Managing Stress for Success

Motivational Speaker Carole Spiers Draws Attention To
One Of The Less-Obvious Versions Of Bullying And Harassment

We tend to associate workplace bullying with the abuse of visible power.

On the shop-floor, we visualise a big aggressive character threatening a little guy. Or a large group ganging-up on a smaller group. Or a foreman picking on some hapless victim, unable to retaliate. In the boardroom, it might be a more subtle victimisation, perhaps with a sexual or racial slant, or just a bully-boy manager pulling rank. But the image of bullying always suggests impact from above.

Obstruction And Protest By Employees

Yet there is also bullying from below, and it is harder to spot, especially as the victim may find it hard to confess the problem. This is when a group of employees shows just how easy it is to make a manager’s job impossible if they really want. All manner of little obstructions can be arranged, that can make the manager’s performance look poor. And many oblique signals of protest can wear down their resistance and perhaps their health.

You can try splitting-up the group and re-deploying them. Or employing a deputy, to re-align the command structure. But there is really no substitute for bringing the problem into the open and involving the specialist counsellors and trainers in this high profile workplace issue.

Bullying From Below - Summary

• Bullying is not always conducted from a position of seniority
• Employees can easily sabotage a manager's performance
• Workplace bullying often needs specialist counsellors

Another key insight from Carole Spiers, International Leading Authority on Corporate Stress,
Motivational Speaker and BBC Broadcaster.