Personal Development
Personal Development
Mental Escape
WORKPLACE DYNAMICS
Workplace Bullying
BY: TEE WAY
by: Tonya Dallas
Here are some other helpful tips on
office bullying:
Pray – Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:28
admonish us to pray for those who
mistreat us. This should always be our
first line of defense.
Confront the person – Before going to
HR, have a conversation with the person
about their behavior and you would like
it to stop. This will go on record that you
tried to resolve the issue first.
From Bad Bosses to Someone Has to Go,
reality TV has directed our attention to
the awful world of workplace bullying.
Also known as counterproductive work
behavior can be characterized by
unprofessional communication, abuse,
aggression, exclusion and sabotage
to name a few. In some workplaces,
intimidation and social undermining
has become an intricate part of the
organizational culture. Workplace
bullying flourishes in a climate of
inadequate management and is
usually dismissed as harmless office
politics.
What was once thought of as
unwanted childhood shenanigans,
workplace bullying is quickly rising to
the top of the list why people leave
their jobs. In a 2008 Gallup poll, more
than a million workers revealed that
an “overbearing boss” was the No.1
reason employees quit their jobs. It has
also been documented that women
are bullied more than men. This antisocial behavior is also very costly
to the company as well as to human
capital. According to Bussinessweek.
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com, it would take a company twice
your annual salary to replace you, due
to its hiring and training processes.
The consequences of workplace
bullying have been known to cause
physical and emotional damage to
employees. Some victims have been
known to suffer from anxiety, posttraumatic stress syndrome, depression
and physical aliments associated with
chronic stress like high blood pressure,
migraines, stomach issues and heart
disease.
Since 2003, twenty-five states have
introduced the Healthy Workplace Bill
(HWB). This bill provides an avenue
for legal compensation, allows you to
sue the bully as an individual, holds
employers accountable by compelling
them to prevent and correct future
instances. No laws have yet been
enacted but this movement has
brought workplace bullying to the
forefront and this issue can no longer
be ignored. For more information go
to www.healthyworkplacebill.or g and
www.workplacebullying.org.
NOVEMBER 2013
Paper trail, paper trail, paper trail –
Document each incident with dates,
times and witnesses if possible. Keep
all emails and other correspondence of
harassment.
File a complaint – Go through the proper
chain of commands by reporting the
incidents and filing a complaint. Start
with your immediate supervisor and
work your way up.
Consult an attorney – After you have
gone through all of the proper channels
and if the company fails to give a remedy,
the last resort would be to consult an
attorney for legal advice.
Dr. Gary Namie, National Director of
the Healthy Workplace Campaign said,
“Workplace bullying is like domestic
abuse without the physical violence.” In
the midst of strategic spiritual warfare
from the enemy, let us continue to pray
that the spirit of peace will prevail in our
places of employment.
Reference: http://www.businessweek.com/
articles/2013-08-01/office-bullies-pick-ontheir-unattractive-co-workers
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RelationScripts
Abundant
Living
BY: Tanya Angelique, MBA
Who Are
YOU?
At each Christmas season, the movie Scrooge airs depicting the life of a man
who was visited by three ghosts from his past, present and future. In each
segment, he is shown experiences and gets a glimpse of how he presented
himself through actions and words. He is also allowed to see how others would
respond to his death. At the end, Scrooge experiences an “ah hah” moment of
how others viewed him and the negative impact he had left as his legacy.
What is your legacy? What has your life meant in its totality? Moreover, who
do others say you are? Many tend to think they are a “great daughter, son, wife,
husband, child, friend, or coworker, but often we fail in comparison. However, I
am referring to things of more substance. Who others say you are is more than
titles and things you participated in or how many special moments you’ve
shared. Rather, it is the impression or imprint you made in the lives of others
as you came in contact with them. Your answers should reveal the breadth and
depth of who you are. It should paint a picture of your purpose and reason for
living.
People usually acquire their identities through the tasks they do and the objects
they identify themselves with. Discovering who you really are is a process that
one must complete in order to move in purpose. We each wear many hats
in life but they are not the sum of our identity. An example of this would be
Donna. She is a manager of a department store. Each morning she coaches her
sales team towards the revenue goal and spends her day managing results.
In the afternoon her colleagues see her as the witty one with funny moments
to share; but when she goes home, she is wife and mother. But who is Donna
really? None of those roles outline her true identity or purpose for existence.
Those roles are only pieces of the whole. Like Donna, only you can truly peel
back the layers and remove the mask to reveal your true self.
I propose that you be bold enough to first confront yourself by asking, “What
would I desire of my life if there were no limits to what I could have or become?”
Then get with those whom you respect and ask them to tell you what they see
when they see you. Be willing to accept constructive feedback and open to
address areas of opportunity. Being strong enough to face your own reflection
is a sign of maturity and is well needed if you are to live a fulfilled, purposeful
life.
It has been a hectic week for me. Honestly, I had a hectic summer. My youngest
son was dealing with a health issue. My 25-year-old daughter and two
grandchildren moved in with us. My husband became president of the youth
football team, and this was my first summer being without my eldest daughter
who married last fall. Adding insult to injury, our dog repeatedly kept frolicking
through the woods and not only got skunked, but managed to be the only
dog to look like “Hitch” because she came in contact with poison ivy! At this
juncture, my mind, body, and soul screamed, “HELP!”
Typically, I run on full throttle. I am part of several community groups and
organizations and active in church and ministry. I’m the mom at all of the
practices and games, and did I mention the PTA? I function at my best when I
am busy, but even the busiest body gets emotionally fatigued.
Mental fatigue is far worse than physical tiredness. Physical fatigue can be
overcome by rest and sleep. Mental fatigue is an ugly monster that debilitates
your entire being. During my time of exhaustion, I found myself becoming
short with those around me. Physically, I was lethargic and I had no desire to
do much of anything. I started to forget things and, needless to say, everything
and everyone annoyed me.
Researchers suggest that exercise, vitamins, or even fresh air can help with
fatigue. While all of these are good suggestions, I need more. I need a quiet
place to regroup, recoup and relax. I was invited to Attica, Michigan for a girls’
weekend getaway. I immediately accepted, only to later contemplate changing
my mind. After many internal debates, I knew it was what I needed to get back
into the zone.
The spacious cottage sat right off of Lake Superior and was absolutely
beautiful. Fresh air, blue calming waters, sunrises, sunsets, birds chirping,
frogs croaking, and an occasional fish jumping up out of the water, seemingly
playing peek-a-boo was a welcomed atmosphere. Yes, there were 12 other
women there who all needed a mental escape for reasons different from mine,
but we all needed one. Every so often, it felt as if I was the only one there. At
other times, the conversations, the laughs, and even the quietness were just
what we all so desperately needed.
The result of my mental escape was refreshing. Before attending
the lake, I felt like a plant that hadn’t been watered in weeks, dry and wilting.
The human spirit can endure a lot, but we rob God when we give him a halfhearted, lethargic, downtrodden praise. Whatever it is that helps you regain
your mental and spiritual focus, it’s time to go for it. Regain your strength, your
stamina , and your motivation, so you can get back to one of the things you do
best, which is serving others.
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