It does not matter your age, gender or profession, bullying doesn’t discriminate, and it can be found at schools, playgrounds and at work. According to The American Psychological Association, a bully can be an aggressive juvenile, an intimidating boss or colleague, a controlling romantic partner, an unruly neighbor, a condescending family member, or a shaming social acquaintance.
Bullying can take place over the phone, online and through face-to-face interactions. You may not know that you are being bullied or that you are a bully, because sometimes we don’t put two and two together. But often, people have been or have bullied someone, even without knowing that they were doing it.
Besides verbal and physical bullying, there is something called passive-aggressive and covert bullying. This can be anything including negative joking and gossip at someone’s expense, or deliberately sabotaging someone’s happiness and success. Gossip and bullying in the workplace is common and can destroy morale of an employee, decreasing performance and productivity in the long run.
With October being National Bullying Prevention Month, be kind to one another. Kindness is contagious, so share it everywhere you go. Instead of judging or treating someone negatively, try putting yourself in their shoes. A simple act of kindness goes a long way. Try these simple acts to make your day better and set a good example for others:
- Buy a meal or beverage for the person in line behind you
- Send a friend a hand-written card
- Bring a treat to school or work and share with your colleagues
- Forgive someone