A Bully’s Followers:
To become powerful, a bully needs many supporters. He is proficient in identifying people who can be controlled by charm or guile, intimidation or manipulation.
1. A Bully Tests You
A bully test everyone to determine if they can become a follower or an opponent. At first, he challenges with mind games and mild verbal criticism. Then moves closer, enquiring about your personal life, not out of concern, but to ascertain your stress levels, weaknesses or personal vulnerabilities. Or he invades your personal space by standing too close and hovering behind you in your work area. If you silently endure his behavior, he concludes that you tend to avoid confrontation.
Or he watches for you to be in a bad mood, then tries to learn the reason. “Are you feeling okay?” maybe his attempt to get you to share personal information. By learning your emotional hot buttons, he positions himself to gain power over you.
2. With Him or Against Him
On the other hand, if you seem unlikely to become a loyal follower, he concludes you are a threat to his success and begins plotting ways to discredit you, to diminish your influence over others and to reduce any power you have in the company.
The bully uses willing supporters to “spy” on others to monitor discontent or the slightest rebelliousness and then plan ways to suppress or eliminate the potential threat to his control. He does not use mediation or negotiation, he uses attack and elimination.
3. Qualities of Followers:
A bully prefers followers who are easily intimidated, deceived and controlled. He seeks a number of specific characteristics or qualities.
Good
A bully wants followers who are cooperative, conscientious and giving. He knows that unselfish, caring people are more likely to forgive his aggression and continue serving his needs, even after years of verbal abuse.
Idealistic
The best followers are naive, self-sacrificing and altruistic, with a strong belief in duty, obedience, loyalty and teamwork. A bully looks for people who are eager to please others in pursuit of a noble purpose (which, of course, is defined by the bully).
Passive
A bully wants followers who are polite to a fault, non-confrontational, afraid to debate others openly, easily interrupted, quiet and non-expressive. He understands that introverts are more likely to become subservient to an aggressive leader.
Self-critical
People who are overly critical of themselves or lack self-respect are more likely to accept the premise that a bully has superior intellect and character. These types of followers tend to lack self-confidence, making them more willing to accept blame and more likely to become dependent on the leadership of the bully.
Fearful
People who display a great deal of fear are usually easier targets for intimidation and manipulation. As a result, a bully seeks followers who are tentative in manner and socially anxious, perhaps displaying nervous habits and speech patterns, such as using a timid tone of voice.
Vulnerable
Emotionally vulnerable people are also more easily manipulated. Some of a bully’s most loyal followers have difficult personal lives or long-term problems with their careers. Strong negative emotions--greed, anger, hate, envy, jealousy--also exposes one to exploitation by a skilled bully.