How To Protect Yourself Against “trampling” At Work: Strategies To Protect Your Well-being And Professional Development

The world of work, despite its rewards and satisfaction, can become a battlefield where your personal and professional value are constantly tested. Among the most common challenges is the phenomenon of “trampling” , where colleagues or superiors belittle your achievements, sabotage your projects or even attack your self-esteem. If you find yourself in this situation, you are not alone.

How to identify if you are being “trampled”?

The Signs can be subtle or obvious. Pay attention to these clues:

• You receive constant and unfounded criticism.
• Your ideas are ignored or belittled.
• They exclude you from important projects.
• Your work is attributed to others.
• You are assigned inappropriate or degrading tasks.
• You experience teasing or hurtful comments.

Why do they “trample” you?

The reasons They can be diverse:

1. Insecurity of the “trampler”: Feeling threatened by your abilities or potential, they seek to minimize you to feel superior.
2. Unfair competition: To get promoted or stand out, some resort to unethical tactics to eliminate competition.
3. Conflicting personality: Individuals with narcissistic or antisocial personality traits may enjoy the dominance and humiliation of others.
4. Lack of empathy: Some simply do not understand the negative impact of their actions on the well-being and motivation of others.

There are some reasons that could be due to us :

1. Lack of assertiveness: Not knowing how to communicate your needs and defend your ideas clearly and firmly can lead others to take advantage of you.
2. Low self-esteem: If you don’t believe in your abilities, you’re more likely to let yourself be dominated by more confident people.
3. Fear of conflict: Avoiding confrontation at all costs can cause you to stay silent when someone is stepping on you.
4. Lack of support: Not having a good work environment or not having the support of your colleagues or superiors can make it difficult for you to defend yourself.
5. Work overload : If you are overworked, it may be harder for you to have the energy and time to defend yourself.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Personally:

• Strengthen your self-esteem: Recognize your strengths, achievements and personal value. Don’t let the negative opinions of others define your worth.
• Set clear boundaries: Assertively communicate what you accept and do not tolerate in interpersonal relationships. Defend your physical and mental space.
• Document the situations: Records dates, details and witnesses of “trampling” incidents. This can be useful for future actions.
• Seek support : Rely on friends, family or trusted colleagues who can offer you emotional support and practical advice. Even seek help from a professional.
• Take care of your mental health: The stress and anxiety caused by “trampling” can affect your health. Practice relaxation techniques, spend time doing activities that bring you joy, and seek professional help if necessary.

At the organizational level:

• If the situation is serious: Consider reporting workplace harassment to your company’s competent authorities or through external channels.
• Promotes a positive work environment: If you have the opportunity, propose initiatives that foster respect, collaboration and mutual recognition in your team or company.
• Participate in workshops or courses: There are training programs that teach you strategies to deal with workplace harassment and defend your rights assertively.
• It is important to highlight that for the solutions to be as effective as possible, requires a comprehensive approach that involves both personal work and work at an organizational level, in which companies commit to finding solutions and training their employees (regardless of their position) to generate a safe, empathetic and well-being environment.

In my own experience as a psychologist and coach, I have accompanied numerous people who have suffered workplace harassment. I have seen how “trampling” can affect people’s self-esteem, motivation and mental health. However, I have also witnessed their strength and resilience in overcoming these difficulties and building successful careers in more positive work environments. This experience has reaffirmed in me the importance of sharing tools and strategies to combat workplace harassment and promote a more fair and humane world of work.