Six months into calling, things were going really well, and by now, I had built my credibility, people acknowledged and appreciated my work.

During this time, through office grapevine, I came to know of upcoming Internal Job Postings. The one that caught my fancy was that of a coordinator position in the training function.

Initially, I was hesitant. I thought it is easier and better to be a big fish in a small pond (my existing role); rather than to be a small fish in the big pond (the new administrative role). But to grow, I decided to take the leap. The moment the IJP released, I applied for it.

I was called in for the interview and as I walked in, I met an elegant lady, dressed in simple salwaar kameez, very fair complexioned with big light greenish brown eyes, chin length bob hair and sans make up. Her lovely smile and warmth immediately put me at ease. The interview went well and by the end of the week, the results were out and I was selected for the position. My operations leader and peers were happy for me; I too was excited to take up the new role.

My excitement soon turned into misery; I really missed working with my sister and peers. I was in a new unfamiliar territory, where I had to share my workspace with some veteran peers, who were discriminatory towards me. From being Miss Popular, overnight, I became Miss Unwanted; it was a big jolt. I was too docile to confront them and one day, when I could not handle it anymore, I finally confided in my sister and parents. My sister offered to speak with the operations’ leaders, so that I could go back and resume my earlier role. 

At that time, it seemed like the most viable solution; but, somehow it did not feel like the right thing to do. I could not let down my supervisor, the same lady, who had interviewed me. So, I decided to continue and focus only at work.        

This resolution yielded great dividends; Overtime, I built a great bond with her, she taught me everything there was to learn and patiently groomed me. She entrusted me with more responsibilities, tagged me along to attend meetings and pushed me to interact with senior leaders of the organisation. This gave me a lot of exposure, visibility, and confidence too. Once, I got a firm footing, I spoke with the colleagues, whose behavior affected me. Post that discussion, they were civil and cordial at least in front of me. What they did behind my back really did not matter.     

Conclusion:

Office bullying is a common phenomenon, experienced at various levels of severity, ranging from:

• Rude comments
• Social isolation
• Name calling
• Given meaningless tasks
• Excessive criticism
• Gossiping or spreading rumors
• Public humiliation or
• Even physical abuse.

This behavior can manifest at all levels in the office from casual harassment amongst regular employees/peers to higher management. In my case, it was not that severe, but it did affect me.

Basis my experience, I’m sharing some techniques that helped me deal with these situations:

Find a way to save yourself:

At work, when I was less familiar with things, I ensured to do everything by the book; it gave me a sense of security and proper documentation helped me stay on track. Next, I started strengthening my network, connecting with employees and building good relationships with co-workers and senior leaders. My working style and growing network made me less susceptible to any kind of exploitation.

Take charge and confront them:

I confronted my colleagues; but, not as an enemy. I respectfully stated all the facts and incidents, shared how I felt, and listened patiently to what they had to say in response. They were initially defensive, but at the end, we amicably resolved the issue. This activity helped me on two counts;

• I came across as a person, who knows how to control her emotions and not overreact
• Also it sent a clear message that if the behavior did not stop, I am capable of escalating the matter

If you at any point in time are a victim of such treatment, confide in the person you trust and bravely face the situation. Remember, do not let others’ opinion, affect you emotionally and break your confidence. Have self-belief.

Dear Readers,

This blog is a brief narrative of my transition from operations to an administrative role and the hurdles I faced early on.

In the upcoming blogs, I would be sharing tales of the strong bonds I made and the obstacles I faced as I climbed the hierarchy of the corporate world. So stay tuned!

I’d love to know your thoughts on the blog; know your story or if you would like me to write on any topic do leave a note in the comments section.  

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Thank you for reading and have a blessed day!