Sunday, November 14, 2010

Unethical Influence

Bullying - what comes to mind when you read that word? A school yard bully or a workplace bully? Unfortunately it is a very real issue in both places. More than half of workers surveyed report they have been bullied at work. There are estimates that the annual cost of workplace bullying for a Fortune 500 company is $24 million. If that was a line item on the income statement what CEO or CFO would not want to reduce it?

If your organization has programs to address sexual harassment; violence in the workplace; stress management; dealing with difficult people; diversity; respectfulness; or conflict resolution you are at least indirectly addressing the issue of bullying. However, a comprehensive four step approach is recommended:
1- Assess what bullying is taking place, usually only the most severe cases get attention;
2 - Control the situation by stepping in to put a stop to it whenever it is observed or reported;
3 - Reverse the impact by using EAP counseling or other support to help the victims and also the bullies; and
4 - Prevent future incidents by focusing on culture change, developing key interpersonal skills for influencing, communication and conflict management along with clear policies and messages from senior leadership that support the entire initiative.