You notice that when you move the middle of your back, there’s a sharp pain. Ah, the backstabbers are at it again! Backstabbers are in the sales profession as well as in every profession of the working force. How do you deal with people like this?
Backstabbers come in several types. Here are a few different ones to look out for:
*Credit Thieves: These co-workers are really sneaky! They steal your ideas and when the project or presentation is successful, they make sure to grab all the glory and the credit.
*Finger Pointers: These people love to pin the blame on everyone else when something goes wrong, making sure they come out smelling like a rose.
*Rumor Mongers: They have poisonous tongues that love to stir up drama. Spreading lies and half truths are their favorite past times. If they can actually ruin a few lives, get someone fired or break up a marriage, all the better.
*Slackers: This type of backstabber disappears faster than the invisible man. They shirk responsibility and thrust their duties onto other co-workers This is usually a higher up and there’s not much you can do about it.
What’s the reasons behind this kind of behavior? Some of them simply want your position and want you out of the way. Another one may lack the skills or degree that you have and harbors resentment against your higher position. The backstabber could just plain not like you for reasons only known to them. If they dislike you for an uncertain reason, you can’t even figure what they have to gain by trying to sabotage you. The co-worker may have a low opinion of your abilities. They may see you as incompetent, whether you are or not.
What can you do to fight back?
1. Get as much information as you can. Have a good network of trustworthy people who support you and can tell you what’s going on with your backstabber. Trustworthy being the key word here.
2. Enlist support. Get the help of your support people to network to help defeat the saboteur. Ask the people who are watching your back to talk to the person , or need be, their supervisor. If there are nasty rumors being spread, they need to help counteract them.
3. Face to face confrontation. This can be tricky but it can work. Make sure you have all the facts about the sabotage. Do it in private. You may not be able to actually prove anything but you will make the person aware that you know what they’re up to and you’re ready to defend yourself.
4. Ask for protection: Make your case business related, not personal. Explain that as long as you’re looking over your shoulder, you can’t be productive at work
You also have to be aware whether someone is purposely trying to make you look bad or if you have played a role in the problem, or if perhaps, the person wasn’t aware of the issue.
Rebounding from an assault like this can be a long and difficult process. Bad rumors fly like they have wings whether they’re true or not. With any luck, the backstabber will get caught in his own trap. However, if there is an issue, knowing how to handle it is half the battle.
Any comments are welcome, as always.
By Linda Lee Ruzicka
Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and for Salesheads. More of her blogs can be found at Salesheads blog.
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