation for yourself.[1] When communicating the request, Clinical Psychologist Susan Pazak recommends you "Communicate that you can no longer spend time with the person and the reason why [...] speak with respect and kindness. Use I statements when communicating the message."[2]
    • If you get to choose what projects you work on at work or what groups you are in at school, actively choose an option that doesn’t involve the person you don’t like.
    • If you are placed on a team with someone you dislike, you might consider respectfully asking your boss to move you to another team. But make sure you keep your focus on your work/productivity, not just on your personal feelings. Try saying something like, “I think I could be much more productive if you would consider placing me on a team with Sam instead. We have already proven to be an effective team when working together.”
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2

Limit communication.

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    Don’t engage in small talk or ask questions about the person’s personal life.[3] While it is true that socially you aren’t obligated to have long conversations with anyone you don’t want to, sometimes this isn’t the case at work or school. You may be required to interact with people you don’t like in a professional setting.[4]
    • In cases like these, keep conversations as brief as possible.
    • To end a conversation gracefully, have an exit line ready. Try saying, “I’ve got a lot of work to do, so I don’t have time to talk right now.”
    • When possible, choose to correspond via email or over the phone rather than face-to-face.
3

Consider altering your schedule.

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    Make sure it’s worth rearranging your schedule to avoid the person.[5] One way to avoid people you don’t like is by being proactive about knowing where that person will be at certain times. Figure out what their schedule is and adjust yours so that you will cross paths as little as possible. [6] Clinical Psychologist Susan Pazak suggests that, if you can't completely remove yourself from the situation, you "at least limit your time there" [7]
    • Before you start rearranging your life to avoid someone, take some time to evaluate what is important to you. If you cherish every last second of sleep in the morning, ask yourself if it's worth sacrificing that time to go in early just to avoid someone annoying. Think about if there is a respectful way you can assertively deal with the person that doesn't require you to alter your entire schedule.[8]
    • Start coming in to work a little early so you can finish your day a little bit earlier if it will help you avoid them.
    • Try to find out what classes they are taking and choose different classes.
    • If the other person is annoying and is giving you trouble, consider bringing it up with a manager.[9]
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4

Think about trying some new activities.

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    This is a good way to branch out and remove yourself respectfully. If you are encountering someone you don’t like during activities at school, you might want to try some different activities so that you can avoid this person without causing a scene. This is a great way to remove yourself from the situation without making it obvious that you dislike the person.
    • This may be a good idea if you are already looking to branch out and try other things, but before you stop your activity, you need to consider what you are giving up to avoid this person. Are you willing to sacrifice a hobby or activity you really enjoy? If you start avoiding all the things that you enjoy in life to get away from a temporary discomfort/dislike, you may end up creating a life that is unfulfilling. Carefully consider what is worth giving up just to avoid this person. Consider taking a more assertive approach rather than avoidance.
    • If you are in the same yoga class and you want to avoid the person, try going to Pilates instead. If you both go to the same trivia night at the local bar, try trivia night at a different spot. If you are both rushing for the same sorority or fraternity, consider joining a different one.
5

Make new friends.

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    Try adding more people to your social circle to spend time with others. One reason you keep encountering a person you dislike could be because you hang out with the same people. If this is the case, consider expanding your social circle to include new people so that you at least have an outlet away from the person that you don’t like.
    • If you are in the same study group, try to expand your social circle and find a new study group to join.
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6

Avoid talking to people you don’t like.

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    Walk away from people you don’t want to be around to limit conversation. At work you may be forced to interact with people you don’t like, but in your personal life you have much more freedom to choose who you do and do not engage with.
    • If you notice your nemesis standing by the bar, head towards the patio instead.
    • Don’t make eye contact with them because this could invite them to approach you and begin a conversation.
    • It may not always be possible to avoid the person — they may approach you anyway or join a group conversation, and you may want to gracefully remove yourself from the situation. You can chat with the person for a moment and then say, "Well, I hope you enjoy the party! I'm needed by the food table."
7

Dodge family members you don’t get along with.

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    Avoid family gatherings that you know they will be attending. Most of us have family members we don’t enjoy being around. If you have a particularly annoying family member, try to avoid them even though it might be a bit complicated.
    • Try not to answer the phone when they call. If they do catch you on the phone, try getting away respectfully by saying something like, “I wish I had more time to chat, but I have a lot of things to get done at the moment.”
    • You could try planning a vacation during the holidays. This way, you can spend time with your immediate family while limiting your responsibility to attend other, more stressful gatherings.
    • Don’t add them on social media. This will give them access to your life and more things to try to talk to you about. Or add them, but manage your privacy settings so they can't see your posts.
    • Again, you may want to consider whether avoidance is the best strategy. Is it really worth missing out on seeing the rest of your family just to avoid that uncle you don't like? Consider finding an appropriate time (i.e. not during a big family gathering) to address your issues with the person. One uncomfortable conversation may be worth it to save yourself a lifetime of opting out of family gatherings.
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8

Avoid nosy neighbors.

