Individuals who have self-actualized are less likely to become bullies because they have achieved their highest needs. Self-actualization is a state of congruence between the real and the ideal self. Any disequilibrium between the real and the ideal self creates actual or perceived unmet needs, which are often drivers for bully-type behaviors. Therefore, the first step in bully prevention is to discover the unmet needs of the bully, the victim, and of the organization or school.
The knowledge bully is a bully with the full armor of mastery at their disposal ready to fill in the gaps and to use a one-up-person-ship to gain the advantage over others. The knowledge bully may hide information and silo communication rather than share and collaborate with others. Unmet needs fueled by low self-esteem and self-concept are the catalysts for creating knowledge bullies, and toxic work environments inhibit the healing and growth needed for these bullies to assimilate with other…..
Why is it so hard to identify the covert bully in the workplace? Especially when there are employees who endure the behavior but become unresponsive and too inhibited to demonstrate helping behaviors or identify the perpetrator. In the presence of a bully, the behavior exhibited by the victim and the bystander goes beyond apathy to fear-based. According to Dr. Albrecht, there are five fears common to humans. Fear Types: (1) fear of extinction, (2) fear of body mutilation or invasion,…..
In an effort to avoid lawsuits and low employee morale, managers encourage victims and bystanders to see the bullying situation as never being their fault. However, if bullying is fostered by unhealthy organizational environments and toxic workplaces, then the very existence of the bully triad is a system problem and not necessarily an individual employee bully problem. Organizational wellness requires support from the top down, especially when it comes to change that focuses on supportive relationships, feedback, and conflict resolution……
When triads exist, otherwise stable employees begin to use dysfunctional methods to communicate everyday processes at work. Dr. Dennis O’Grady (2015), in his Friday Talk News release, clarifies the role of servant leadership, which is to control your mood so that you can fully exhibit your servant-leader character. Within the bully triad, important components of effective communication are missing, and Dr. O’Grady lists eight select components of effective communication that must be a part of servant leadership and the culture…..
Can you bring two parties together who have acted in defensive and resistive ways? Yes, it is just a matter of returning to the mission and values of each party and evaluating the return on investment of such behavior. When bad-actors compete, the showdown is meant to search and destroy. Constituents of both parties run from, look away or become disgusted when bad tug-of-war behaviors are the only form of collaboration and communication. In a tug-of-war, a show of strength…..
Diagnosing psychological conditions without the proper credentials is labeling and a form of bullying because it is character assassination. All medical fields including mental health psychologists and psychiatrists are required to have the necessary experience and education through residency with reputable hospitals and universities before acquiring the credentials to have the privilege and the ability to diagnosis and provide treatment, which takes years of dedication and hard work. Journalists, talk show hosts, or news reporters are not known to have…..
Investing in the failure of others sounds odd, but it is a characteristic behavior of the bully. History is full of people who wanted others to fail for personal gain. Practices such as these indicate that something is wrong with the emotional well-being of the organization. A sick organization is created when the hierarchy of needs are not met, such as when the workplace is unstable or unsafe or social needs are ignored and when a lack of respect is…..