Sure, the movie “Mean Girls” may be set in a high school, but we can bet there’s a few “mean” girls and guys at your office – the ones who always seem to spread the rumors, tease other employees, and generally bring that gray cloud across the office. Think that’s how it always has to be? Think again. Regardless of whether you’re in management or not, you can take steps to stop this behavior in your office – the right way.
Educate
The first step to stomping out bullying is to send a clear message that it is simply not condoned in your office. Managers should create a plan of action for dealing with complaints of bullying, and meet with their teams to outline the specific actions that one should take to report bullying, that it will be kept confidential, and that all complaints will be investigated. Then, managers can show specific examples on what constitutes bullying behavior. In many cases, bullies may not even realize the power of their actions.
Equality
One of the common causes of bullying is insecurity – the team member feels they are not in control of their destiny within the company, or feels as if others are given more responsibility. Managers – take an objective look at your team members. You may be giving some more responsibility than others and not even realizing it. Extend the chance for career success to everyone on your team. You may need to provide more of a helping hand in some cases, but it does give team members a sense of fairness.
Boost Esteem
Just as bullies commonly suffer from insecurity, they often also suffer from low self-esteem. We live in a fast-paced world, and it can be difficult for managers to find time to motivate team members, and for team members to share a laugh and pat on the back with each other. This behavior needs to start from the top down – take your team members to lunch, start an incentive program, give them a half hour off on a Friday, ask them how their days are going, laugh with them, etc. This personable behavior creates a more positive work environment, showing that you’re supportive of your team members, and your team members can also support each other.
Mingle
Cliques of bullies often form out of convenience – of being part of the same team or task force, for example. Mix employee teams up every quarter – this not only helps decrease the likelihood of cliques forming, but lets team members develop different skill sets and engage in various team roles.
Workplace bullying is a complicated subject, but it is one that must be actively addressed in any organization. Sending a clear anti-bullying message is critical, with managers promoting positive behavior in their team members. These are just a few examples of methods to prevent anti-bullying behavior – what are some examples of workplace bullying prevention in your office?
The following article was a Guest Post from Rebecca at SpyTown.com, which has been in the business security cameras business for over twenty-five years, providing businesses with the security expertise they need.
If you would like to Guest Post on this blog - shoot me an email at proreswriter at gmail dot com.