I WAS STUCK ...

I was stuck in my own groundhog day.

The same story repeating itself again and again and again and again ... 

Is it spring yet? Has the weather changed ... is it safe to come out?

Groundhog Day is a popular tradition celebrated in Canada and the United States on February 2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. While the tradition remains popular in modern times, studies have found no consistent correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow or not and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather. _{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day}

How was I going to get out of this never ending loop where I was feeling like I was the person being singled out and just expected to deliver ...

It seemed that I was expected to work miracles, keep any issues buried and suck it up. Just do it is what I was I was told to do ... best you just get on with it. But this can't be, right ... is this the way that senior managers behave and am I really expected just to toe the line ... I remember mulling this over in my mind again and again.

On the day in question (no it wasn't the 2nd Feb - lol) I was struck by the irony of the situation because I felt like we were finally seeing some progress, everything seemed to be on track. The team I had put together were working well together and I had placed specific people in control of specific roles based on who they are and what they brought to the project, in our weekly team catch up everything was going to plan, we had a couple of challenges in the week but nothing we couldn't manage.

And then in our weekly management meeting, it all got ripped to shreds ... again! I was accused of having a total meltdown and silenced in front of the entire leadership team, my colleagues, I felt powerless, embarrassed and enraged by the whole situation. Unfairly treaded and sidelined.

So the meeting ended, I left feeling alone, vulnerable, let down because no one stood up for me, I was tired! Bored! Frustrated! and yet there I was back again with my positive hat on in front of my team, the consummate professional ... and yes ... sucking it up!

Is it just me? I would muse ... am I being way too sensitive to all this? 

My ultimate role was to deliver and to manage my team, my personal values insisted that I over deliver and we were on track to do so, I just have to keep going and not let the negative vibes affect me, I told myself every day I turned up for work, I am bigger than this. 

............

If you are working in an environment where you feel stuck in your own groundhog day, then I would love to hear more about your experiences and would like to invite you to complete my survey or message me with more details about your story.

Please CLICK HERE to complete my survey.

If you want to know a little more about it then please scroll down and read more below.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN MY STUDY ON WORKPLACE CULTURE

I need your support, please. I am conducting a study for my book, Roar! How to tame the bully, and I would be very grateful if you would participate in my study.

In my eBook, you will have read about my own experience with workplace bullying and its toll on my relationships and my health (mentally and physically). That is why I am determined to help others recognise the signs of workplace bullying early on and to take action before it is too late.

If you have worked in a situation where you have been the Witness or Target of:

1. behaviour that is intentionally negative and malicious, whether physical or emotional, from one or more persons,
2. negative behaviour that is consistently aggressive and persistent, and
3. behaviour that is driven by another person’s desire to obtain control.

Then I would like to invite you to participate in this study.

This survey is being sent to individuals working in organisations across all industries worldwide. Your participation will help assure that the results generated present an accurate reflection of the prevalence of bullying behaviour in workplace cultures today.

TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY - CLICK HERE

The survey is anonymous and treated in the strictest confidence. You may refuse to answer any question or quit the survey at any time. It will take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete.

I’d love to get industry and country-specific analysis too, so the more responses I get, the better, so please feel free to send this link to your colleagues.

Thank you in advance,

Marilise de Villiers

TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY - CLICK HERE

PS: Although there may be no direct benefit to the participant, there are possible benefits to organisations and society as a whole. Leaders, managers, and human resource personnel may learn techniques for identifying, investigating, and managing workplace bullying. Potential benefits to employees would include improved mental, physical and emotional well-being. Raising awareness of workplace bullying could potentially benefit leaders and organisations by increasing employee engagement and productivity.