Cutting-Edge Leadership

Here's another good resource that lets people review their bosses and do research on potential bosses during the job interview process: http://www.ebosswatch.com

Ron, thanks for listing my blog (http://newworkplace.wordpress.com)among your suggested information resources. Much appreciated. Also, you're spot on by highlighting the Namies' work. I've been working with them for 10 years and cannot even begin to summarize how much I've learned from them.

I looked at your bio link and saw that we have many overlapping interests. I'm sure there's a lot I can learn from your writings, and I'm delighted that PT is helping to mainstream some of these I/O psych issues on their website.

Best,
David Yamada

Thank you for bringing up this topic Dr. Riggio. When I work with companies that are trying to get rid of bullying, they frequently realize that all the mayhem comes from leaders' egos as well as power and control issues. I've found that when you work with people to help them let go of the need to dominate others they learn how to empathize and connect with others. They are also pleasantly surprised to find out that they can relax more and get better results by easing up a bit.

Oftentimes people don't want to behave this way, they just have no other tools. It's also helpful for those who are working with a difficult boss to evaluate their own path in life and whether there might not be another workplace that would value their skills and abilities.

Take care,

Guy

Well, I work in the health care field and I've never encountered more bullies in my life. I've tried appropriately through my "chain of command" and find that HR and the "corporate" office supports management. It's a shame that my health is compromised and that I'm now being retaliated against. However, the absolute worst is that patient care suffers. I can only hope that the regulators (CMS and JCAHO) find a way to talk to the real workers and not just management. It's too late for me because, although I requested an investigation by the Bully Institute (Namie), management refused. And my state has no Anti-bully legislation. But doctors and nurses TOGETHER are some of the worst offenders.

It seems like bullying is particularly bad in higher education and in healthcare environments. Perhaps that has something to do with the "power" and "status" that society holds for people with advanced educational degrees (MD, Ph.D., etc.). The competitiveness and high-achieving environment of graduate and medical school may teach these people bad lessons about leadership. Just some thoughts....

You may be right. Another theory is that when you put people in charge of others who may not have the full ability to take care of themselves - or who are dependent on you in some way - it lends itself to recreating the Zimbardo prison study. Those in power become the jailors and the longer they are in that position, the more they need to exert their dominion over others.

I have a friend who worked for a charity shop the boss unknown to my friend had a grudge against her my friend texted her my friend was a bit tiddly when she sent those messages but they were friendly and nice and helpful but her boss didnt tell my friend she wasnt allowed to fraternise with volunteers she didnt tell my friend herself she got her second in command to tell my friend if i were you i would stop texting the boss my friend only texted the boss because she was tiddly my friend apologised but my friend started to suspect that maybe her boss had a nasty grudge agaist her when she told all the volunteers of her mistake humiliated her in public at least three times when she did something nice her boss would criticise her even if she did something nice for her mum shed critcise her boss was really awful to her i said that she did her best to make amends and if her boss still had a grudge then thats her problem and if her boss spead nasty rumours about her then really that shows how immature her boss is