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    Communicating your boundaries can help you be proactive. Sometimes neighbors are annoying or nosy and they can get on your nerves. If you have a nosy neighbor you want to avoid, try to be proactive about how much access you give them. [10]
    • Avoid hanging out near the door or talking to someone with the door open.
    • If your nosy neighbor won’t leave you alone, try asking them respectfully by saying something like, “I am really quite a private person. I would actually prefer it if you could please give me a little more space.”
9

Protect your space.

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    If you feel the need, you can make a polite comment about wanting more space. Clinical Psychologist Susan Pazak explains, "we can respectfully let someone know we don’t want to spend time with them by telling them the truth from your perspective, not attacking [...] for example, 'I can no longer spend time with you because I don’t agree with your lifestyle choices, or because I leave our interactions feeling upset instead of happy or content.'"[11] If your personal space has been invaded, try to realize that it is only for a very short time in the span of your lifetime. Then edge away, or steer the person away from you by holding their elbow and gently moving them away from you. [12]
    • Take a step back if you are feeling crowded. Or try to come up with an excuse to step away from the situation for a moment, like that you need to use the restroom or grab something to drink.
    • You are perfectly entitled to make a request for more space in a polite way. For example: "Thanks for your concern Mr. Close, however, I would feel more comfortable standing further apart."[13]
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10

Bring a friend.

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    Let your friend do all the talking and simply agree with what your friend says. If possible, bring an easygoing friend along when you know you will have to see this person, especially if you're having a hard time being respectful. [14]
    • Perhaps you could even talk about your feelings with your friend later to get an idea of how you might better approach the disliked person next time.
11

Consider the source of your annoyance.

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    Determine what specific thing that really bothers you about the person. Often, when a person is extremely annoyed by someone else, it has a great deal to do with the person who is annoyed, not the annoying person. Consider a session with a therapist or taking some time on your own to identify what it is that really bothers you about this person. Write it down or state it out loud — is it because they are loud? They choose inappropriate topics of discussion? They stand too close? They are unpredictable? How touchy they are?
    • Pay attention to the moments when you have no patience for this person. Your stomach may tighten up, and you may start having thoughts that sound like, "I can't believe they... Don't they realize... How can they be so incompetent...."[15]
    • Once you have identified what you dislike about the person, ask yourself if there is something behind this. For instance, is the trait that annoys you about the person actually a reflection of a personal trait you don't like about yourself? Is it a reminder from the past — something a family member or former partner used to do that now sets you off?
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12

Develop patience.

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    Being patient is a skill that must be developed; it is not something you are born with.[16] While your instinct may be to avoid someone who bugs you, this is a temporary fix and does nothing for your personal growth. Instead of finding ways to avoid someone you don't like, work on building up your patience and tolerance for minor annoyances. Consider your encounters with the person as a growth exercise in patience and assertiveness.
    • One way to increase patience is to rethink discomfort. When you find someone irritating, it's often natural to want that person to change or to avoid them, but the real issue is with how your mind is set. When you are around someone you don't like, try thinking to yourself: "This is uncomfortable but not intolerable." Remember that growth is not easy and can be uncomfortable.[17]
13

Work on being assertive.

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    State what you want and need so other people know.[18] According to Clinical Psychologist Susan Pazak, one of the steps on the journey to being more assertive is to "learn what keeps you from being assertive such as lack of confidence, fear, low self esteem, lack of a belief that you are worthy or valuable, etc." [19] You may be afraid of hurting the other person's feelings, causing drama or a scene, or being uncomfortable, and think that avoiding them is better than facing them head-on. Usually, though, this method causes confusion for the other person, inconveniences you as you try to rearrange your life to avoid them, and never actually addresses the problem. Being assertive doesn't mean being aggressive or mean.[20]
    • Being assertive means advocating for yourself instead of avoiding the situation and becoming resentful and hanging on to those negative feelings. Assertive communication is respectful, clear, and diplomatic.[21]
    • For instance, maybe you dislike your uncle because at every family event he brings up something embarrassing you did when you were five. Instead of avoiding him, you could talk to him one-on-one and say, "Could you please stop bringing that up? It's embarrassing and I don't like it."
    • Being assertive helps you realize your own power and the control you have over your interactions with others.
    • Tell the truth from your own perspective, without attacking the other person.[22]
    • Always speak with I-statements when communicating your desire to stay away from people.[23]
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14

Make an appropriate exit.

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    Leaving might be the best course of action to maintain a respectful façade. If you find yourself in a situation in which you must be around a person you don’t like, try to make a graceful exit to remove yourself from the situation.
    • You can try giving a regretful excuse such as, “I’d love to stay and chat but I have to go take care of something.” Or you could say, “Unfortunately, I promised myself I would finish this work project tonight. I better be going.”
15

Be polite.

