If it feels too good to be true ... it is!

I left the meeting feeling like things were finally going to work! I was excited and motivated to get stuck into this project. I knew it was an important one and I felt honoured that I had been chosen to lead it ...

The entire brief was perfect for me I knew I had the skills to deliver this one and so did the board! Wow!

I had just spent an hour in a meeting where I was praised for my attention to detail and ability to work with people and told that I was uniquely placed to deliver this to the business. It felt as if everything I had learned and all my experience so far had led me the point where I was able to deliver this and it was a big one! 

It seemed too good to be true ... 

and

IT WAS! 

I had been seduced by his charismatic personality, seduced into believing that I was the only person who could deliver this. Made to feel special. Like my skills were unique and I was promised all the support and resource I needed to deliver on time and within budget.

I developed the strategy, got the budget signed off and over the few months it took to deliver this project I realised that there are only two types of people in this environment I work in ... the winner and the loser ... 

I was feeling like the LOSER! A big fat L on my forehead.

How wrong was I about being on the winning side!

I made the mistake of disagreeing with one of the sign-offs today and OMG, the venom. I was told I couldn't be trusted to take the right course of action (his course of action) and that my time was coming to an end... What did that mean exactly!

It was becoming clear that as long as I agreed with him I was the best! Switch sides and everything comes into question. 

This just didn't feel right! 

My experience had already been taken into account - this is exactly why I was given this project to deliver.

I was feeling like it was all too good to be true and ... yes, it was!

I knew the culture of my work environment was leaving me feeling undervalued and frustrated, I was starting to doubt myself, I knew this was affecting my mindset at work and it became clear to me that something had to change.

I had to take the next steps sooner rather than later!

Been there? 

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.