The Regenerate Web

Excellent post today on Carpe Factum about Ken and Barbarians

In my more recent experience, I have learned that corporate bullying is often a symptom rather than a disease. I have started to recognize that many managers will resort to bullying when they are insecure, especially when they are challenged. This is even more common, when the manager is hired to come in to clean up a mess. I have seen a rather Machiavellian approach to implementation of change (tick everyone off at once, then let the dust settle) or a serial change (try all kinds of things, but don't let anything grow to produce fruit).

Because of these methodologies, these bosses produce a tremendous resistance or resentment in staff, and then may not handle the issues well.

My approach to dealing with this, is to let the wave wash over me (like at the beach), then pick myself up and try to build the relationship with that person, so that I can be successful and get my job done. I have found that by building relationships and not threatening or challenging the manager with a penchant for bullying, you can turn that potential enemy into an ally, and if the bullying is symptomatic of some underlying issue, most will relate and allow you to give them feedback (off-line of course) that helps them recognize their bad behavior.

I have had good results with this, even when the bully is my own boss or higher up in my food chain. I attribute this to the fact that even though I dislike the behavior, I care about the person, and this almost always allows me to move in close and offer to help.

When this approach fails (only once to date) I opt for the hide under my desk and stay the hell out of the line-of-fire...