About a year ago, I had a challenging experience working with a colleague who had quite aggressive behaviors toward me. We are both college colleagues and she began copying my work, later taking credit for it as she did it. After that spreading a bad mouth about me, and she also physically tried to intimate me by pushing me when she walked next to me. Fortunately, I always protected my work, and started creating strategies back in that time such as signing up the materials I prepared, I also tried to just limit communication just by sending emails that formally addressed the work detail in which we were collaborating. I also didn't allow her or gave her space to approach me, by trying to be in places where there were other people who might see her if she portrayed this type of behavior.
Today I went to a meeting in which she was there as well. I choose to limit any type of contact just by participating in what was necessary. Fortunately, I didn't need to speak to her. Yet I did notice she was trying to look for eye contact and tried to in a way enter a conversation in which I just didn't engage. I did this and act a bit "indifferent" or didn't give her attention as a way of limiting contact and protecting myself considering the toxic past behavior. I felt good and strong. Yet in a way, since this is the first time I'm doing this, I wonder if is the correct way of dealing or a healthy type of establishing a boundary.
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When I have a personal conflict with someone I judge if it is an eventual instance, or if it is a standard.
Also if by being helpful myself they could change, or they will act continue sucking the life out of me no matter what.
The answers to those questions can be generally figured out by asking a third question: how well does this person usually relate with other people?
If a person just loves drama, and they won't change, I eliminate them for my life. No apologies.
It was right to do this. Keep it on and see what happens in the future. What works once will always works twice.
I’d say it’s very healthy and the right thing to do.