There are several strategies available to you to defend yourself against workplace bullying. One of the most accessible techniques is to write a note about any encounter with the bully. Record the date, time, and place of what the bully did, and your reaction to it. You can use sticky notes, a word document, or a daily journal log. Just make sure to store the notes in a place where you can easily find them.

Reasons for Documenting

You may decide to talk to your supervisor or file a complaint man resources to file a complaint, then, your notes become valuable. Taking any formal action against the bully requires presenting the events that you are complaining about; when they happened and where. It will be difficult to recall everything from your memory, even though you think you will not forget what the bully did or said. So, be prepared and take notes. 

Tips to Enhance the Technique

– Let the bully know that you are documenting everything. Bullies fear documentation.  They may back off if they know you are keeping a record of their actions.

– You can be informally witty about letting them know that you are documenting what they did to you. For example, you can smile and say, “I am adding this one to my record. So, if you forget what you did, I can remind you.”