Although rarely spoken about openly, research from a variety of sources consistently identifies that workplace bullying is far from being uncommon. Furthermore, it is just as likely to take place at all levels of management as it is on the shop floor. Producing your best performance when you are being bullied, or feel that you are, is not easy. Trying to work out what is really behind the aggression can be an effective step in overcoming it.
The first step is to collect some data.
- Was this a one off incident or does it occur frequently?
- If it occurs frequently, what seems to trigger it?
- Is it targeted specifically at you or to others as well?
- If it is targeted specifically at you, can you identify anything that you might be doing, consciously or unconsciously to provoke this reaction?
- Are your expectations of how you should be treated reasonable?
- What form does the bullying take, verbal, non-verbal, physical, psychological?
The next step is to calibrate the severity of the bullying on a scale of 1 to 10. This will help you decide your best options for tackling the problem.
Next, consider your options. The most important thing is to talk to other people and not suffer in silence. It is vital to realise that the more severe the bullying, the more essential to take steps to protect yourself.
