12 Smart Ways to Deal with Rude People

Empathize with the Rude Person. Don’t take rudeness personally; maybe the person is just having a bad day and taking it out on the world. Often you can break the cycle of rudeness by empathizing with the root of someone’s cantankerous behavior as a sign that he or she is unhappy, and be kind.
Lead by Example. Rudeness begets rudeness and is contagious—i.e., If you speak rudely to a waiter, don’t be surprised if you get the same treatment in return.