Working Well Together Insights

Last week, I presented at a conference on the topic "Can a workplace bully change their spots?" Being somewhat partial to audience participation, I started off with a poll and asked attendees this question "Do you think a bully can change his or her spots?" I am used...

Earlier this year, Griffith University released the results of a study completed for Mates in Construction exploring the impact of bullying on apprentices in the Queensland construction industry and it's impact on their mental health and suicide ideation. The results...

Being part of an innovative workplace can be exciting and energising. Exploring ways to learn, grow and improve; being part of the explorers and creators. It can be the best type of workplace to be in. Innovation keeps us successful, relevant and ahead of our...

Bullying along side the word empathy isn’t often placed side by side. This is understandable when we have experienced bullies attack, undermine and/or humiliate us or our work colleagues. Sometimes this is overt involving verbal abuse and physical intimidation....

If you are like me, over the years (before my bullying specialist days) I've completed my fair share of workplace bullying training. On reflection, my experience of bullying education was that it failed to result in change. It usually involved regurgitating the...

"I’d rather have a root canal than work another day on his team." "She just says things that cause people to freeze. She has that look on her face that says ‘Just say one more thing and you are out of here.’ People are terrified of her so they don’t say anything."...

The impacts of workplace bullying are multiple and complex. They include both physical and mental health consequences from stress related physical conditions to trauma and suicide. An essential to ensure survival and recovery a target needs to be supported. However,...

A few years ago, I worked with a manager (let's call him Bob) who was technically fantastic at his job, but not so good at people management. Bob liked control. When there was an issue to be sorted, it was his way or no way at all. Listening and collaboration was not...

One of the first steps we are told when there is a bullying allegation, whether in HR or as a general manager, is to investigate the matter. The message is to investigate, even if the employee doesn't want it to be undertaken. That’s an understandable approach. It...

How can this be that he can't see that his behaviour is causing problems? He humiliates his team members in meetings. His sharp responses, shut his team down. He has been known to shout abuse at individual employees. You have raised concerns with him to let him know...