"Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming." ~ Jim Rohn

With the economy in its current state people often arrive at work worried that it might be their last day.  Sometimes the fear is so great you can see it in the eyes of the employee.  You can feel the stress in the air as you walk the corridor.  The stench of insecurity is pervasive from conference room to cubicle wall.  People are worried they may not have a place to work tomorrow.

Undercover Boss - There's a new show on the air called "Undercover Boss" where CEOs of major corporations go undercover in their own companies to learn what it's like for their employees and find out what happens on the front lines.  It has been an eye opener, not only for the CEOs, but for the employees, and viewers alike.

Often the CEO finds someone who is doing exceptional work, but they also find people in fear of their jobs.  Sometimes the CEO gets fired by the person they are working for undercover who is unaware the new guy is actually the company CEO.  In almost every instance of the show, people share their fear of job loss.

The program also reveals bad bosses who treat their people with disdain and bully them into doing absolutely awful things.  Case in point, the boss at Hooters. 

This bully had a special way he treated the women in his employ.  He puts out a plate of beans on the table in front of each woman and tells her she has to eat them all up with their hands behind their back. 

You can see the video of the hooters bully at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Z0c2Hxum8&feature=channel

The interesting thing is bully bosses treat people this way because they know they can get away with it.  The CEO, though disgusted, doesn't blow his cover.  Remarkably, at the end of the show, the CEO does not fire this workplace bully boss.  He just has a little talk with him. 

Bullies are in the news quite a lot these days.  From high school students who bully young girls into committing suicide to the Hooters manager, they are everywhere.  I think this is because teen targets don't know who to turn to and adult employees feel they cannot leave because jobs are scarce and they have families to take care of and support.

I have personal experience with workplace bullying.  Many years ago a board member stabbed me in the back and treated me in the most vicious way that to this day I have not forgotten and still find repulsive.  I later learned that she is a bully who does this to people all over the city.  It is her way of feeling better about herself because she has low self esteem.

With the advent of social media we receive invitations to connect with people we have not seen for many years.  I love that feature as it helps you to find people you haven't seen in awhile.  It's usually a joy to reconnect with them.

That's why last week I couldn't believe my eyes when the aforementioned cruel bully board member sent me an invitation to connect with them on LinkedIn.  I swear I couldn't believe that she had the gall to do that.  But I was not surprised. 

Bullies, you see, are often insecure sociopaths, ego maniacs, and narcissists with low self esteem. 

You don't have to put up with this bad treatment.  You don't have to live in fear and stress.  That will only give you high blood pressure, heart attacks and worse, negatively impact your family and friends. 

So to help you, I am providing a seminar to teach you how to deal with bullies in the workplace.  You can learn more about the program at http://www.YvonneFBrown.com/news. 

Save the date May 15th and join us there.  It's time to deal with those bullies, put the fear away, and live a stress free life.

By the way, I IDK'd the bully and sent her on her way.