Relax, you’re not crazy—people are becoming more disingenuous and disrespectful in their person-to-person transactions. Common courtesy and civil behavior are being replaced by an in-your-face attitude that not only breeds contempt among peers but also dampens their collaborative spirit.

Rage is no longer limited to the road—agitated and angry people are showing up at work, too. In general people become more difficult to deal with as their level of dissatisfaction and discontent rises. Your willingness to make a long-term commitment to an employer may soon depend upon your ability to succeed in a nonsupportive environment.

If you’re like most well-intentioned people, you put forth your best efforts regardless of the obstacles that sometimes get in your way. However, when your colleagues become obstacles, who can blame you for limiting your efforts to what you can accomplish on your own.

Working with disgruntled and disagreeable people is not easy, but it can be done if you use the following principles to guide you:

• You risk being rejected whenever you commit yourself to a dream or vision that is different from the status quo. You also risk losing support from others when you act on your own set of principles. Think of going it alone as a means of measuring the value of your commitment.
• Look on failure as part of the learning process. When forced to work on your own in a hostile setting, you’re likely to fail more often. Examine the cause and try to avoid similar mistakes in the future. When one thing doesn’t work, don’t give up—try something else. 
• Have a strong belief in your worth and value. You may have faults (which others will quickly point out), but as a whole person no one is better than you are.  Feel good about yourself and trust that what you do may not be right for others, but it is right for you.
• Don’t waste time with negative people, especially if you don’t see any change in their attitude toward you. Surround yourself with people who hold you in high esteem. Do what you know is right and others will soon learn that you are trustworthy.
• Don’t compromise yourself and your values even if it means losing the approval of your co-workers. Hold yourself up high and treat yourself well.  You deserve it!

Working in a hostile environment is not all doom and gloom. There will be times when you’ll enjoy the challenge of coping with uncooperative people. But first you’ll have to accept that these were not bad people, they were merely rejecting what you have to offer.