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Outing the ElephantOuting the Elephant

Tamsen LeachmanTamsen LeachmanDunn CarneyDunn Carney

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Can You Relate?Can You Relate?

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Our ProgramOur Program

A Call to Action and Building a Foundation A Call to Action and Building a Foundation of Understanding of Understanding

Empowering the TargetEmpowering the Target

Empowering the Team Empowering the Team

Some Real World How-To’s & Traps for Some Real World How-To’s & Traps for the Unwary the Unwary

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Is This Really a Problem?Is This Really a Problem? Bullying 4 times more common than harassmentBullying 4 times more common than harassment

6464% report currently working with a Bully & % report currently working with a Bully & 9494% report % report working with a Bully at some pointworking with a Bully at some point

9191% of nurses report verbal abuse & % of nurses report verbal abuse & 5050% feel unable to % feel unable to respondrespond

2121% of Bullies report being the Target of a Bully% of Bullies report being the Target of a Bully

Cost to business is incredibly high – study of 9,000 Cost to business is incredibly high – study of 9,000 federal workers - $180,000,000 in lost time & productivityfederal workers - $180,000,000 in lost time & productivity

Consider high cost of Consider high cost of leaveleave, , non-productivenon-productive time, and of time, and of replacingreplacing departing employees departing employees

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What Do We Know?What Do We Know? Most Targets are:Most Targets are:

Well educated & have long employment historiesWell educated & have long employment histories Generally working in private or government sectorGenerally working in private or government sector

58% of Bullies and 80% of Targets are women58% of Bullies and 80% of Targets are women

50% of bullying takes the form of women 50% of bullying takes the form of women bullying other womenbullying other women

Only 23% of time is only one Bully involvedOnly 23% of time is only one Bully involved

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Defining Bullying …Defining Bullying … ““Repeated mistreatment by one or more Repeated mistreatment by one or more

employees”employees”

““Behavior designed to control or devalue others”Behavior designed to control or devalue others”

““Repeated offensive, vindictive, cruel or Repeated offensive, vindictive, cruel or malicious behavior”malicious behavior”

““Professional cannibalism – nurses eat their Professional cannibalism – nurses eat their young”young”

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Three Areas of FocusThree Areas of Focus

ShamingShaming – humiliation, sarcasm, potshots, – humiliation, sarcasm, potshots, verbal attacks, and mistake pointingverbal attacks, and mistake pointing

Passive HostilityPassive Hostility – passive aggression, – passive aggression, distrust of other’s opinions, territoriality, distrust of other’s opinions, territoriality, and acting clueless when confrontedand acting clueless when confronted

SabotageSabotage – surveillance, meddling, and – surveillance, meddling, and abuse of authority to punishabuse of authority to punish

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The Territory MarkerThe Territory Marker

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The Gate KeeperThe Gate Keeper

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The DismisserThe Dismisser

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The Space InvaderThe Space Invader

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The Rage-aholicThe Rage-aholic

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Characteristics of a BullyCharacteristics of a Bully

AggressiveAggressive

Outgoing, funny and charmingOutgoing, funny and charming

CompetitiveCompetitive

Behavioral inconsistenciesBehavioral inconsistencies

DishonestDishonest

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What We Don’t See – What We Don’t See – Why Bullies BullyWhy Bullies Bully

Bullying happens often behind “closed doors”Bullying happens often behind “closed doors”

Driven by need for power and controlDriven by need for power and control

Fear about inadequacy and vulnerabilitiesFear about inadequacy and vulnerabilities

Insecure, low self-esteem, and feels threatened Insecure, low self-esteem, and feels threatened by targetby target

Goal - diminish self-esteem or performanceGoal - diminish self-esteem or performance

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Characteristics of a TargetCharacteristics of a Target

Non-expressive, Non-expressive, often shy personoften shy person

HardworkingHardworking

Smart Smart

Socially and Socially and technically skilledtechnically skilled

Positive AttitudePositive Attitude

Nice Nice

EmpatheticEmpathetic

Honest Honest

EthicalEthical

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Impact on TargetImpact on Target At First, too Shocked or Surprised, may FreezeAt First, too Shocked or Surprised, may Freeze

Waits too Long to ConfrontWaits too Long to Confront

Denial, Blame, Guilt, Shame, Feels Responsible Denial, Blame, Guilt, Shame, Feels Responsible

Health Issue - Stress, Sleeplessness, ObsessionHealth Issue - Stress, Sleeplessness, Obsession

Diminishing Job PerformanceDiminishing Job Performance

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Team’s Reaction to the BullyTeam’s Reaction to the Bully IgnoringIgnoring – pretend there is no real problem – pretend there is no real problem

SmoothingSmoothing – try to make others feel good – try to make others feel good

ForcingForcing – suggest others “deal” with the situation – suggest others “deal” with the situation

AgreementAgreement – public agreement / private – public agreement / private resistanceresistance

ComplacencyComplacency – nose to the grindstone – nose to the grindstone

And…..And…..

