The Day I Was Called a Bully — And What It Taught Me About Workplace Communication

Описание: 😲Back in 2021 or 22, during my final HR course, I think it was compensation packages, I was called a bully.

I had lost childcare, was working two jobs, raising a child, and trying to hit deadlines in a group project. Time was tight. Stress was high.

I spoke up and said, “If we don’t get moving this week, I won’t be able to help as much.”

Her response? “You’re a bully.”

I was shocked. Hurt. Defensive. And then… I paused.

I replied calmly: “Thank you for letting me know. I didn’t realize I was coming across that way. I thought I was just setting boundaries for my time.” I believe I even said I may need to learn how to talk to people...

We finished the project. We got a good grade. But that moment stayed with me.

It made me think about communication, stress, and workplace dynamics. In many jobs, we’re taught to go straight to the person first, then management, then HR. Sounds simple but what if the person is overwhelmed, reactive, or just hard to approach?

I’ve been on both sides. There were seasons in my life — especially when I was coping with alcohol and overachieving (wanting to be the perfect mom and employee) — when I wasn’t easy to approach. Stress showed up as irritability. Urgency felt like pressure. Boundaries felt sharp.

Sometimes what looks like aggression is just exhaustion.
Sometimes what feels like pressure is panic.
And sometimes policies don’t account for human complexity.

If this resonates, let’s keep the conversation going:
🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn for professional discussions about workplace culture and leadership.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/billie-desrosi...

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https://billiesholisticwellness.substack.com/

#workplacewellness #resilientleadership #employeewellness #burnoutprevention #humanresources #workethicmatters #workplacesafety #healthycoping #communication