I am ready to strangle her!!!

[Rachel]

. she belittles me and makes fun of me every chance she can get. From how I answer the phone to the way I walk - she's made more than enough little comments disguised and giddy little jokes.

She continually tries to get me in trouble and ends up making herself look like a fool.

Any ideas to help me put her in her place without fighting? I truly do not want to fight.

I've had some experience with the type of person of which you speak. I do believe it is an intense feeling of inferiority that makes her want to put down others. From my experience you are not going to be able to *put her in her place* because she is already there and this is her way of trying to compensate.

What works for me in dealing with this type of individual is recognizing that this behavior isn't about you- it's about her and just ignoring it. What you can't ignore, pretend it doesn't bother you. You might find (as I did) that sooner or later it actually won't bother you as much.

Reacting to the behavior in a intense way only lets her know that she has succeeded to putting you down and internally that is what she is looking for.
Why would you want to acknowledge that these criticisms are in anyway something you take to heart? Say she comments on the way you answer the phone. You might respond by saying, *Well, that's an interesting way of looking at it.* in a lilting manner and go blithely on your way. The key is for you to come to accept that her opinion is not one that matters to you. Please don't let her put you in a position of acting in any manner other the professional decorator and representative of this store which has brought you the success you have so well earned.

[elizabethann]

I think Catsnclay has it right - success is the sweetest revenge. It's a shame your boss can see what's happening and doesn't take action. Doesn't say much for your boss as far as I'm concerned.

Good luck.

[catnapper]

I think Catsnclay has it right - success is the sweetest revenge. It's a shame your boss can see what's happening and doesn't take action. Doesn't say much for your boss as far as I'm concerned.

Good luck.

Oh the boss sees it. He is absolutely FURIOUS with her. His face turns red at some of the things she does. He's kind of tied right now because we're already short staffed and HIS boss isn't giving him any solutions in that regard.

[smokey the elder]

Get together with the rest of your coworkers, and teach them this: "Every party needs a party pooper; that's the reason we invited Y-O-O-U-U!" (Or at least think it.) What a total buzzkill she is. Maybe she's depressed or something, which would stink too.

[catnapper]

LOL.... that reminds me. When someone is upstairs in the warehouse, we someones call over the intercom and sing made-up words to nursery rhyme songs. The other day she was in the warehouse and had a customer come back for her. I asked another coworker to quick give me a song to sing and they said "Wheels on the Bus" so I sang "Nancy has a customer that came back. That came back. That came back. Nancy has a customer that came back. Come down-stairs!" to the tune of the Wheels of the Bus She was NOT amused.

We all sing stupid songs like that to each other when we're up in the warehouse. No customers can hear the intercom up there, so whats the harm in having some silliness? Little things like that make our day much more fun.