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Elephants Have Great Qualities Elephants Have Great Qualities & Organizational Value& Organizational Value

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Creative & Able to be Self-AwareCreative & Able to be Self-Aware

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Driven Driven ││Determined Determined │Strong │Strong Work EthicWork Ethic

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Wisdom & Historical PerspectiveWisdom & Historical Perspective

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Team’s Reaction to the BullyTeam’s Reaction to the Bully

Cliques or subgroupsCliques or subgroups

Defensiveness or fearDefensiveness or fear

Restricted Restricted communicationscommunications

Low productivityLow productivity

Lack of creative Lack of creative solutions to problemssolutions to problems

AvoidanceAvoidance

Rigid or dysfunctional Rigid or dysfunctional proceduresprocedures

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Problems? What Problems? Problems? What Problems? Enabling The BullyEnabling The Bully

Expect different Expect different outcomeoutcome

Protect the bullyProtect the bully

Cover up or bufferCover up or buffer

Special relationshipSpecial relationship

Failure to report Failure to report

Enjoy the rewardsEnjoy the rewards

Minimize tough Minimize tough decisionsdecisions

Modeling the behaviorModeling the behavior

Nothing will change Nothing will change

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Fears of the TeamFears of the Team Absence of Trust – nothing will changeAbsence of Trust – nothing will change

Fear of Conflict – team members guardedFear of Conflict – team members guarded

Lack of Commitment – no clear plan Lack of Commitment – no clear plan

Lack of Accountability – how will management Lack of Accountability – how will management hold the Bully accountable?hold the Bully accountable?

Limited/No Follow Up on Results – what will be Limited/No Follow Up on Results – what will be different?different?

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Observable Team SymptomsObservable Team Symptoms Great deal of blamingGreat deal of blaming

Coping issuesCoping issues

Private meetingsPrivate meetings

Problems not addressed - Problems not addressed - let alone solvedlet alone solved

Rumor millRumor mill

Escape – vacation, sick Escape – vacation, sick leave, transfers, leave, transfers, resignationsresignations

GrudgesGrudges

Complacency, cliques or Complacency, cliques or subgroupssubgroups

Different behavior outside Different behavior outside the organizationthe organization

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Diagnose Team ConcernsDiagnose Team Concerns

Task ForceTask Force

Employee Satisfaction Employee Satisfaction SurveySurvey

360360º Feedback º Feedback AssessmentAssessment

Teambuilding MeetingsTeambuilding Meetings

InvestigationInvestigation

Anonymous Feedback Anonymous Feedback ProcessProcess

Exit interviewsExit interviews

Panel DiscussionPanel Discussion

TrainingTraining

Team InterventionTeam Intervention

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Team Attitude for SuccessTeam Attitude for Success Belief and desire for acceptable outcomesBelief and desire for acceptable outcomes

EmpathyEmpathy

Minimize status and power differencesMinimize status and power differences

Awareness of limitations - expect setbacksAwareness of limitations - expect setbacks

Understanding changing behaviors takes timeUnderstanding changing behaviors takes time

Focus attention on future, not pastFocus attention on future, not past

CommitmentCommitment

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Team Involvement – Correcting Team Involvement – Correcting the Situationthe Situation

Commitment from Commitment from leadershipleadership

Become part of solutionBecome part of solution

Identify action planIdentify action plan Short term goals and Short term goals and

measurementsmeasurements Establish behavioral Establish behavioral

expectationsexpectations Accountability and Accountability and

expectationsexpectations

Full cooperation & buy-inFull cooperation & buy-in

Feedback from targets to Feedback from targets to the bullythe bully

Open communicationOpen communication

Assess progressAssess progress

Celebrate all successes – Celebrate all successes – large and smalllarge and small

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Prevention is the KeyPrevention is the Key

Mission/Vision/Mission/Vision/Values/Strategic PlanValues/Strategic Plan Team UnderstandingTeam Understanding

Job DescriptionJob Description Team Member Roles Team Member Roles

& Responsibilities& Responsibilities

Hiring ProcessHiring Process Interviewing skillsInterviewing skills Team reviewTeam review

OnboardingOnboarding Team involvementTeam involvement

Performance Performance Management ProcessManagement Process Team inputTeam input

Policy Manual and Policy Manual and policy enforcementpolicy enforcement Team knowledgeTeam knowledge

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MustMust We Address This?We Address This? No Bullying Statute … but … No Bullying Statute … but …

Hostile Environment HarassmentHostile Environment Harassment

Negligent / Intention Infliction of Emotional DistressNegligent / Intention Infliction of Emotional Distress

Negligent Hiring / Workplace Violence / Assault / BatteryNegligent Hiring / Workplace Violence / Assault / Battery

ADA / Worker’s CompensationADA / Worker’s Compensation

Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act

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Where Do We Begin?Where Do We Begin?