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    It is an ill reflection on you if you treat someone poorly. Even if you don’t like someone, it is still important to be polite and considerate to them when you must interact with them.[24]
    • This doesn’t mean that you have to be over-the-top nice to the person you dislike. Instead, try being very matter-of-fact whenever you are speaking with them. This kind of behavior shouldn’t mislead them into thinking you like them, but it also won’t come across as overly rude.
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16

Set boundaries.

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    Decide how you want to treat others and tell them how you want them to treat you. You can still easily interact with people you don’t like. But it is important to set up clear boundaries about how your encounters will go.[25]
    • If you leave it up to the other person to set the boundaries, you might not like the outcome. So take the initiative and make it clear how you want to interact with them.
    • For instance, be clear about what is and is not okay to talk about, how you would like to be talked to (i.e. names, nicknames, voice level, etc.). You might say, "Sandra, it makes me uncomfortable when you talk about your family like that. Can we stick to other topics from now on?"

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How do you politely avoid someone?
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Clinical Psychologist
    Dr. Julia Yacoob is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in New York City. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for adults coping with a variety of symptoms and life stressors. Dr. Yacoob earned an MS and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University, and pursued specialized training at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Institute for Behavior Therapy, and Bellevue Hospital Cancer Center. Dr. Yacoob is a member of the American Psychological Association, Women’s Mental Health Consortium, NYC Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Association, and Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies.
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Clinical Psychologist
    Expert Answer
    That depends on the situation, obviously. If someone is bothering you, you can simply move and ignore the person in question. If that's not possible, assert yourself, but try to avoid building tension.
  • Question
    How do you tell a coworker they are annoying?
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Clinical Psychologist
    Dr. Julia Yacoob is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in New York City. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for adults coping with a variety of symptoms and life stressors. Dr. Yacoob earned an MS and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University, and pursued specialized training at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Institute for Behavior Therapy, and Bellevue Hospital Cancer Center. Dr. Yacoob is a member of the American Psychological Association, Women’s Mental Health Consortium, NYC Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Association, and Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies.
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Julia Yacoob, PhD
    Clinical Psychologist
    Expert Answer
    Just be straight with the person. Try to talk about the situation with a friend or a spouse to roleplay the talk, as this will surely help you feel prepared.
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References

  1. ↑ https://hbr.org/2013/08/how-to-manage-someone-you-dont
  2. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
  3. ↑ Julia Yacoob, PhD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 July 2021.
  4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ambigamy/201212/how-be-disrespectful-respectfully
  5. ↑ Julia Yacoob, PhD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 July 2021.
  6. ↑ http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm
  7. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. Friday, April 22, 2022.
  8. ↑ Julia Yacoob, PhD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Julia Yacoob, PhD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 July 2021.
  1. ↑ https://www.apartmentratings.com/renters-library/dealing-with-a-nosy-neighbor.html
  2. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 April 2022.
  3. ↑ http://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/chap9.html
  4. ↑ http://www.uwosh.edu/ccdet/caregiver/Documents/Gris/Handouts/gracasr.pdf
  5. ↑ http://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/13/when-you-shouldnt-bring-a-friend/?_r=0
  6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-zesty-self/201109/four-steps-developing-patience
  7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-zesty-self/201109/four-steps-developing-patience
  8. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-zesty-self/201109/four-steps-developing-patience
  9. ↑ Julia Yacoob, PhD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 April 2022.
  11. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/lib/5-tips-to-increase-your-assertiveness/
  12. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/lib/5-tips-to-increase-your-assertiveness/
  13. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 April 2022.
  15. ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-deal-with-a-coworker-you-dont-likebut-everyone-else-is-obsessed-with
  16. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/lib/10-way-to-build-and-preserve-better-boundaries/

About This Article

Susan Pazak, PhD
Co-authored by:
Susan Pazak, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach
This article was co-authored by Susan Pazak, PhD. Dr. Susan Pazak is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. With more than 21 years of experience, she specializes in treating adolescents and adults with psychological issues using cognitive behavioral therapy, symptom reduction skills, and behavior modification techniques. She has been featured in numerous media outlets and shows, including “My Strange Addiction". Dr. Pazak holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Communications from The University of Pittsburgh, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University. This article has been viewed 121,932 times.
8 votes - 85%
Co-authors: 13
Updated: January 2, 2023
Views: 121,932
Categories: Social Nuisances
Article SummaryX

You can usually avoid someone you don’t like without making it obvious or offending them. Although you might not be able to avoid the person completely, you can keep your conversations as brief as possible and avoid going into detail. Then, excuse yourself as soon as possible. Just say something like, “Anyway, I must get back to work,” or “I’ll see you around then.” You can also act busy or talk to other people so the person will be less likely to start a conversation with you. If you face away from them and avoid eye contact, you’ll also avoid giving them invitations to talk to you. For more advice from our co-author, including how to avoid family members you don’t like, read on.

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