We often talk about bullies in schools and colleges, but never think about bullies in the office. The reason? We believe criticizing, intimidating, and humiliating are normal. We let our employers and managers humiliate us and dread to speak up because we do not want to lose job.
Any type of psychological abuse in the office must never be ignored. If someone is trying to ruin your career or self-esteem in the workplace – be it a boss or a coworker, it is time to stop it, of course, in a peaceful way.
Marilyn Monroe said, “So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” When coping with bullies in the office, you should not show your weaknesses and emotions. Leave them at home.
No matter what your coworkers say, focus on your career goals and keep working. Most successful people say that they have survived many bullies in their workplaces. Guess why? Plain envy. After all, not everyone can be happy for other people’s success. So if someone does not like you, it does not mean something is wrong with you. It means you are so smart and successful that they simply envy you.
The last thing you want to do when someone yells at you is to yell in return. You want to stay professional, right? Learn to control your emotions and stay calm even in the most complicated situations. As soon as they see that you do not respond, they will stop bullying.
Find the right moment when you two are calm and able to think clearly, and talk to them. Instead of gossipping about each other, look them in the eyes and ask directly about the reason why they hate you. Stay confident and firm. If they avoid talking to you, let your management know about the situation.
Many companies fire highly professional employees because of bullies. Your superiors and coworkers should know about the problem in the office. Do not be afraid to speak up. Unless you provoke the bully, your superiors will definitely find a solution. You will not lose your job. On the contrary, you may help to boost productivity in the office. However, make sure you can prove bullying.
When I wrote ‘support’ I did not mean finding someone who will help you humiliate the bully. Find someone who will help you and the bully to solve the problem. Whether it is a coworker or a manager, they might change the situation for the better.
If your boss is the bully, the only way out is to quit your job. Sure, you need your job to pay the bills and buy the groceries. But if it is ruining your self-esteem and mental health, are you sure you want that money? Remember, your job should bring happiness into your life, not stress and sadness.
According to the Zogby survey, around 45% of people targeted by bullies in the workplace suffer stress-related health problems, including anxiety, depression, heart disease and high blood pressure.
Working with a bully has no sense at all. Not only do you dread to go to work each day, you also risk to harm your health and destroy your true self. Do not just sit and wait until the problem disappears, take actions and solve the problem. We spend most of our time at work, which is why it is important to find the right job with a friendly team. Did you ever deal with bullies in the office?
