Did you have a bully when you were growing up? Maybe you got teased a lot in elementary school or we got beat up by someone bigger and stronger than you. It’s OK to admit. At some point or another, most of us have been bullied. But, we took in stride, overcame it and came out on top as a successful career woman.
So what do we do when we encounter a bully in the workplace? Maybe they belittle you in front of coworkers. Perhaps they “steal” the money that was budgeted for your department for theirs. Sometimes, they can even becoming physically opposing in order to gain the upper hand. So what can you do to stand up to your boardroom bully?
Talk to them. Maybe in their last company, they had to be more cutthroat in order to get what they wanted or maybe they don’t even realize that you feel like you’re being bullied. Oftentimes, you can resolve a bullying situation simply by letting the other person know that you feel like they are bullying you and you would respond better to a different form of communication.
Refuse to back down. If you tell them you don’t like the way they are treating you and they continue, then it’s time to stand up to them. Most bullies only operate when they know you’re afraid of them. When you have the courage to stand up to them and not back down, they lose the upper hand and will likely back down.
Talk to your superiors. If the harassment and bullying continues, talk to your superiors. Most companies have strict anti-harassment policy and if you can prove that you are being harassed, then they can take action in the form of write-ups or employee termination.
