Bullying Behavior

Remember back in grade school when bullies would pick on others and intimidate them? Sadly, bullies still exist in our adult lives; especially within the work environment. Far too often, bullying behaviors get tasks accomplished and many times these accomplishments will allow the bully to rise to great power within an organization. This is good, isn’t it? NO! The person choosing to use aggressive behaviors is doing so knowingly, deliberately, and persistently to gain control of the individual or individuals involved in a particular situation. This type of aggressor is labeled a “bully."

The first step to defending yourself against bullying behavior is to recognize when it is happening and know that it is okay to ask the bully to stop. When you ask a bully to stop, do so respectfully. The individual may respond in two very different ways:

1.      The individual may stop and apologize because they recognized they are out of line. All people make mistakes and many will appreciate knowing when their behaviors are disrespectful and inappropriate.

2.      The individual may “turn up the heat” and attempt to make the conversation a verbal battleground. Do not take part in the battle. Remain silent – the bully wants you to respond and stoop down to their bad behavior level.

Short term successes achieved through behaviors that are disrespectful to others are not the results most organizations truly desire. Ethical companies want long-term successes based on mutually respectful behaviors. Do your part to stop bad workplace behaviors. First, don’t become a bully. Secondly, let’s do our part to not let a bully intimidate or control us. They can only be effective with their bullying behaviors if we let them.