Bullies Don't Die, They Are Reincarnated



Bullies ought to be hanged, but if you look closer into the cocky veneer, you'll find a person wracked with insecurities. But to take their bullying to intolerable levels can give you hideous nightmares. Some unfortunate victims experience the return of their stuttering, adding to their misery while their work suffered.

Most of the bullies in the workplace are the supervisors. Since they wield power over their subordinates, they react to pressures differently. However, that is no excuse to act unprofessionally towards their subordinates. Thinking that they are supervisors, they tend to abuse the power they have, forgetting they are accountable for their actions.

Surprisingly, there are also bully clones in the rank and file staff. They are the people who believe that they have the ear of the boss, or they are superior in every way. They rant, scream, and rave. They do not hesitate to embarrass their victims in public. Such lack of respect for co-workers creates a divisive atmosphere in the workplace, dampens morale, and affects output.

If you're in this impasse, try not to buckle under pressure. Instead, focus on your work and don't give the bully reason to complain about your performance. Bullies like to nitpick, backbite, and harass people who can't stand up to them.

Neutralizing the Bully Boss or Co-Worker

Subordinates don't fight back at bullying supervisors. The fear all boils down to losing one's job. But if you know how things are supposed to run, you can face the bully and let him sweat.

When your boss throws tantrums, always try to find out what sets his firecrackers on. Avoid the things that displease him and double check your reports before handing them over. When he or she yells, don't yell back. It will only result in a shouting match. Instead, answer as you would in his "nice" moments. That might stop him in his tracks.

One smart guy recorded all the verbal abuses his co-worker heaped on him. The dates and time, plus the nature of the situation were neatly entered into a journal. When he couldn't bear it anymore, he wrote a letter of complaint to the Human Resources Division and a copy was furnished to the big boss. Attached to the complaint was a copy of the office polices on anti-harassment and violence in the workplace. That stopped the bullying.

It's not right to ignore the bully. Management has to step in decisively when bullying is reported. If management cannot do anything to discipline the bully, the bully will soon take over everything, even going as far as snooping into people's private lives, sarcastic comments, and blackmail.

If you prefer to fight the bully on his turf, find out what type of people he loves to pester and recognize his methods. There is no reason to be ashamed that you are stressed out with the bully lying in wait. Seek a support group. There are bound to be other victims afraid to come out in the open.

Know the Bullies

How do you know if you are being bullied? Here the modus operandi of bullies:

* Takes your work as his or her accomplishment.

* Make sexist and offending remarks in your direction.

* Withholds information.

* Dumps you with impossible workloads.

Once you have identified the bullies and their modus operandi, prepare to fight back the right way. Don't go down without a fight.