The average person comes into contact with at least one person in their lifetime who isn’t their biggest fan. But what happens when you encounter someone at work who OPENLY dislikes you?
I recently endured a colleague who went from being secretly annoyed by my presence, to having obvious (and demonstrated) disdain for my overall being. So how do you protect your aura from external negativity in the office?
These are the steps that I took to protect myself.
Be kind.
There is nothing worse to a workplace bully, than a colleague who doesn’t take part in petty behavior. It will give them zero ammunition to use against you. And it may even make them feel subconsciously guilty.
Ignore the bully.
Where’s the fun in a victim who doesn’t act like a victim? The most efficient way to stop childish behavior, is to not acknowledge said behavior. After a while you become a bore, and the perpetrator will move on to a different prospect.
Expand your horizons.
Get to know your coworkers from different teams and departments. Not only is this an amazing way to network, but it reinforces that you are a like-able person.
Talk to someone.
It feels better to talk to someone who you trust. Whether it’s a work friend who lets you blow off steam, or an HR representative, it’s a good idea to document everything that has happened between you and the bully.
In my situation, by the time I spoke to an HR rep about my rotten colleague, they had already been building a case on her for 8 months!
** Don’t take it personally.**
Hurt people hurt people. It’s really easy to lose perspective when you constantly see and hear that someone is working against you. As hard as it may be at first, just remember to let things roll off of your back. You never know what someone is going through behind closed doors. And though it’s not a valid excuse to be a shrew, it lessens the blow to your confidence and self worth.
All of these factors play into powering through workplace bullying in the most efficient and professional way. While there is no guarantee that you won’t go through petty tribulations at your job, this formula is a pretty solid way to keep your bully at bay and your reputation intact.
