Talking about bullying with my students encouraged me to do some research on leaders who are bullies. Bully leaders exists everywhere, but especially in the workplace. Many bosses and managers are bullies and use their powers to control others.
Bully leaders have very skewed perceptions. These people think they are being productive in situations trying to get people to work together and accomplish tasks, but they go about it in an authoritarian way. Bully leaders are loud and bark orders at their workers. Bully leaders must given all credit for great ideas, although the team behind the leader helped to research and develop the ideas.
Workers respond quickly to this type of leadership, but in the worst way possible. Morale declines, as does production. People dread coming to work and do as little as possible to get through each task. Because bullying is what superiors do, middle managers and lower managers also seem to adapt this style of leadership creating more animosity with workers.
As a business student and young professional, it is important for me never to adopt this leadership style as I know it will win me no friends in the workplace. I think as a woman with the potential to be a manager or top executive, I must be careful how I handle certain situations. Women are more likely to be terrible bosses than men because they are much more emotional in terms of dealing with people and situations.
Want to learn more about bully leadership? Click here: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Bully_Leaders.html
Here are some sterotypes of women bosses: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2011/10/24/worst-stereotypes-powerful-women-christine-lagarde-hillary-clinton/
Sorry it has been such a long time since a post... still in my Thanksgiving food coma. Last week, I spoke to the students about bullying. During week 3, I was faced with some problematic students, so I needed to address bullying in a subtle way. Sure enough, Winners Walk Tall has a program about bullying!
Beginning class, I asked if any students had been bullied and if they could share what happened. Many were teased, pushed, and shoved. I found it interesting that the older boys in the class stood up to those who were bullying younger siblings, but they handled the situation in the wrong way. One boy's little brother was being called names, so he got into a fight with the bullies. As I have never been in this situation before, I offered my best advice. I told the children that they shouldn't start a fight, but they need to tell a trusted adult.
This led into a conversation about who the students can tell if they are bullied. I got all of the expected answers, such as parents, grandparents, older siblings, and teachers, which I found to be very encouraging.
We finished the class reviewing material from the previous weeks, and I couldn't believe the students remembered everything! It shows that my time is truly worth it because these students are learning. I am working to help them have better, brighter futures.
Winners Walk Tall and stand up against bullying because BULLYING IS WRONG AND HURTS EVERYONE!
I've been actually really very pleased to see how much awareness was raised around bullying, and how deeply it affects everyone. You know, you don't have to be the loser kid in high school to be bullied. Bullying and being picked on comes in so many different forms. -Lady Gaga
