Workplace Bullying

Posted on May 29, 2024 by David Luscher, One of Thousands of Performance Coaches on Noomii.

While working as a middle manager, one of the most difficult situations I found myself in was trying to lead while a superior worked to undermine the staff’s efforts. This passive-aggressive form of emotional bullying was unconscious on the part of the superior, however, it served to demoralize talented people and cause them to question their abilities.

According to a Gallup survey, about 58% of U.S. employees reported experiencing some form of workplace bullying. The Workplace Bullying Institute 2017 survey indicated that 19% of Americans experienced workplace bullying directly, and another 19% witnessed it. Research in the journal Psychological Reports suggested that psychological aggression affects approximately 20-30% of employees, highlighting the broader context of psychological abuse in the workplace.

Often, I found myself in a closed-door meeting with an employee asking me why they were on the receiving end of this behavior. They were able to recognize that it wasn’t normal but it still kept them up at night wondering what they did to deserve it.

As we all know, they did nothing to deserve having a Director twist narratives, insist they misremembered certain events, and publicly humiliate them at staff meetings. This behavior is a result of someone trying to mask their insecurities or inadequacies. Often, they aren’t self-aware enough to realize that their mental health is suffering and they take it out on those they perceive to be a threat. Nevertheless, it leads to decreased job performance, missed promotions, and even job loss.

Recognize that it’s not you! Don’t accept the blame. When an emotional event like this occurs, we process it in a way that creates a powerful meaning for us. That meaning then dictates how we react to the situation. We have the power to choose what to think, believe, and feel. We chose how to react to situations such as these. When we change what the situation means to us, we create transformations.

So many internalize this because they haven’t learned the tools of how to create empowering meanings in the face of adversity. There are proven strategies that can help. I’ve created a one-time laser-focused session on how to deal with emotional bullying and reclaim your self-confidence. This 60-minute one-on-one was developed from my years of coaching colleagues and friends through toxic situations like these and will provide you with a framework on how to deal with it.

Gratitude and Action are the antidote to fear. You can take control today! Don’t allow someone’s mental health issues to affect your life.

To sign up for this laser coaching session or for more information, visit luschersuccesscoaching.com