Don’t Back Down From Bullies.
Don't Back Down From Bullies.
Don’t back down from bullies.
Live with courage!
If you’ve been reading my blogs regularly this year, then you’ve noticed that I’ve had a run in with a hospital in which I felt that the treatment I received was very disrespectful, intimidating, and unprofessional. One might think, “What can you do about it? You are an individual and you’re taking on an enormous, multimillion-dollar medical giant that probably doesn’t care at all what you think.” It’s important to learn that, in life, you will be facing your share of giants. They tend to be bigger than you and scarier than you. But that’s not a reason to back down.
When I was in elementary school, I had to stay after school for an hour every day for a year in order to avoid bullies who didn’t like that I reported the ringleader for taking a bite out of my sandwich when I left my seat in the cafeteria. What I learned from that experience was that while I had a right to do what I did, it also came with severe consequences. Ever since then, I’ve used that lesson to my advantage.
When I took on the medical hospital, I was already working with the CEO who had no interest in what I had to say. I felt as if I had nowhere else to turn to get satisfaction. However, one lesson I have learned in life is that everyone is accountable to someone. In looking over the hospital’s website, I learned who was on the hospital board. Two of the board members were known to me — including the chairman of the board. I wrote him a polite letter, again thanking him for the excellent service his own hospital had provided my wife and me. I also explained that I was in need of some direction. I told him that I had received zero cooperation from the CEO of the other hospital and asked if he had any suggestions on what to do next.
Within a few days, I received a call from a very polite and professional woman from the hospital in which I had had the dispute. She asked for clarification on what happened. I was thorough and meticulous — using references from numerous notes and research I had done to pursue this action. She was an excellent listener who patiently paid attention to everything I had to say and asked many additional questions.
When we were done, she personally apologized and validated my feelings, saying that I had every right to be upset with the way we were treated. She promised to review the situation with the CEO and the appropriate people and follow-up with me. She asked me what else I wanted. I explained that I had received what I wanted because she listened to me, heard what I had to say, and made me feel important and respected. I also said that had she and I spoke the first time there was an incident, that probably would’ve been the end of it.
By taking these actions, she prevented the hospital from receiving numerous additional consequences in the form of investigations, inspections, potential legal action, and enormous, negative publicity. When you take on a bully, remember that everyone has a vulnerability. You just have to discover what it is and have the courage to stand up for what’s right. And remember that everyone is accountable to someone.
“The bigger they come, the harder they fall.” – Classic proverb
(This excerpt is taken from my seminar entitled Survive and Thrive VI: Staying Power.) I encourage you to click here to register for my all new Survive and Thrive VI: Staying Power seminar on Thursday, November 17, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time an Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.
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