Dealing with a condescending friend can be hard and awkward but you must address this behaviour for a healthy and long relationship.
Is your friend a bit condescending?
There can’t be anything as bad as having a friend who is condescending. Generally, condescending people are not aware of thefact that they are putting people down. If you want a classic example of a condescending person from pop culture, it would be Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. Like any other condescending person, he too dictates to others how things should be done and assumes that others are not as smart as he is. So, if your friend has lately started behaving like that or is like that then it is time to let them know about it. Here is how you should do it.
Have an honest conversation with your friend
It is advisable to have a direct and frank conversation with your friend about the things that are bothering you. Try to think beforehand about the things that are what are you going to say and it is important that your focus should be on having a fruitful conversation not proving who is right or who is wrong. Convey as honestly as possible about the things you felt and how strongly your friend’s behaviour affected you. Avoid using words that sound judgemental and keep your anger or extreme emotion under check. Trust us, it can make or break a good conversation. After you have kept your point of view in front of your friend, it’s time now to listen to his side of the story. Give him/her a chance to convey his /her thoughts. Keep an open mind and let him/her have his say without interrupting. Invalidating the points your friend brought forward would not be a great thing to do. Have a fruitful conversation and try to come up with a concrete solution.
What if they continue behaving in the same way?
Even after having a word your friends still behave in the same way in front of a group of people then it is time for action. It is very important to notice that whether it is just a harmless jest or a small slip but if the behaviour still lingers on then confront them directly. But remember to do so without being hurtful.
But remember it is important to know when to walk away from a toxic friendship like it. A person who cannot respect you cannot be called your friend.
