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When the project manager says .. You're Fired !! .. what goes through your mind?

reigniting your purpose Aug 20, 2019

When the senior managers in the meeting didn't even bat an eyelid when the project manager looked at my colleague, who had just raised a valid point, and said those words. 

YOU'RE FIRED

Well, my heart nearly stopped, I couldn't believe what I was hearing!

Those words ... rang in my ears ... a big ben style bell was going off in my head.

Surely I had misheard ... was it a bad joke about the latest episode of the Apprentice?

I had to bite my tongue as the room seemed immune to this statement, some people were amused by it, others just ignored it and I couldn't help but feel like my colleague was being thrown to the wolves!  

Being in a room with people who just seemed to accept this as normal was something I wasn't comfortable with, I had never experienced it, I really didn't think it was appropriate. Perhaps it was a tactic used to remind everyone that he was the 'big boss' and it was going to be his way or the highway.

When the meeting ended it was clear that a few people left feeling uncomfortable, confused and angry and still, no-one said anything.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was normal behaviour?

Was I really gullible? ... he hasn't really been fired, right? 

I asked my colleague and he just seemed to shrug it off .. really?!

I knew the culture of my work environment was eating away at my confidence, I was starting to question my own standards of behaviour and my sense of right and wrong.

Not only that, I could see how it was affecting those around me. Just to accept that as the norm was wrong. No one wanted to stand up for each other anymore. Something had to change. I had to take a stand on this one. 

It is because of accepted behaviour like this, that I am so determined to help others recognise the signs of workplace bullying early on and to take action before it is too late.

I share more about my experience with workplace bullying and how I coped with the scenario I found myself in, in my REIGNITING YOUR PURPOSE EBOOK, click the link to download it.

-Marilise

PS: I have been writing a book called ROAR! How to tame the bully inside and out which is due to be published towards the end of the year. This process has been a massive part of my journey to recovery and finding my passion again. Look out for more information about this. 

DOWNLOAD THE REIGNITING YOUR PURPOSE EBOOK CLICK HERE

 

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