Category Archives: In All Seriousness

If you are familiar with the story or the movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” then you are very likely acquainted with the idea of flying monkeys. Put simply, flying monkeys are those people around toxic individuals who continue to support them, even when they know of or have seen how poorly the bully or toxic individual treats you or others. They are enablers, but they typically can do nothing to stop the toxic person from their behavior, instead, they are used to try to manipulate you to back down from your accusations or they pretend to be your friend, while they report your thoughts and plans back to the bully, very much like the flying monkeys in “The Wizard of Oz.”

Personal boundaries are extremely important when dealing with workplace bullies and toxic individuals. Boundaries are the guidelines of behavior you establish for yourself or others that informs the limits of what you will or won’t do or tolerate. Consider personal boundaries your line in the sand for dealing with toxic people.