Standing Tall in Business: Why Bullying Happens and How to Rise Above It Blog Post
Running a business isn’t for the faint-hearted. It takes courage to put yourself out there, to take risks, to share your voice and your vision with the world. Every business owner I know pours heart, soul, and often personal sacrifice into creating something meaningful. Yet, for many of us, there’s a darker side that isn’t often spoken about: being bullied for doing exactly that.
I’ve seen this play out countless times. A business owner grows visible, their message begins to resonate, and suddenly, they become a target. The comments start. Whisper campaigns, online threads, anonymous groups filled with vitriol. It’s ugly. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end, you’ll know how destabilising it can feel.
But here’s what’s important: it’s not about you.
The Psychology of Bullying in Business
Behavioural science tells us that bullying behaviour usually stems from insecurity, fear, or a deep unmet need. Take the concept of projection: when someone can’t face their own feelings of inadequacy, they project them onto another. It’s easier to attack than to sit with the discomfort of envy or self-doubt.
Psychology also shows us the human drive for belonging. One woman Lisa Johnson confronted after a torrent of online abuse admitted she didn’t hate her at all. She simply liked the sense of belonging she got from joining in with a group united in tearing someone down. It was the first time she felt part of something. Distorted, yes, but it explains so much.
There’s also a cognitive bias at play called the negativity bias. Our brains are wired to pay more attention to threats than to praise. That’s why one nasty review sticks in your head while the 50 glowing ones barely register. It’s not weakness on your part, it’s biology.
Why Successful People Become Targets
No one doing better than you will ever try to pull you down. Bullies tend to appear when someone’s success, confidence, or visibility triggers their own sense of “not enough.”
Culturally, especially in the UK, we still have a complicated relationship with success. We cheer people on when they’re struggling, but the moment they cross an invisible line of “too successful,” the mood shifts. Wealth is demonised, confidence mistaken for arrogance. Stories, films, and even the language we use often cast the businessperson as the villain. Small wonder then, that some find it easier to criticise than to celebrate.
Building the Inner Armour
So what do we do? We can’t change other people, but we can change our response. Psychology shows us that resilience isn’t innate, it’s cultivated. It comes from self-esteem, self-awareness, and practice.
When you know your values and intentions are rooted in integrity, you create a buffer. You begin to see attacks for what they are, noise. They no longer define you.
Sometimes silence is the most powerful response. Silence doesn’t mean agreement. It means you’ve chosen not to spend your energy where it won’t be respected. And ironically, the more visible you become, the more you realise this is the path of every thought leader. If you’re making waves, you’ll stir resistance.
A Call to Those Holding Back
What worries me most are the people who never step forward because of fear. Fear of judgment, fear of criticism, fear of “what if.” I know that fear. It kept me quiet in my singing career once upon a time, and it’s kept countless entrepreneurs small when they were born to be brilliant.
If that’s you, let me say this: don’t let the insecurities of others dim your light. The world needs your ideas, your message, your work. For every person who tries to tear you down, there are many more who will be lifted up by what you share.
Business takes grit, yes. But it also takes grace. Grace to know when to let go, grace to stay true to yourself, and grace to keep shining despite the noise.
If you’ve ever felt the sting of bullying in business or even held back for fear of it, I’d love you to listen to my conversation with Lisa Johnson on the Born to Be Brilliant podcast. It’s a raw, real discussion about what this looks like behind the scenes, and why resilience and integrity will always outshine the noise.
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