Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Bullies @ Work

I think most of us would have faced bullies at work (like we did in school days). An article in the recent edition of Business Today on the topic "Managing Bullies at Work" was an interesting read. Bullies at work make serious damage to you psychologically. Bullies are nasty individuals making your life miserable. I myself have faced (still facing) such bullies at my work life.

Question to the readers: What is your practical suggestion to handle such jerks?
(I was really wondering was I ever a bully to any of my colleagues? I think only my colleagues could give me correct answer to this question.)

29 comments:

Arasan said...

Whether that Bull is reading this blog ??

Seenivasan said...

No. I don't think so.

Arasan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Arasan said...

I havent seen any bull so far in work environment !

Prob, I would have been a BULL in the past :)- I am not sure though..

Have seen Bears...

Seenivasan said...

Arasa I think you are confusing bullies with bull (as in bull market). Bullies are people who intimidates smaller or weaker people with their real or virtual power. :)

I know you are never weak nor small to be intimidated by anyone. probably you might have been a bully to people around. :) :)

Arasan said...

I got it wrong, just google'd for 'Bullies at work' and got what u meant :)-
(Stock Market influence thaanga mudiyalai... Enna panna)

I have experienced this in TVS as well as Infy. While I was young....In both places I have applied MP and I have responded(reacted, Badsa style-la) to them directly.

But Now adays I am staying away from these. Instead of using MP started Ignoring these bullies.

Whether I am a BULL, to some extent I AM :)-

Venkat said...

Seeni, I think I am the right person to comment though my association with you was not that long. I neither felt you were so tough nor did I hear from anybody else...

Baranidharan said...

When you talk about Bully. I cannot resist thinking of two persons. One is my collegemate and other my previous manager. They are tough nut to crack. And had given me tough times. While looking for bullies in web I came across this site. It has pretty insteresting definitiosn. www.kickbully.com

Am I a bully, definitely yes to some extent and so do the most of the managers.

Sarangan said...

According to me, bullies are always fools.... in the language of Kowndamani, they are 'Ara Vekadu'....

When the come across a really innocent man, they crush him without mercy. When they come across a bigger bully, they hide into cover. Real hard workers and intellects will never bully around. They would encourage everyone...

The best way to handle bully is to ignore them and do our work efficiently... 'ignored by others' would be the worst punishment for a bully...

Well.. How can I say that? Because I WAS a bully myself.... Now, It all seem to be foolish and childish...

Anonymous said...

I think I have never been bullied..(is it a right word?)..but I was thinking how Seeni allows to be bullied??..always thought Seeni can tackle people..I have seen instances where my EX PM bullying people..ofcourse it's a empowerment given to PMs & higher grade..

Seenivasan said...

@ Arasan

Applying MPP is the best thing to do. :)

what do you mean by "to some extent" you are a bully. I think even some extent is being bully. Bad man.

Seenivasan said...

@ Venkat -

Thanks Venkat. That's very relieving. :)

Seenivasan said...
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Seenivasan said...

@ Sarang

were you a bully yourself? how did you change then?

as u said ignoring them helps a lot.

Seenivasan said...

@ Kicha

By nature I am a submissive person. I am an easy target to be bullied. I pretend as if I am a strong person. (a big secret).

Veeramngradhu bayam illadha madhiri nadikkaradhu. :)

Seenivasan said...

@ Barani

who is that collegemate? Is that me????

Arasan said...

When I got a annoying TM, I was bully though.

BTW, turn on the photo option in comments section. (Naangalum photo maathi irukoam la :)-)

Seenivasan said...

Done buddy.

Your new photo looks good. how about mine?

Baranidharan said...

Not you and you know who (no names please :-) )

Baranidharan said...

In short does people bully to show they are Perum "bully" in the office

Arasan said...

TanQ TanQ, your photo looks sexy machi! Fashion show get up thanay ithu...Ennamo poda Madhava

That was a good punch line Barani!

Hey Barani, I know whom you are talking about (collegemate) !?

Sarangan said...

Ya... I was one of the ruthless bullies who crushed the innocent guys.... But would run into cover If I face more stronger bulls (Yes.. The description in my previous comment was a actually a personal description....and yes..I was one of the fools...)

But changing the nature is quiet easy... Whenever we stop and analyze the way we have crossed..almost all our foolish acts will be stopped...

Just like the dialogue in 'Dil' film, " I would expect a good person to have some qualities. I am a good person. So, I will have those same qualities (that I expect from others)"

Sarangan said...

Regarding the photo.. super na..

Paatha Manager 'MAATHIRIYE' iruku...

Cha.. Neenga managerthana..Maranthuten:-)

Seenivasan said...

@ Barani

Still I dont know who is that. Pls gimme clue or call me.

"perum bully" - good one barani.

Seenivasan said...

@ Arasa

'your photo looks sexy machi!' - didnt expect that. :)

Seenivasan said...

@ Sarang

Good that you have changed yourself. Great. Good for you.

Arasan said...

Its a slang machi..unknowingly I am used to this after coming to onsite.

At onsite people often use 'sexy' for anything which is nice or excellent. (sexy car, Sexy Food, Sexy bla..bla..)

You are looking very nice in that photo :)-

Anuradha said...

Seeni,

not seen in my current organization and not much experienced in this topic though,

//Bullies are nasty individuals making your life miserable.//
I have seen a perfect bully at workplace in my previous organization. He took the employees lives in his hands literally. Recently I heard a news about him which I felt was the 'heights of bulliness'.One of my friend was fired without any prior notice when he found that my friend had attended interview in some other company. He had primarily awarded her as 'best employee at workplace' last year. And the reason he gave her for sudden termination was that she never concentrates in her work(beauty is she slogs night and day,without proper sleep and food ).

//What is your practical suggestion to handle such jerks?//
I feel when WE are right from our side just ignore the bully.If situations becomes worse I guess we can go to the extent of having a discussion with the concerned person making him know what he is doing and how it is affecting others.

Seenivasan said...

@ Anu - good that you have not come across bullies yet. But certainly coming across would help shaping you up.