Walking the proverbial tightrope ...

The performance of a trapeze artist is simply mesmerising for me, I love watching them swing from side to side, trusting their ability to perform and of course their partner's ability to catch them as they let go of the swing. OMG, it makes my heart skip a beat. A sharp intake of breath and a huge relief when they catch each other's arms again. 

Then watching tight rope walkers ...

OK let me reframe - I just can't watch!

Even though I know there is a net ready to catch them if they fall, I just feel butterflies in the pit of my stomach and I find myself gritting my teeth and feeling a rush of adrenaline and fear. This is not something I would ever do! 

It is no surprise then that working in a challenging environment where I felt like I was in a continual state of 'walking a tight rope' was so incredibly damaging to me.

The continual drain on my energy looking beyond the horizon to try and see the bigger picture rather than focus on the rope I was trying to balance on and walk along, taking one tiny step at a time, I would often feel like I was teetering on the edge and that one wrong step would push me over and I would be falling, spiralling, out of control before I knew it.

Not convinced that the safety net would catch me or that there was a safety net, having zero confidence in my own ability to perform or to figure it all out and find my path forwards. A balancing act I felt I was failing at and it was making me question my own ability. Day by day, step by step, I was spiralling, I knew I had to take control. I had to get off the tightrope and place my feet on solid ground, make the changes I needed to make to take a step forward and take back my power. 

Sound familiar?  

If you are struggling with a difficult situation at work and this story has resonated with you 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.