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Resources. The company – not you
– is HR’s first priority and you don’t
know what kind of relationship they
have with the office bully. What’s
more, everything you say may not be
kept in confidence, so think carefully
before you act. You may also want to
discuss your predicament with people
you trust and respect.
Realistic Expectations:
You may have the best of intentions, but it’s unlikely you’re going
to change or control the bully’s bad
behavior. About the best you can
hope for is to manage the situation to
the best of your ability. You may want
to take a hard look at your options –
whether that’s looking for another job
or taking on the bully through HR –
to determine the best course of action
moving forward.
About the Author
Annette Racond is a Certified Health
Coach who has had her work published in The New York Times, The
Miami Herald, Chicago Sun-Times
and Newsday, along with other major
publications.
Keep Shining:
How to Handle the Workplace Bully
By Annette Racond,
Staff Writer
Unless you’ve taken up shelter in a
cave, you’ve definitely heard countless
stories about school bullies and the
impact they have on their innocent
victims. Well, the bully is not only in
the schoolyard anymore. Bullying in
the workplace is heating up. Not only
is it hurting employees, but increased
sick time and lower productivity are
also costing employers money. The
bully could be your boss – or even a
colleague. Although it can be a difficult problem to resolve, here are some
considerations to take into account if
you’re confronted by a bully on the
job.
It’s Not Your Fault:
One of the most important points
to remember is that the bully’s
behavior is not about you. It’s easy
to take such behavior personally, but
it’s about the bully - and his or her
insecurities. Keep up your confidence
and hold your head high. More likely
than not, the issue has nothing to do
with your skills or talent. Oftentimes,
bullies will pick on the most capable
person in the office because the bully
considers that person to be a threat.
Don’t let the quality of your work suffer. To the extent that you can do so,
try to conduct business as usual.
Reach for Support:
Isolating yourself is not a productive strategy. Make a concerted effort
to build business relationships with
your colleagues and take them up on
offers to go out for lunch or to meet
after work. You need as much positive
support as you can get, so it’s a good
idea to befriend your peers. It’s also a
good idea to engage in self-care and
be extra nice to yourself during this
stressful time.
Make It Write:
Make sure to keep a log or journal
of everything that has transpired.
Note the date and time of each incident, along with whether or not anyone else witnessed what happened.
If you decide to escalate the matter,
you’ll have all of the details in one
place. There’s no substitute for being
organized and well prepared.
Talk Therapy:
Talking about the situation with
a professional counselor might help
alleviate some of the anxiety you’re
experiencing. You may also have a
mentor outside of the company who
would be open to providing feedback.
Be cautious if you’re considering
sharing the situation with Human
Oftentimes,
bullies will
pick on the
most capable
person in
the office
because
the bully
considers
that person
to be a
threat.