Schoolyard Bullies: now playing at a conveniently located newsroom near you

If you've ever watched any of those nature shows, you've learned that animals can smell fear.

The same is true of people in the television news business.

I get a lot of calls from people who are miserable in their jobs for a variety of reasons, but there always seems to be one common denominator. They are getting "bullied" while at work. And it's not just managers who employ this tactic, but co-workers as well. And just because bullying has "matured" from a schoolyard fight to a cutting remark doesn't make it any less scary.

There are two scenarios that are fairly common. The management bully uses old fashioned fear and intimidation to keep you walking on eggshells (another phrase I hear quite often) as you spend most of your time trying not to make a mistake. You could do 99 things right on an average day, but the management bully will focus on the one thing you might have done differently and call you on it. The result? Your creative muse goes into vapor lock, and you are paralyzed, unable to do your job. You can't think out of the box, can't take chances, do things a different way. You're afraid to even make suggestions at the morning meeting because you know they'll be shot down. You're afraid you'll lose your job, even though you hate it.

The management bully has won, and has your muse safely tucked away in a vault. You won't see it again till you find another job.

The co-worker bully attacks in a different way, going straight for your confidence. Words are this bully's weapons. Usually you'll hear cutting remarks regarding your work or your appearance, and these comments are very subtle. You might get, "Oh, you dyed your hair. I used to dye mine but people told me it made me look cheap." Or, "I was surprised you didn't even think to interview so-and-so in your story last night." Generally you can chalk this up to jealousy, whether it is another reporter whose talents don't measure up to yours or an off-camera person who desperately wants to be an on-air person.

Doesn't matter. What does matter is your reaction. If you show that fear, if the bully can sense it, you have doomed yourself to more bullying. Let a manager know you're afraid of losing your job, and you'll be at the whipping post every day. Let a co-worker know that he or she is "getting to you" and the snide comments will continue.

Taking abuse and letting people know it affects you only gives them more power. You don't have to say anything, don't have to be confrontational. It's all in the body language and in the look in your eyes. Stand up straight, be strong, and smile.

Bullies can't stand smiles.