10 Empowering Ways to Stand Up for Yourself at Work

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

If you're being disrespected, bullied, or mistreated at work, it's important to stand up for yourself. This can be pretty uncomfortable, though, especially if being assertive doesn't come naturally to you. We totally understand! To help you out, we've compiled a list of ways to handle a variety of workplace scenarios. Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself on the job—you absolutely deserve respect and fair treatment.

1

Stay calm no matter what.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    We know it's not always easy to keep your cool in a tough situation, but do your best. Pause, take a few deep breaths, and give yourself a moment to think before saying anything. If you clap back in the heat of the moment, you may end up looking like the perpetrator rather than the victim. [1]
    • If you need to, walk away for a few minutes to collect yourself. Once you're calmer, go back and address the situation in a civil, professional way. [2]
    • If you're feeling upset about something, ask yourself, "How important is this right now? Is it going to be important a week from now?" That can help you get perspective on the issue. [3]
    • A calm, assertive response is a good thing! It’s a healthy way to let others know what you need and how you feel. [4]
    2. Advertisement
2

Disagree with colleagues respectfully.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you disagree with a colleague’s opinion or solution to a problem, there's nothing wrong with speaking up about it. Try to avoid pitting your idea against theirs, though, which can seem aggressive. Instead, acknowledge the value of the other person’s idea before introducing your own.
    • For example, "Kathy’s proposal is solid and going that route could definitely benefit the company. I have another idea that may help us reach our quarterly goal even faster, though. What does everyone think about..."
    • If you don't like the way your manager assigns shifts, politely offer an alternate solution. For example, “Mr. Sellers, I really appreciate that you want our shift assignments to be fair. Your recent changes got me thinking and I'd love to get your perspective on this alternative...”
3

Address problems quickly.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If a coworker says or does something inappropriate, don’t go back to your desk and stew all day. Call out their bad behavior right away to nip it in the bud. Remember to stay calm, but use firm, direct language to tell them the behavior is unacceptable and needs to stop immediately. [5]
    • For example, if someone calls you “Honey” in a meeting, immediately respond with, “I don’t like being called that. Please use my name to address me.”
    • If a coworker tries to take credit for your work in a project meeting, let them finish speaking. Then, politely note your own contributions. For example, “Bill did a great job organizing the reports. With his help, I was able to analyze and file them a lot faster than usual.”
    • If you don’t speak up quickly, your coworker (and anyone else who witnessed the act) will think it’s fine to treat you that way. [6]
    2. Advertisement
4

Talk to the person in private.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/27\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Aside from that, sometimes a public confrontation just doesn't feel quite right for that particular situation. For example, if a coworker talks over you in a meeting and they've never done that before, give them the benefit of the doubt! Wait until the meeting is over and talk to them about it privately. [7]
    • You might say take them aside later and say, "I realize you probably didn't mean to do this, but when you interrupted me at the meeting earlier, I felt belittled and a bit embarrassed. Can you be more careful about that in the future?"
5

Use questions instead of accusations.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you need to have a tough conversation with a colleague, try to avoid opening with aggressive statements like “I don’t like the way you’re doing this” or “I think your approach is wrong.” The person will immediately feel judged and probably get defensive. You can still be assertive and speak your mind with questions. [8] For example:
    • "Can you help me understand why Derrick got most of my assignments this week? Are you unhappy with the quality of my work?"
    • "I'm not sure I understand why you CC'd the sales team on that email. I thought we were talking privately. Can you tell me why you did that?"
    • "Would you mind explaining the new schedule? I know you must have a good reason for making changes, but our lunch breaks are 15 minutes shorter now."
    2. Advertisement
6

Unite with coworkers against a bully.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you’re being bullied by a coworker, don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to other coworkers who you trust and ask them if they've had any issues with the bully in the past. Bullying behavior is usually a pattern, so other people will probably come forward. Band together, discuss the situation, and support each other. [9]
    • Come up with a game plan together. Your boss is more likely to take your complaint seriously if other employees back you up.
7

Look at the situation objectively.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you’re being bullied, treated unfairly, or harassed at work, you absolutely need to stand up for yourself. Responding in the heat of the moment is never wise, though, so take a moment to step back and look at the situation before you escalate things. [10] Unacceptable behaviors include:
    • Coworkers gossiping about you or purposely excluding you
    • Verbal abuse, yelling, or using profanity
    • Purposely unclear tasks and unreasonable workloads
    • Employees taking credit for your work
    • Offensive jokes, nicknames, or comments
    • Constant criticism, discrimination, or undeserved punishment
    • Blocking opportunities for training or advancement [11]
    2. Advertisement
8

Collect evidence for a formal complaint.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Try keeping a daily journal to jot down incidents as they occur. Include the date, time, and as much detail about the event as possible (including names of any witnesses). Save any memos, emails, and other written communication, too. [12]
9

Bring issues to your supervisor first.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you need to take action or make a formal complaint about someone, go to your immediate supervisor first (assuming this person isn’t the perpetrator). If you escalate an issue over your boss's head, they'll be blind sighted when the formal investigation starts (which doesn’t reflect well on you). [13]
    • You might say, "Rebecca, do you have a few minutes to speak to me privately in your office? I would love to get your perspective on some things I’ve been dealing with lately.”
    2. Advertisement
10

Go to HR if nothing improves.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Stand-Up-for-Yourself-at-Work-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If your boss downplays or ignores your complaints, feel free to escalate the issue to the next level of management or go straight to HR. Be sure to bring all of your evidence to back up your claims. [14]

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Reader Videos

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      20 Good Excuses to Miss Work on Short Notice
      How to
      Call in Sick When You Have Diarrhea
      30 Signs Your Boss Likes You Romantically, Plus What to Do about It
      Flirty or Friendly? 12 Signs Your Coworker Might Actually Be Flirting with You
      The 21+ Best Excuses to Use When You Want to Work from Home
      Need to Call Out from Walmart? Read This First
      How to
      Answer “What Do You Do for a Living?”
      20+ Believable Excuses for When You’re Running Late
      How to
      Ask for a Day Off over Text
      How to
      Find Out Where Someone Works: The Ultimate Guide
      How to
      Get Hired at Costco
      How to
      Become a Phone Sex Operator
      What Does “Work Wife” Mean?
      How to
      Access Your Work Schedule as a Starbucks Partner (Employee)
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/bullying.html
      2. ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/10/how-to-deal-with-a-mean-colleague
      3. ↑ Lauren Krasny. Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
      4. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stand-up-for-yourself-at-work-2017-4#2-know-the-difference-between-assertion-and-aggression-2
      5. ↑ https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/bullying.html
      6. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2016/03/10/3-times-youll-have-to-stand-up-for-yourself-at-work-because-no-one-else-will/?sh=58a91b266600
      7. ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/10/how-to-deal-with-a-mean-colleague
      8. ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/06/how-to-speak-up-about-ethical-issues-at-work
      9. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/careers/2017/mar/28/the-psychology-of-a-workplace-bully
      1. ↑ https://hbr.org/2014/10/how-to-deal-with-a-mean-colleague
      2. ↑ https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/bullying.html
      3. ↑ https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/bullying.html
      4. ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/06/how-to-speak-up-about-ethical-issues-at-work
      5. ↑ https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/bullying.html
      6. ↑ Lauren Krasny. Executive, Strategic, & Personal Coach. Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 58,051 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement