Bullyproof Yourself at Work!: Personal Strategies to Recognize and Stop the Hurt from Harassment (The Work Doctor Bullying Series)

This book provided the one thing I found missing in all the similar books I have read: a valid theoretical explanation of why bullying occurs -- the characteristics and dynamics of both the targets and the bullies. Essentially, bullies and targets (victims of bullies) come in all varieties, except that targets have one quality in common: they foster collaboration. Bullies, in turn, also have one trait in common: they are hierarchial. This leads to the inevitable crash when the bully percieves that the target is "giving away" the very things that the bully wishes to "sell". The driving force behind bulling is the need to control other people. The vulnerability of targets lies in their incomprehension of why anyone would want to control others when they could instead cooperate with them. These mental models are fundamentally incompatible. In addition, bullies are comfortable using aggression to gain control while cooperators are not. Bullies want to crush targets, targets want to "get along" with bullies. This really excellent book explains the basis for the mental models, the dynamics of the interaction between bullies and targets, and offers targets strategies for survival.

This book accomplishes what many of us have tried to do for most of our working lives: articulate why work so often causes suffering and reduces productivity. Usually, we know someone is bothering us at work, but we have troublre articulating exactly what it is. This is especially so when the problem is the boss, and when we seem to feel that the boss has the right to bully us. In this book, bullies will recognize themselves and will learn for the first time what behaviors they should quit imposing on others. Targets and victims of bullies will find out what to do to protect themselves. Ruth and Gary Naimie have taken the giant and original first step of identifying this national problem, analyzing it, and telling us how to cope with and ultimately solve this hurtful and wasteful problem.

The Namies make a compelling case against bullying in the USA and all over the world and prescribe powerful remedies to Targets. What a marvelous piece of work! Gary and Ruth Namie established themselves as the leaders against bullying at work in the USA and internationally. Great insights make this powerful book an absorbing read and a "must-have" for every employee, whether subjected to bullying or not.

This book is a lifesaver for those in an abusive and dehumanizing workplace. Just knowing that it is not your fault and you are not the only person experiencing this treatment helps you feel better. There is help - the book is easy to read and understand. Give it to yourself, and to friends!