I never thought I would join a blogathon. I just couldn’t imagine having time to keep up with one, and, frankly, I still can’t, but I’m going to do my best.
I would like you to meet my fellow bloggers, a group of first-rate professionals, most of whom I have known for a long time through the Arizona chapter of the National Speakers Association:
Jackie Dishner, a travel writer, loves biking with “mental” components.
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com and http://www.thephoenixtraveler.com
Susan Ratliff is a trade show expert who shares great ideas for entrepreneurs to increase their visibility. http://www.blingmybooth.com
Andrea Beaulieu teaches how to find your authentic voice and live life at its best.
http://www.ConspiracyOfLove.net.
Mimi Meredith inspires people to build better lives, workplaces, and communities.
http://blog.thegoodnessgrows.com
Beth Terry shares commonsense solutions to everyday work and life issues.
http://corporatecowgirl.com.
Vickie Mullins is a designer of logos and print collateral who shows her stuff.
http://vickiemullins.wordpress.com
Michelle May, a physician and author, helps you know how to eat for the right reason-when you’re hungry. http://blogs.eastvalleytribune.com/consumed
Stanley Bronstein, Mr. Achiever, motivates people to perform at their best.
http://stanleybronstein.com
Suzanne Holman, a productivity coach, helps you earn the millions that you deserve.
http://www.LessonsforYourMillionDollarLife.com
Suzy Graven, an inspiring speaker and life/business coach, offers a fresh perspective for women who feel stuck in their professional and personal lives.
http://articles.secretsofthesavvywoman.com
Stephanie Angelo helps organizations raise productivity by reducing domestic violence
http://hressential.com/wordpress
Quinn McDonald is a trainer, speaker, and life/creativity coach.
http://quinncreative.wordpress.com/
Arlene Rosenberg, a professional and personal development coach and consultant, provides tips and tools to help executives and entrepreneurs get to the next level in business.
http://www.leadingachievers.com
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Fear Is Pent-Up Energy, So Use It
Several years ago, my university speech professor told me that the feelings we experience before presenting a speech—the knot in the stomach, shaky hands, and pounding heart—are no more than pent-up energy. Adrenaline floods the blood stream for fight or flight. Fight or flight implies action. We must take physical action to reduce the adrenaline and reduce the fear.
The targets of Bad Apples experience the same physical sensations when they think about meeting up with their tormentors. Consuming pent-up energy with physical activity just before seeing the Bad Apple will help a little, activity such as briskly walking from the back of the parking lot to the office building, squeezing your hands together as hard as possible, shaking your head and neck vigorously to relieve the strain, or slipping into the rest room and jumping up and down several times. These actions may seem silly, but they do help.
However, activities that help targets gain control have the longest lasting effect. One of these is self-education on bullying, bullies, and their targets. The more people understand, the harder it is to put them down. The second most important activity concerns staying connected. Bad Apples, especially bullies, try to isolate their targets, to cut them off from communication with and support of peers and superiors. It is crucial that targets talk with other employees, family, and friends about what is happening and feel assured of their support. Then they are empowered to take action and take control.
The targets of Bad Apples experience the same physical sensations when they think about meeting up with their tormentors. Consuming pent-up energy with physical activity just before seeing the Bad Apple will help a little, activity such as briskly walking from the back of the parking lot to the office building, squeezing your hands together as hard as possible, shaking your head and neck vigorously to relieve the strain, or slipping into the rest room and jumping up and down several times. These actions may seem silly, but they do help.
However, activities that help targets gain control have the longest lasting effect. One of these is self-education on bullying, bullies, and their targets. The more people understand, the harder it is to put them down. The second most important activity concerns staying connected. Bad Apples, especially bullies, try to isolate their targets, to cut them off from communication with and support of peers and superiors. It is crucial that targets talk with other employees, family, and friends about what is happening and feel assured of their support. Then they are empowered to take action and take control.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
This is Scarey: 1% of Adult Working Population Are Psychopaths
Dr. John Clarke, an expert in the criminal mind, discovered that psychopaths are not only people you'd find in prisons or in the courtroom. They are lurking and scheming in workplaces world-wide. They lie, cheat, steal, and they manipulate, victimize, and destroy co-workers.
The problem for their victims is they are very good talkers and appear to be charming and intelligent. Their ruthlessness is mistaken as ambition and a drive to succeed. In a way it is. They will do anything to get what they want--power, salary, status.
According to Dr. Clarke, the workplace psychopath thinks the same as the criminal psychopath. The difference is criminal psychopaths physically destroy their victims; whereas, workplace psychopaths psychologically destroy their victims. I would add that the health of workplace victims is often seriously compromised for the long-term due to intense and prolonged stress. Indeed, workplace victims often feel their lives are destroyed.
Clarke says there are two weapons you can use: education and teamwork. Education helps you recognize what is happening and empowers you to stop the self-blame. Teamwork keeps you from becoming isolated.
Build a personal team advises Clarke and tell people what is taking place, because "if a psychopath can't isolate you, he can't destroy you."
The problem for their victims is they are very good talkers and appear to be charming and intelligent. Their ruthlessness is mistaken as ambition and a drive to succeed. In a way it is. They will do anything to get what they want--power, salary, status.
According to Dr. Clarke, the workplace psychopath thinks the same as the criminal psychopath. The difference is criminal psychopaths physically destroy their victims; whereas, workplace psychopaths psychologically destroy their victims. I would add that the health of workplace victims is often seriously compromised for the long-term due to intense and prolonged stress. Indeed, workplace victims often feel their lives are destroyed.
