Hostile Workplace
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Sunday, October 16th, 2011Most people think that if they made a mistake, broke the rules, weren’t good at something or did something wrong they deserve what they get. So they accept being scolded, chastised and browbeaten. This attitude is so common that we have many words and expressions for these put-downs and abuse. For example, admonished, assailed, assaulted, [...]
Stop Workplace Bullies who Beat you up with the Rules
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011We all recognize bullies who yell, hit and make nasty remarks. But how do you stop bullies who use the letter of the rules to gain power by browbeating co-workers and getting them in trouble? For example, in the last two years, Jane had lodged written complaints about numerous employees who’d broken rules. The result: [...]
Stop Employees who Bully Workplace over ‘Morale’ Claims
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011Who’s responsible for an employee’s morale? Many people think it’s the manager’s responsibility. But I say it depends. For example, before Sarah became manager of her new team, she’d been warned that the group had longstanding problems with low productivity and morale. Sarah rapidly discovered the warnings were accurate. Her staff spent too much time [...]
Be wary of these business animals
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011Lion tamers and snake handlers can be great entertainment. But taming the wild beasts in your own work office is no fun. It’s something you have to do, however, if they’re preventing your team meetings from being productive. If they’re on your team, you must control, channel or remove these destructive beasts:
Stop Sneaky, Manipulative Bullies
Sunday, May 15th, 2011A typical tactic of sneaky, manipulative bullies is to convince their well-meaning targets to try to make the bullies happy. Although covert bullies and control-freaks aren’t usually so clear, straightforward and blunt about it, what they say is, “You’ve made me unhappy. It’s your fault that I’m upset, angry, violent and abusive. If you only [...]
Stop Abusive, Bullying Teachers
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010Which professions, in their teaching schools and in their on-the-job practices, foster or tolerate the worst and most flagrant forms of bullying? I don’t know, but teaching is right up there with doctors and lawyers and others I may be overlooking. I see two kinds of principals running two very different kinds of public schools.
Stop Emotional Bullies: Drama Queens
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Some bullies use their strong emotions to become the center of attention, take control and coerce or manipulate other people to give in and do what the emotional bully wants. Children throwing fits are practicing and learning if that tactic works. Adult masters of emotional bullying are effective with spouses, partners, friends, extended families and [...]
Stop Bullies at Work: Control Freaks
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010Some control freaks at work are complete narcissists, others cover up major insecurities. We can make lists of possible reasons that led someone to be a controlling adult – for example, genetics, they grew up with control freaks, they had no control when they were kids, their control when they were kids saved them, control [...]
Stop Toxic Coworkers and Other Bullies
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010There are toxic people in every environment – toxic family, toxic friends, toxic lovers and toxic coworkers. If you don’t recognize and respond effectively to toxic, bullying coworkers they can make your life miserable, harass you, turn the rest of your team against you, scapegoat you and even get you fired. For example,
Stop Gossip Girls’ Bullying, Harassment and Abuse at Work
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009Recent articles in the “New York Times” by Shayla McKnight, in the “Harvard Business Blogs” by Cheryl Dolan and Faith Oliver, and in “Stumble Upon” have focused on the harm done by workplace “gossip girls,” “mean girls” and on the difficulty in stopping these bullies. However, some academics have even made a case for the [...]
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