There is a guy at work 2 heads taller and more muscular than me I find very strange: he seems to enjoy to either ask or tell me what he thinks about me without any filters: He either asks intrusively if everything is OK, staring at me like it’s an interrogation or blurts out loud what he thinks about my face (you look angry). It’s always when I’m preparing to do my job (checking the computer, taking notes) or when I’m working (looking for files). I’m starting to feel intimidated. I don’t talk to him but he talks to me, I don’t want to talk to him to listen what he thinks about me. Can’t he see I’m working? Doesn’t he have things to do? Or anything better than blurt out what he thinks about me?
I’m also a man, but smaller than him and I keep my opinions to myself.
Is this mobbing? Would contacting HR be of any good? Any ideas to deal with this kind of person?
This has happened twice already in 3 weeks, so you decide if this is a pattern.
It is weird behavior for sure. But what does it mean? There are many possibilities.
Do you believe he really intends to intimidate?
If yes, and only if yes, I would suggest this reaction, precisely:
When he does such talk for the first time on a day, do not react at all.
When he does such talk for the second time on a day:
Stop your work immediately
turn your head and look at him on a straight level (not up to his face yet) but don’t talk and keep a straight face
Then, slowly, look up to his face
Then move your look down to his feet
Up again
Then turn back to your work
Do this only once on every day. Otherwise,do not react at all.