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Work can be challenging enough, without the feeling someone is trying to sabotage your efforts. You know, the perennial backstabbing associate who reports every single thing you say or do to your manager. Or the over-zealous supervisor who dings you for “imperfect line alignment” on your report, points the finger at you when the project hits a hiccup, or simply enjoys belittling you on the floor when they are sure everyone can hear. Or even better, the bitter, passed-over manager, who can smell superior brains and talents a mile away and punish you for it (why can’t you just be average like everyone else). Talk about a minefield, at work…
I’ve been there, and so have many. In those air-tight situations when I was fully aware someone was trying to get me in serious professional trouble, yet I was limited in ways I could address the problem. In professional impasses when one of my only options was to quit. In working conundrums that would leave me confused, doubtful of my own talents and abilities, and in need of extra make-up coverage.
David Maxfield, co-author of Crucial Conversations, makes the case that in 2014 “96% of American employees experience bullying in the workplace”, as I read in Forbes. And among all these cases, guess who gets to keep their jobs and enjoy professional security? The bully. My point, exactly.
This “out to get you” mentality is even reflected from the get-go, at the hiring level, when companies wrongfully seek and hire candidates based on generic skills, experience, and a faulty sense of “hiring in one’s image”.
While thriving in this type of environment is certainly a challenge, there are ways to dodge the professional bullets coming from someone trying to get you at work:
1. Always, always be professional! Yes, it’s obvious this person is trying their hardest to sabotage your career. And yes, you can think of non-politically correct things to say to them by the dozen. Yet the worst thing you could do here is lose your cool. Be professional, polite and even formal.
2. Document EVERYTHING! If there’s one thing my accounting background taught me, is to document everything. Don’t allow for your words, performance or ideas to be manipulated. Keep the majority of your communications with this person in email, or other written format. Back yourself up!
3. Have THE talk! Some difficult issues are better talked through, in a non-confrontational and preferably productive manner. Initiate such conversation with this person, explaining in a professional way your concerns. Also ask what you can do to better the situation. Be prepared for the other person to be defensive, but don’t let it sway you! Be firm but professional!
How do you react to someone trying to get you at work?
The Corporate Sis.
