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Practical
steps for victims of bullying
Recognise that
it is bullying - Frequently individuals who are being bullied
cannot recognise nor understand that they are being bullied.
The reality is that provided the intent to cause harm is present
then the individual is being bullied.
Don't be ashamed
- It can be embarrassing to admit that one cannot cope with
being bullied. Hopefully as you have seen in the rest of this
website, there are various factors at play which show that one
might be bullied. You are not the first to be experience an
abuse of power and (unfortunately) you will not be last.
Obtain Support
- A danger of individuals is that it can be embarrassing
to admit that one is being bullied and one cannot cope. Not
only is one facing the experience of being bullied at work but
one can become isolated. Speak to trusted family and friends
to maximise your level of support. This should help you to start
seeing empowering options.
Focus on regaining
control - When one is being bullied at work it is extremely
difficult to have any sense of power and control. The guiding
principle of recovery from any trauma is to focus on establishing
your sense of power and control about a situation. If you start
taking any form of positive action, this will enable this to
happen.
Focus on Your
Self Esteem - This is easier said than done but a real difficulty
for someone who is being bullied is that your self esteem will
often go lower. Try to maintain your self belief that you will
come through this experience.
Manage your anger
- Again, very easy to counsel someone to do this but much more
difficult when you are being put under the greatest possible
level of stress that you have experienced within your working
life. Anger is a perfectly natural reaction to the experience
of being bullied within the workplace.
Try to stand firm
- If you do feel strong enough, tell the bully that you will
not tolerate verbal attacks. Resist the temptation to use covert
aggression (such as seeing a decline in your work performance)
to get back at the bully/the organisation. This will be used
against you and give a bully additional grounds to inflate his
ego.
Check your previous
appraisals - Has your work maintained standards. It is extremely
difficult to maintain one's works standards when one is being
bullied yet if the work deteriorates a bully will use this as
further grounds to attack you.
Check your job
description - Is it being abused? Are you doing the same
role as previously? If it is then try to ensure that it is not
abused.
Keep a detailed,
dated record of every verbal attack & new instruction
- Have there been any witnesses to the bullying? Has your boss
tried to manipulate your holiday schedules? Evidentially
this could be very significant if legal proceedings will be
issued.
Become appraised
of your legal position - If the situation is becoming
intolerable and you are considering leaving the organisation,
it is critical that you become appraised of the legal position.
With respect to application of your legal rights, you may want
to instruct a lawyer prior to taking action and certainly prior
to resigning.
