PrintEmail

At least once a month I see press articles that talk about bullies in the office.  If you read daily newspapers and blogs you too must have seen them, they’re hard to miss and make it obvious that office bullying is a big problem worldwide.

But what most people forget is that bullying does not just happen in your younger years at school or in the office.  When you run your own business you can still experience bullying even though you are your own boss.

In your own business your bully can be a customer or supplier, even one of your staff members.  They’re easy to spot:  they get angry quickly, like raising their voice, want something for nothing and try and put you on a guilt trip when you don’t comply.  Remember that phone call from a customer who yelled at you even though you know you gave them the best possible service?  Or a staff member who think they can get their own way by throwing temper tantrums. 

So is the customer always right?  If they shout, stamp their feet or become threatening then no, they are most definitely not.  Could you lose that person’s business by standing up to them?  Absolutely, but if you know your business is top notch and you have done the best you can then you want to lose that business. 

What to do when you come up against this type of bullying?  Easy, be upfront and walk away.  If the person abuses you via the phone simply tell them to call you back when they feel a bit calmer, then put the phone down.  If you cop this abuse in person then smile, be as non threatening as possible (as hard as it is), again tell them you won’t tolerate this, come back once they feel more in control, and walk.  The reaction is predictable:  they will threaten to move somewhere else.  Good, perfect, you don’t want them, it is as simple as that.

But you are desperate for their business, their dollar is important, that bottom line is going to hurt!  That may be true, but if this person gets under your skin you will probably lie awake at night worrying about them, your blood pressure will rise, your mood will change, your health will suffer, your family could suffer.  A bullying person in your business is so not worth it.  Sleep well, use that extra energy to get new and better customers, or friendlier staff, and enjoy your business.  You are the boss after all!