Bullies vs. Engaged Employees

We hear a lot about employee engagement—or rather about lack of employee engagement. It made me wonder whether bullies can be among the small group of engaged employees (about 25%) in the U.S. workforce.

Two thoughts on this:
1. Bullies usually are set on undermining and driving out other employees, their target(s), who more often than not are the best employees.
2. Engaged employees are described as motivated to help their organization succeed; looking for opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills; and appreciative of challenges at work. Engaged employees move the organization forward.

Logic says bullies cannot be engaged employees while actively undermining their engaged co-workers. More likely, bullies are in the “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” employee groups. Neither is concerned with advancing the organization.