Question: “I hear more about workplace bullying these days. Bullying conjures up visions of the mean kid on the playground picking on others. Why do adults bully their co-workers?”
There are many reasons adults bully their co-workers. The term workplace bully suggests the interconnectedness of organizational (workplace) and individual (bully) dynamics, and both influence this behavior.
Question – My co-worker undermined me and I am so angry it is affecting my work and my health. What can I do to get let go of this anger and resentment?
Anger is a common emotional reaction when we have been harmed or disrespected by someone. Unfortunately, anger and resentment often harm the person experiencing the emotions, not the person who committed the offense.
Question: “I have a co-worker who often refuses to admit errors, even when proof is presented. This intensifies the original conflict. What is the motivation behind that behavior?”
Sometimes, when people voice their points of view on an issue, they often cling to that position, even when they realize it may be invalid, because changing their minds can result in face loss. Face-saving behaviors are birthed by the human need to protect self-esteem and gain peer approval.
Question: “My organization is considering developing an internal conflict management system. What should we consider as we undertake this project?”
Many people think a grievance policy is a Conflict Management System (CMS). It is not!