Difficult work colleague. How to handle?

[BrightonYourDay]

I have one work colleague who is very difficult to work with. It's not just me, everyone has found them difficult in the past but at the moment it's me getting it. They are rude, dictatorial, loud and brash. Currently I am being pretty much ignored and talked about with other colleagues (in front of me) as if I am not there. This person is extremely "in" with management (or thinks they are), running to them with constant complaints about other people "not doing their job properly " whilst said person actually in truth does little themselves except tell others what to do while watching everyone like a hawk and imo looking for any opportunity to discredit others whilst bigging up themselves. It's frustrating and utterly depressing. I am a quiet, passive person who just wants to do my job (and worries about not being good enough) and get along with everyone. I'm pretty sure that it's been recognised that I am an easy target for intimidation hence my current treatment. Anyone been through this? How do I deal with it without jeopardising my job?

Is this person an exact equal or a little higher than you, e.g. a line leader?

I’ve been through this and it was horrible. What I can say though is management saw through him, I complained as well and he was spoken too. I also overheard him lying and trying to drop me in it when it was him who made a mistake, I called him out on it there’s and then in front of everyone. He moved on to a new victim and gives me a wide berth now

They are senior in terms of time served but not in rank, in that we are equal. I know that things came to a head prior to my employment (in terms of other people struggling with this person) and something happened, I just don't know what, but they may have been spoken to before and warned. Not sure.

And just for the record, I have tried very hard to be respectful and kind and develop a relationship that could overcome all this, but it hasn't worked and I am struggling. I seriously thought about jacking it all in this week, though I desperately need my job.

I've found that the best way to treat these people is to stand up to them. Once they realise you're not going to take their abuse they pretty much leave you alone. Basically the same rules that apply to the schoolyard bully. If there have been issues in the past with him it may be an idea to have a quiet word in managements ear although I'd only go down that route if I'd tried talking to the person involved and they ignored me.

I agree this person is probably not as popular with management as they think. I would complain and be very reasonable and polite about it. They may not do much but it will at least make it a lot harder for them to complain about you. Then work on being a bit more assertive with the rude one. Act confident and professional at all times and challenge any bad behaviour in a firm but polite way. I know it's hard but remember this person is your equal and they are preventing you doing your job as well as you could, by making you uncomfortable.

said person actually in truth does little themselves except tell others what to do while watching everyone like a hawk and imo looking for any opportunity to discredit others whilst bigging up themselves

Have a think about things you can say to the unpleasant person whilst being within his direct manager's earshot like

Wouldn't it be better if you got on with your own work instead of trying to supervise mine?

How much time are you wasting trying to micromanage other peoples' work instead of getting on with your own?

You are not my manager/direct report/whatever the company terminology is.

Would you please stop interfering and let me do my job?