Clarke says there are two weapons you can use: education and teamwork. Education helps you recognize what is happening and empowers you to stop the self-blame. Teamwork keeps you from becoming isolated.
Build a personal team advises Clarke and tell people what is taking place, because "if a psychopath can't isolate you, he can't destroy you."
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Bullying as Employee Motivation. Bizarre!
Can you believe it?! Some workplaces actually support bullies and bullying! It has to do with the hierarchy of management and competitive environments. Where competition is intense, bullying becomes the common and accepted way to motivate employees. Bullying becomes part of the culture of the organization.
Of course, bullying is not openly or actively promoted, but rather, it is supported by silence and inaction of organizational people who have authority. It is supported and can be perpetrated by any level of authority--from directors to managers to supervisors to reports.
Although people respond differently to bullying, some reactions are consistent: bullying increases stress and decreases morale. The universal result is that performance declines.
People subjected to bullying cannot do their best work when they constantly are fearful of meeting up with the bully and being further intimidated. Isn’t it bizarre to think that fear makes good employees?
Of course, bullying is not openly or actively promoted, but rather, it is supported by silence and inaction of organizational people who have authority. It is supported and can be perpetrated by any level of authority--from directors to managers to supervisors to reports.
Although people respond differently to bullying, some reactions are consistent: bullying increases stress and decreases morale. The universal result is that performance declines.
People subjected to bullying cannot do their best work when they constantly are fearful of meeting up with the bully and being further intimidated. Isn’t it bizarre to think that fear makes good employees?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Red-Hair Bullying
My mother, a high-spirited, intelligent and expressive woman, often told of how she hated her bright red hair when she was a young child in elementary school. She was teased so much about her hair she avoided doing anything in school that would attract notice. Although she completed all assignments on time and knew the content, she chose not to contribute or solicit information in class. The little red-haired girl even timed her walk to school so she would arrive just as the bell was ringing and wouldn’t be subjected to early morning playground teasing.
Imagine my surprise to learn just this week that in England, excessive teasing of red-haired people, whether children at school or adults in the workplace, is called Gingerism. (Mother’s hair was much redder than ginger.) According to international lawyers Pinsent Masons, unchecked gingerism in the workplace can be considered bullying and can become a legal issue.
From a cross-cultural perspective, the practice of picking on people with red hair is thought to be a particularly British trait. Interestingly, Mother was of English heritage, but the community in which she grew up was of German descent. Obviously, globalization is not a new phenomenon—it just occurs faster now.
Final note: By the time Mother entered high school, she had overcome her shyness and no longer minded some light-hearted teasing. In fact, in the students’ notes of her high school yearbooks, she is frequently called Red.
Imagine my surprise to learn just this week that in England, excessive teasing of red-haired people, whether children at school or adults in the workplace, is called Gingerism. (Mother’s hair was much redder than ginger.) According to international lawyers Pinsent Masons, unchecked gingerism in the workplace can be considered bullying and can become a legal issue.
From a cross-cultural perspective, the practice of picking on people with red hair is thought to be a particularly British trait. Interestingly, Mother was of English heritage, but the community in which she grew up was of German descent. Obviously, globalization is not a new phenomenon—it just occurs faster now.
Final note: By the time Mother entered high school, she had overcome her shyness and no longer minded some light-hearted teasing. In fact, in the students’ notes of her high school yearbooks, she is frequently called Red.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Northern Ireland Takes on Bullying at Work
Belfast Set To Host Anti-Bullying Road Show
Northern Ireland News 24 August 2007 www.4NI.co.uk
Belfast is being included in a nationwide road show to crackdown on the rising levels of harassment and bullying in the workplace.
Recent research has shown that 10% of employees are bullied at work and this serious issue already costs UK employers over £2 billion a year in sick pay, staff turnover and loss of production.
The road show will arrive in Belfast on Wednesday, 5 September, with an open seminar for organisations at the Malone Lodge Hotel, Eglantine Avenue. Guest speakers include Mandy Telford, Dignity at Work Co-ordinator from trade union Unite.
The current shortage of skilled labour across Northern Ireland highlights an increasing need for organisations to adopt a zero tolerance approach to bullying from the outset, and to have anti-bullying and harassment policies in place.
Peter Williamson, Regional Secretary for Unite, said: "Bullying in the workplace is a significant issue for companies across Ireland. We want senior managers in Belfast to lead by example and show they are taking a stand against bullying."
Northern Ireland News 24 August 2007 www.4NI.co.uk
Belfast is being included in a nationwide road show to crackdown on the rising levels of harassment and bullying in the workplace.
Recent research has shown that 10% of employees are bullied at work and this serious issue already costs UK employers over £2 billion a year in sick pay, staff turnover and loss of production.
The road show will arrive in Belfast on Wednesday, 5 September, with an open seminar for organisations at the Malone Lodge Hotel, Eglantine Avenue. Guest speakers include Mandy Telford, Dignity at Work Co-ordinator from trade union Unite.
The current shortage of skilled labour across Northern Ireland highlights an increasing need for organisations to adopt a zero tolerance approach to bullying from the outset, and to have anti-bullying and harassment policies in place.
Peter Williamson, Regional Secretary for Unite, said: "Bullying in the workplace is a significant issue for companies across Ireland. We want senior managers in Belfast to lead by example and show they are taking a stand against bullying."
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