Growing up, children are faced with obstacles such as standing up for themselves and their beliefs from bullies. While there are many wonderful people in the world, sadly, there are bullies everywhere, and they’re unfortunately in the workplace as well.
If you have the misfortune to encounter bullying in the workplace, it is essential that you learn some key techniques which will help you to stand up for yourself, protect yourself from the emotional burden associated with bullying, and effective strategies which will help you defend yourself in the right way.
Without this, you run the risk of the work setting that you are experiencing lowering your morale, leading to higher stress levels, and potentially putting your relationships, performance, mindset, and even your entire job in jeopardy.
It is never worth bottling up your emotions if you’re dealing with harassment, bullies, or anything else, inside or outside the workplace, and help is available. Please read on for some key tips on how to take action, stand up for yourself and hopefully find a way forward, no matter the obstacles you are facing.
Know that there is always help
Depending on the scale of harassment that you’re receiving from work, whether this be from your boss, supervisor, or a fellow colleague, either harassing you, ignoring you, singling you out or giving you a very hard time in general, know that you have rights, and that help is available. This isn’t a battle that you have to go through alone.
Consider raising the issue with trusted colleagues, someone in a position of authority within the company who may be able to wield their influence to resolve the conflict from above, or failing that, speak to your company’s wellbeing advisors, your HR team, or a counsellor or therapist. You might also find it helpful to speak to employment solicitors that will be able to advise you on your legal rights. Bullying and harassment in the workplace, in any form, is a very serious matter and it should not be taken lightly.
Set boundaries
Always try to set boundaries where you can. There’s nothing wrong with standing up for yourself, and it’s a subtle way of doing so as well. But it’s also important to set boundaries before anybody can even cross them. It’s best to create these boundaries soon and address them early with your leaders, coworkers, and just your team as a whole.
Both parties can benefit from this and it can also give you the chance to learn more about the boundaries of others. Plus, this can even raise questions and concerns such as inclusion in the workplace. So don’t be shy in expressing this ahead of time far before the boundary is crossed. Sometimes, someone unknowingly crosses boundaries without any intention of doing so.
Limit your apologies
Are you someone who apologises all the time? If something goes wrong, are you first to say sorry? Of course, there is a time and place for an apology, but it’s not necessary to do it all the time, especially if it isn’t your fault. Be mindful about over-apologising if you are not in the wrong; it may at first seem a quick and easy resolution to a disupte, but it can also lead to you being seen as weak, which may in turn make you the target for further aggressive behaviour by others. If you are in the right, do not be afraid to stand your ground, make sure you report the scenario to others and look for colleagues and co-workers who can support you so you are not able to be singled out. By reporting what you are experiencing, this is extremely valuable as there is always a chance that if they are overstepping the mark with you, this could represent a pattern of behaviour which may escalate over time, and affect others too. Never let yourself be pressurised to stay silent.
Don’t feel you need to react immediately
It’s easier said than done, but if someone puts you under undue pressure, or contacts you about work matters out of hours, don’t feel that you need to react immediately. There may occasionally be exceptions to the rule, but it is often better to wait a while before you act, stand your ground, and answer on your own terms at the time which is right for you. Set your limits and state that you want to have time to think before answering.
Don’t forget that you have a voice too. Don’t be afraid to raise your concerns with your employers and with others within the company who need to know what you are experiencing. Only by bringing harrassment out into the open can it ever be properly dealt with. If we are to become a truly inclusive work community, this is not something which should be allowed to stay in the shadows and go unreported.
