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Bullying: Personal, Professional and Workplace

Over the years I’ve been involved with anti-bullying programs in K-12 schools. I’ve also dealt with bullying and cyberbullying in the professional arena and the workplace. This year, while working with librarians who are in the early stages of their career I was appalled to hear about some terrible (and often unaddressed) incidents of professional and workplace bullying by co-workers, management and users. Just scratch a group of library workers and the stories pour out. Lordy, it’s bad enough that this sort of stuff isn’t addressed well enough in elementary and high school. People should have grown up enough as adults that it shouldn’t happen – or at least bullying should be addressed properly in our field and workplaces.

Then again, maybe these books about sociopathy and psychopathy in the workplace is true!

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout (Paperback – Mar 14, 2006)

“Four percent of the global population is made up of sociopaths, Dr. Martha Stout, psychologist and clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, tells us in her book “The Sociopath Next Door.” That means one out of every 25 human beings has no conscience, no sense of right or wrong, no empathy, no ability to understand emotion — no soul. Worse, while they can mimic emotion, they see other humans as mere pawns or saps, to be used for their benefit or amusement, or both.” (link)

The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry [Hardcover]
Jon Ronson (Author)

Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us [Paperback]
Robert D. Hare PhD (Author)

Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work [Hardcover]
Paul Babiak (Author) & (Author), Robert D. Hare

While I was in Australia in May I came across a piece on bullying in the workplace, school and academia from The Gordon that I think is useful. Here are some of the links it had (Australia):

Bullying (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying

Bullying: No Way
http://bullyingnoway.com.au/

CyberSmart
http://www.cybersmart.gov.au

Cyberbullying
http://www.cyberbullying.ca
http://www.cyberbullying.us
http://www.cyberbullying.org

Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response
5 page PDF
http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf

“Workplace bullying can include a vast number of disrespectful behaviors including: (link)

• Harassment
• Mobbing
• Incivility
• Teasing
• Gossiping
• Purposely withholding business information
• Overruling decisions without a rationale
• Sabotaging team efforts
• Demeaning others
• Verbal intimidation”

Fifteen signs of workplace bullying

Workplace Bullying Institute

Some bullies have defended their actions by stating that their bullying behaviours are necessary in order that they are heard. What a complete crock of b.s.! Some cyberbullies ironically say they must remain anonymous in order to avoid being bullied back or other consequences. Again, the lack of self awareness would be funny if it weren’t for the negative world they create.

I agree with a friend who said that the bullies are doing as much damage to themselves as they do to others and the workplace. I am concerned that they get help. However, that doesn’t make it OK or ignorable.

Shine a light on the dark places. Don’t let the bullies hide in the shadows.

And if you’re experiencing workplace bullying – for whatever or no reason – do a few searches and find some advice. Get the help and support you need. It’s not your fault. And it can get better.

Stephen

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Posted on: July 7, 2011, 1:05 am Category: Uncategorized

5 Responses

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  1. Deborah said

    I’m glad that someone is bringing to light the fact that bullying does occur in the library profession. I too had this experience as a newly-credentialed professional. At the time, I considered it both age-discrimination and gender-discrimination. However, I am glad that the way this workplace behavior is described now focuses more on the person disrupting the workplace than on their reasons for selecting their target.

  2. I would consider my place of employment a goodmplace to work if it weren’t for the unchecked bullying. We have a small percentage of our staff (in a fairly good sized academic library) that are out of control. Yelling, campaigns of harassment, false accusations, death threats, physical intimidation, verbal abuse, you name it. No one seems to care. The majoity of the staff is demoralized. I’m looking for a new job.

  3. Thank you for sharing this and the resources, Stephen! I wrote a post last year title There is No Excuse for Bullies at Work (or Anywhere Else) http://librarianbyday.net/2010/03/23/there-is-no-excuse-for-bullies-at-work-or-anywhere-else/ and could not believe the outpouring of stories. Many people emailed me directly to share their story and they were shocking and heart breaking.

    I’ve also noticed and increase (or at least increased awareness on my part) of online bullying among professionals. Even more shocking is the justification these bullies offer.

  4. After over a decade in the field, I’ve seen it, too. I hear that it’s everywhere, but since most of the librarians in the world are decent & non-sociopathic folks, it’s a bit like there’s a wolf in the fold when one shows up in our workplace. When you see their behavior, you almost can’t believe it. It seems impossible that anyone would intentionally do the things that bullies do (the subtle & not-so-subtle sabotaging, snubbing, mobbing & so on). The sociopaths & bullies prey upon that ignorance. We just need to keep calling this behavior out & exposing it to sunlight.

    Everyone in our field has to show some courage in the face of such behaviors. They can’t doubt themselves or their peers when they see bullying. They have to immediately call it out. It takes some serious courage, especially in such tough budgetary times. But when everyone works together to say, no, our culture will not tolerate it, our field, our workplaces, our society, and our lives will be vastly improved. All it takes is a little courageous leadership, because bullies will back down once they’re publicly called on the carpet… I’ve seen that most people want to speak out against bullies but are a little afraid, so when one person steps forward, it encourages others to do so, as well.

    We may even save lives, as the health effects of bullying can be literally life-threatening. And there is no segment of society (or the workplace) that should tolerate something that risks other people’s lives. There’s not a dollar amount great enough to make a deal with that devil.

  5. Hi Stephen,
    I just saw this post re workplace bullying come out on a Harvard Business Review blog: http://bit.ly/oWzumu

    The discussion continues….. Sometimes “sowing peace” calls for “bold action”
    Lisa