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There’s one in every office, every family and every group you’ve ever been a part of. A person who makes your teeth itch and your blood boil. They seem to have the inside scoop on what pushes your buttons and how to get under your skin. So how do we deal with these people who frustrate us and make us impatient? Try these during your next work meeting, family reunion or carpool.

Remember, we all have different priorities–What you think is a priority to accomplish isn’t necessarily everyone else’s. This little recognized fact has been the cause of many spousal disagreements and work resignations. Keep this fact in mind when it seems someone is resisting taking action that you believe is important. They might not be trying to drive you nuts; they might just have a different priority than yours.

Put yourself in their shoes–Sometimes, all that is necessary to take the sting of impatience out of a situation is to recognize what’s going on in the other person’s life. If they are dealing with major life events or have been under a great deal of stress lately, they probably aren’t themselves, and they certainly aren’t thinking about the fact that they might be driving you nuts. Image yourself in their situation and see if you can offer them a little empathy.

Ask yourself why they bother you so much–Could it be that they mirror a fault of your own that drives you to distraction? Are they always late and that holds everything up? Look at your own habits. How often are you late? How frequently do you keep people waiting or expect them to wait for you? You might actually be responding more to something you see as a character flaw in yourself, but can’t admit to.

Remember that everyone has a different natural rhythm–We don’t all march to the same drummer, and we don’t all have the same internal pace. Some people are just more laid back and have a slower rhythm, even when they are in a hurry. This can truly be frustrating, but keeping in mind that we all have a different pace can soothe your ruffled feathers. They aren’t trying to annoy you. They are just moving at the rate that feels right to them.

Focus on their positive qualities–It’s easy to focus on the little things that irritate us, but when we do, that’s all we are able to notice. When you start feeling yourself getting impatient with them, think about what you like or respect about them. This helps put those little irritations in perspective.