When you leave school behind and embark on your adult and professional life, you expect to leave the problem of bullying behind as well. Unfortunately, bullies exist in your workplace and personal life, just as they did on the playground. The trick is to find ways to apply the advice that you've been given about schoolyard bullies to the bullies that you deal with at work and in society. Deal with them in a mature manner, and stop the problem before it becomes something that is unbearable.
Step 1
Recognize what is happening as bullying. It may be hard to understand when it is coming from someone like a colleague or friend, but any time you feel undue pressure, threats are involved or you are dealing with turf wars, these can all be manifested as bullying. Recognize that it's bullying and not just workplace antics or competition.
Step 2
Leave the situation if you can. In the schoolyard, the best way to stop a bully is to avoid him altogether and not allow him the chance to bully. You can do the same in your private or professional life. If someone is bullying, simply leave the area or situation to take time to cool off. Other workers will see that you were the one to step down and leave the bully hanging.
Step 3
Be assertive when the bully corners you. It can confuse a bully to have to deal with someone who asserts her power. Business website Management for the Rest of Us notes that bullies work to exploit your weaknesses such as low self-confidence or a quiet demeanor. Stepping outside of those weaknesses to stop her behavior may be enough to tame her and let her know that you will not be bullied anymore.
Step 4
Don't allow yourself to become angry or responsive to a bully who is clearly just trying to ruffle your feathers. He wants the satisfaction of knowing that you became angry. A blank stare at the bully, or simply walking away from the confrontation, shows that you simply refuse to play his game, and may stop him from engaging in future arguments with you.
Step 5
Tell someone. As a child, you were encouraged to talk to an adult when someone was bullying you. As an adult, you should notify the human resources department. The bullying could be classified as harassment, and most places of business take harassment very seriously, as it could render them liable for damages. You can request that the report filed be confidential, and action will be taken against the bully if your claims are observed and founded by the department.
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