Leadership Management

Week 5: Bullying Behavior

Bullying behavior is increasingly common in the workplace. How should a leader respond to a subordinate who is a bully? This activity can be completed in 60 minutes.

I think workplace bullying occurs when an employee experiences a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes harm. The pattern of bullying in workspace is as same as school’s one. But this type of workplace aggression is particularly difficult because, unlike the typical forms of school bullying, workplace bullies often operate within the established rules and policies of their organisation and their society

I think most of bullying in the workplace is having been perpetrated by someone in authority over the target like team leader, seniors and so on. However, bullies can also be peers, and on occasion can be subordinates.

It may be missed by superiors or known by many throughout the organisation. Negative effects are not limited to the targeted individuals, and may lead to a decline in employee morale and a change in organisational culture.

So, a leader has duty to prevent this kind of bullying. First, a leader should be made aware of the bullying is a kind of serious crime. If a leader insists this, most of members bow before the leader’s authority.

Second, keep a record of all bullying events. As same as first one, if a leader did not take any action without recording, bullies guard against his bullying. Then, set up a separate meeting with the victim and the bully. Someone did not recognise he is the root cause of bullying even though he suffers bullying. A leader should listen both of their opinion because they are poles apart in their opinions.