About Office Bullies

Office bullies come in all shapes, forms and sizes. If you work, chances are you have encountered an office bully on at least one occasion. Office bullies can make your work life almost unbearable at times. Learning how to deal with their menacing presence can be the difference between loving your job and despising your job.

Types of Office Bullies

The office bully can take many forms. He may be polite to others but rude when he speaks to you. The bullying could come in the form of ignoring you. The bully could be a social butterfly who thinks you are plain as mud. Several different types of bullies exist including the aggressive bully, the know-it-all bully and the better than you bully.

The Aggressive Bully

The aggressive bully loves to single you out. He will seize every opportunity to confront you and say something to make you feel uncomfortable. This person seems to get pleasure out of watching you squirm and fumble for the right words to say. For this person, annoying you is entertainment.

The Know-it-all Bully

This is one of the most annoying bullies of all. No matter what subject comes up, she will know more about it than you do. She interrupts your conversations, inserting her own words of wisdom. She competes with you on top assignments, always making sure to point out all your flaws. She carefully records each error you make for future reference.

The Better Than You Bully

The better than you bully snubs his nose at you every chance he gets. He has more money than you, wears better close than you and travels in better style than you travel. He bullies you by flaunting his success to make you feel inferior. Do not be surprised if you say hello and he happens to turn his head as if not to hear. He has no time for the likes of you.

Dealing With the Office Bully

Rather than cringing every time you encounter this person, it is high time you learn to deal with your bully. The first step in learning to deal with a bully is understanding why someone is a bully in the first place. A bully is an insecure person who makes herself feel better by belittling other people. It is as simple as that. What you have to do is take the power away. You take away a bully's power by not responding. If he gets no response from you, it is no longer fun to pick on you. He will look for another target. If everyone starts ignoring the bully, he will eventually run out of targets and your worries will be over. If the situation becomes too intense and turns into a confrontation, do not lose your temper. If you lose your temper, she has won. Serious conflicts may require you to sit down with your boss and discuss the situation. Tell your boss how uncomfortable this person is making you feel. No one should have to feel uncomfortable at work and it is your boss' responsibility to handle the situation.