Avoiding Bullying At The Workplace

If you are amongst those who believe that the phenomenon of bullying is restricted to schools then you need to revisit your thoughts. The reality is that bullying does tend to occur amongst adults and it happens with amazing regularity at workplaces. At times it goes unnoticed because as opposed to bullies in school who practically threaten their victims, bullies at workplace are much more subtle.

There are a number of tactics that a bully in a workplace can resort to. This includes demanding excessive amounts of work, gossiping or spreading false rumours, pressuring you do certain things just because they are mentioned etc. At times bullying can get more malicious where a colleague or group of people may try to oust you from the organization because of a grudge any one them may be carrying against you.

Apart from colleagues, the bully can also be your boss even though both you and your boss may not realise the situation. In most cases when a boss resorts to a behaviour which can be termed as bullying, it involves more demands of work or continuous criticisms.

Now that you are aware of some possible scenarios where you can experience bullying in an office, you would be curious to know about ways to avoid it.

Dealing with a Superior Who Displays Characteristics of a Bully

In case you have bully in your boss then there are chances that your typical work day is unlikely to be very pleasant. However you must note that your boss may not know that he is in fact unduly bothering you. So the best way forward would be to confront your boss and mention to him that you are upset over the treatment you are receiving from him. However, when you put forward this to your boss, be calm and professional.

There is a great chance that your boss will understand your grievance and mend his behaviour. In case it does not happen, you should look to shift yourself to a different department. Unless you think that your boss is intentionally harassing you, avoid complaining against him as this may unduly affect your career.

Dealing with Colleagues Who Act as Bullies

If you have a colleague who you think is bullying, do make it a point to confront him and mention him to mend his ways. Moreover if possible try to avoid meeting or reduce the frequency of contact with a colleague who has been bothering you.

As opposed to a superior who may be bothering you unknowingly, most colleagues who indulge in bullying do it for certain specific reasons. It can stem from jealousy to low self esteem and they can continue to pester you for years if left unchecked. If the bully continues to disturb you after you have explicitly asked him to not to do so then you can surely report him to your superiors. Alternatively if a group of colleagues seem to be bothering you then seeking a transfer may be a good choice.