Bullying can dramatically reduce your quality of life, and when this is occurring at work, it can impact your professional performance. For those that have the unfortunate luck of experiencing bullying in the workplace, there are some basic tips that should be followed to help defend yourself.

Learn To Politely Stand Your Ground

One of the first steps in dealing with any type of bullying is to learn to stand your ground against the aggressor. This will entail firmly but politely informing the person that their behavior is seemingly hostile and inquire as to why they are behaving as they are. During this confrontation, it is important for you to be as calm and rational as possible. If you appear to be overly defensive or confrontational, the situation could escalate, but by rationally discussing the situation, it may be possible to alleviate the problem.

Discuss The Situation With Your Supervisor

Sadly, there will be instances when discussing the situation with the aggressor will do little to stop the harassment. When this is the case, it is important to discuss the problem with your supervisor. There are many states that have laws concerning bullying in effect, and as a result, the company may have a policy against bullying. Additionally, if it becomes necessary to pursue legal action against the aggressor, a record of the incidents being reported can greatly strengthen your claim.   

Keep Your Emotions In Control

Bullying can be a highly effective form of psychological harassment. Unfortunately, victims may often find themselves questioning their abilities, self-worth, and career goals. When you find yourself being bullied, it is important to keep your emotions in control and to regularly remind yourself that the bullying is a result of the aggressor's own personal problems. In addition to helping protect yourself against the psychological trauma that bullying can inflict, this may also help to discourage the bully from continuing their actions as they may lose interest when they are no longer able to elicit an emotional response from you.

Combating a workplace bully can be an uncomfortable situation that many people will find themselves needing to address. When you are facing this problem, it is important to appreciate the need to firmly but politely stand your ground against the bully and report the incident to your supervisor. Additionally, keeping the bullying in perspective is important for allowing you to minimize the effectiveness of the bully, which can greatly reduce the impact it has on your quality of life.

For more help, contact a counseling service like First Line Resources.