Disclaimer: This is not fun. Bullying is hard and painful, and my heart goes out to those who have to deal with it. I share this personal story in hopes that it will empower others who may face similar situations and remind them that they are not alone.
The company gets bigger, and the drama gets bigger. Or at least that's what I've learned as a product owner of a defaulting American company. It had all the classic corporate anxieties: endless Slack messages, awkward small talk, and beloved team-building events.
Now, don't get me wrong. Team building is great! It's the golden ticket for us people stuck behind screens all week. We actually got to meet in person over food and drinks paid for by the company. So when we had the chance for a weekend outing, I was excited. It was a small group. There were 15 of us, mostly men and 2 women. We started with a wine tasting tour, which seemed harmless enough. We swirled, sniffed, and learned to take a sip like experts.
But one of my colleagues, whom we will call "Nick," didn't get the "SIP" part. So when we left the winery, he wasn't just tasting the wine. He bought a bottle and opened it as we walked.