How to Deal with Workplace Bullies
Workplace bullies are everywhere. Whether one is working in a multinational corporation, or in a small
enterprise, office bullies always seem to be around. You may attribute this occurrence to the natural
tendency of some people to “fight” with others who are potential competitors for the same position one is
eyeing. Yet, there are times when, the workplace bullies attack for no reason at all!
Bullying is quite infuriating, and is one of the major reasons why employees resign from their jobs. Although
most people are good-natured, there just seems to be no way of avoiding working with backstabbing
colleagues, rumour-mongering subordinates, malicious assistants, and even bratty bosses! The truth of the
matter is that you must learn how to live with them in order to be successful in your career.
You must have a plan for dealing with workplace bullies. If you opt to do nothing, there is a big chance that
they will succeed in controlling you. Learn to develop a long-term strategy. This is crucial if you are to achieve
your ambitions.
You may not like dealing with workplace bullies, but since it is inevitable, you must act assertively to save
yourself from anger and hypertension. Here are some suggestions for dealing with workplace bullies.
• Know who the workplace bullies are. It helps to know who your enemies are. Identify people who are
being complained for being overly sarcastic, backstabbers, manipulative, and abusive (either verbally or
physically).
• If you are already being bullied, talk to the bully in private. This will show that you are not intimidated by
his/her tactics. Always remain calm, and refrain from yelling or shouting invectives. Also, avoid showing
weakness by crying or looking helpless. Talk to the culprit in a professional manner, and demand reasons why
you are being harassed. Try to work out your differences.
• Gather evidence. Remember, bullies are scheming and have the ability to manipulate others. Make sure
you have proof to back up your claims. If your work has been sabotaged, be able to provide confirmation for
that. If you have been verbally abused, you need to have support for those claims too. Later on, when you
complain, the bully, who is excellent in lying and deception may try to twist the story, and that would not
work to your advantage.
• Review office rules on workplace bullying. If there is none, you may talk with your HR officer to learn how
bullies may be reported and punished. Bullying may fall under the rules covering harassment, or conduct that
may instigate fights or violence in the workplace. Know if the bully may be suspended, transferred, demoted,
or probably terminated for inappropriate conduct. Know too how you may legally protect yourself.
• Tell your boss that you are being harassed. Let your boss know the situation; at least this will make
negative statements about you coming from your foe less credible. Oh my, this is a bit harder if your
immediate superior is the one who is bullying you! If this is the case, then tell your boss’s boss.
• Excel at your work. As the bully’s objective is to make you fail, make it your concern to do your job well.
Your superiors will not be inclined to side with your tormentor if they know you are an asset to the company
and hard to replace.
• Be kind to your boss and co-workers. This way, if someone tries to bully you, there are others who would
be willing to back you up. Also, the bully would be discouraged to attack you, if he or she knows you have a
lot of allies.
• Conduct a self-analysis. Never let the bully have a reason to annoy you. Assess yourself. There may really
be something funny or weird with the way you dress, walk or talk. Study reasons why you are being the
object of bullying. Bullies usually study the vulnerability of their target, and most often would want to exploit
it. You never know, in the end you may want to thank the bully for being instrumental in making you change
for the better.
To sum it up, if someone tries to bully you, do not just let it be. It would not resolve the problem and it would
only certify that you are a wimp with no leadership potential. Running away to another company will just
draw a new set of bullies; weaklings will always attract the abusive. Bullies everywhere will only respect
people who know how to fight back!
*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All
rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.
