Inside The Workplace

Behavior Of A Workplace Bully

In this post I will be covering the workplace bully’s behavior and what you can do about it.

It’s important to realize that changing a workplace bully is rarely an option. The best way to deal with them and to retain your sanity is to know that ahead of time.

It’s like marrying someone with a bad habit. You figure once you’re married you can change that person’s behavior. Chances are that’s not going to happen. A person has to want to change.

It’s the same with a workplace bully. He does not see his behavior as destructive. He sees it as a means to get what he wants because, after all, it’s all about him so consequently his target is the one who suffers.

The emotional and physical effects on the individual being bullied or attacked can be numerous.

The depth of pain a person feels when being bullied is sometimes so deep that it is hard to articulate what they are feeling – even to a professional psychologist.

Some of these stressful feelings can be;

• Confusion – What did I do?
• Anxiety – Why me?
• Fear – Will it happen again ?
• Anger for not sticking up for yourself
• Poor concentration – forgetfulness
• Insomnia
• Panic attacks
• Trust issues in and out of work

You have three choices in how you handle these types of individuals.

1. You can react or respond to them.

If you react, you will might be allowing yourself to get upset, be fearful, or act in some way that gives the bully the upper hand for which he is striving.

If, however, you do respond, you are showing him that you know what he is doing, that his behavior is not acceptable, and you won’t put up with it.

You are also demonstrating your willingness to find a solution to the problem instead of bending to the bully’s treatment.

2. You can try to ignore the bullying and do your job while putting up with it.

If you simply put up with being bullied at work you are empowering the bully to continue his evil ways which will then cause your health and psycological well being to deteriorate more and more.

The end result of trying to live with the workplace bully can and will be catastrophic both mentally and physically. This is a situation that can possibly ruin your life forever if you let it.

3. The other option of course is to quit that job to get away from the bullying behavior. Keep in mind that this won’t stop the bully, he will just find a different target to go after.