Values StatementValues Statement

Included in Performance Evaluation Included in Performance Evaluation

Bullying Policy / Respectful Workplace Policy / Golden Bullying Policy / Respectful Workplace Policy / Golden Rule PolicyRule Policy

Training as part of roll outTraining as part of roll out

Live the policy at all levelsLive the policy at all levels

Discipline for failure to followDiscipline for failure to follow

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Establish Your ValuesEstablish Your Values

Genuine success Genuine success comes from comes from consistently putting consistently putting our Core Values into our Core Values into actionaction: :

Everyone has the Everyone has the Opportunity to Make a Opportunity to Make a DifferenceDifference

Everyone CountsEveryone Counts

Do the Right ThingDo the Right Thing

Our Company Goals Our Company Goals Are To . . . Are To . . .

Provide our employees a Provide our employees a healthy, professional healthy, professional atmosphere in which to atmosphere in which to work. …work. …

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Simple, Value-Based Policy: Simple, Value-Based Policy: Teamwork – The Golden RuleTeamwork – The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule: “Treat others only in ways that you’re The Golden Rule: “Treat others only in ways that you’re willing to be treated in the same situation.”willing to be treated in the same situation.”

  Company AAA strives to provide a safe and fun work Company AAA strives to provide a safe and fun work environment. All employees are encouraged to work as a environment. All employees are encouraged to work as a team by supporting coworkers in a positive and team by supporting coworkers in a positive and constructive manner.constructive manner.

Negative and destructive behavior and comments, as Negative and destructive behavior and comments, as well as gossip, hearsay or rumors will not be tolerated. well as gossip, hearsay or rumors will not be tolerated. Employees acting in such a destructive way will erode Employees acting in such a destructive way will erode the teamwork atmosphere. These employees will be the teamwork atmosphere. These employees will be subject to corrective action up to and including subject to corrective action up to and including immediate termination.  immediate termination. 

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Drafting TipsDrafting Tips

Do not copy and paste your harassment policyDo not copy and paste your harassment policy

Keep focus on Values and broad conceptsKeep focus on Values and broad concepts

Consider categories of behavior or concernsConsider categories of behavior or concerns

Consider reporting procedure if no open-door Consider reporting procedure if no open-door policypolicy

Do not promise ‘no retaliation’Do not promise ‘no retaliation’

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Behavior Examples for TrainingBehavior Examples for Training OvertOvert – name calling, bickering, back stabbing, – name calling, bickering, back stabbing,

fault finding, gossip, criticism, intimidation, using fault finding, gossip, criticism, intimidation, using put downs, shouting, blaming, raising eyebrows, put downs, shouting, blaming, raising eyebrows, making facesmaking faces

CovertCovert – unfair assignments, sarcasm, eye – unfair assignments, sarcasm, eye rolling, ignoring or freezing out, refusing to help rolling, ignoring or freezing out, refusing to help or work with someone, whining, sabotage, put or work with someone, whining, sabotage, put downs, isolation, exclusion, fabrication, downs, isolation, exclusion, fabrication, infighting, scapegoating, humiliating innuendo, infighting, scapegoating, humiliating innuendo, disinterest, discouragement, withholding disinterest, discouragement, withholding information, not keeping confidences, rudeness, information, not keeping confidences, rudeness, abruptness, belittling, unavailability, dismissive, abruptness, belittling, unavailability, dismissive, sarcasm, minimization sarcasm, minimization

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Performance EvaluationPerformance Evaluation

Core ValuesCore Values Supports and Encourages Company Core Supports and Encourages Company Core

ValuesValues

Demonstrates Core Values Through Behavior Demonstrates Core Values Through Behavior and Actionand Action

Actively Promotes Core Values With StaffActively Promotes Core Values With Staff

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Broad Concept of DisciplineBroad Concept of Discipline

Change behavior of Bully if possibleChange behavior of Bully if possible

Eliminate Bully from workplace if not possibleEliminate Bully from workplace if not possible

Remember the problem is not fully solved – what Remember the problem is not fully solved – what does team still need?does team still need?

Keep your eyes on your values and goalsKeep your eyes on your values and goals

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Savoring the Transformation!Savoring the Transformation!

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind, the third is to be kind.”kind, the second is to be kind, the third is to be kind.”

- Henry James- Henry James

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Questions?Questions?

Tamsen LeachmanTamsen Leachman││503.417.5513503.417.5513││tleachman@dunncarney.comtleachman@dunncarney.com