Workplace bullying and personal injury

Workplace bullying can occur anywhere. Here’s an interesting article from the US legal firm, Dana Law. While there will be differences between legislation in Australia and the US, this article provides some fascinating statistics on the prevalence of bullying and harassment in US workplaces. It also addresses the personal cost for victims of bullying. Thanks to Mia and Sophie for sharing the link with us!

Share

True Listening

Most of us think we are good listeners. Research suggests the majority of people think they are above average at listening, which of course is not possible! But if we are honest with ourselves, do we truly listen? Try this. Spend a day, or even a few hours, listening to people. Let their words in,Continue Reading

Share

Nip it in the bud

In our mediation practice, we have noticed an increase in the number of people who believe they have been bullied. Frequently, allegations of bullying or harassment will be met by a counterclaim of similar behavior. Both parties may genuinely believe that they are victims of each other, regardless of their relative status within the organisation.Continue Reading

Share

Am I being bullied?

Sometimes, we can feel uncomfortable with the way other people treat us at work. But are we being bullied? Let’s take a moment to consider the legal definition of workplace bullying. It occurs when an individual or a group of people engages in bullying behavior in the workplace. Their target may be another individual, orContinue Reading

Share

The high cost of workplace stress

Sustained stress creates an unsustainable workplace. High levels of stress lead to conflict for several reasons: People try to escape from the reality of a stressful workplace by focusing their energies on their enemy—whether that person be a colleague or a manager. When people are snapped at they’ll snap at others. Stressed team members areContinue Reading

Share

Five causes of workplace conflict

When we find ourselves in conflict it’s easy to focus on our feelings of anger and frustration, rather than trying to identify the causes of the conflict. Sometimes, conflict occurs in the workplace because individual roles and responsibilities have not been clarified. But sometimes the causes of conflict run deep. Let’s look at five differentContinue Reading

Share

When my colleague is in pain

When introverts experience emotional pain, they often wall themselves off from others. They would rather be left alone, to work through their pain in private. It’s essential to their healing. In the workplace, however, such behaviour can be seen as disengagement or disinterest. People who are in pain may not interact as freely with theirContinue Reading

Share

The artist and the cynic

Peter Sculthorpe, the Australian composer whose work celebrated Australia’s indigenous culture and evoked the mystery and grandeur of the outback, died earlier this month. He was 85—and began writing music at the age of seven. How did his piano teacher react when she found out? You might think that she would have been excited. AndContinue Reading

Share

The vexed question of leadership

A recent survey by the Centre for Workplace Leadership, a research institute based at the University of Melbourne, reveals that three out of every four Australian workers are dissatisfied with their managers. They agreed that our workplaces need better management and leadership. Ironically, three out of four workers also believe that they possess the skillsContinue Reading

Share

Five cognitive distortions: Schumpeterianism

This is the fifth in a series of blog posts looking at five cognitive distortions of high achievers. Today, our topic is Schumpeterianism, better understood as the principal of creative destruction. Popularised by the Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter (1883 – 1950), it states that the old must be destroyed to make way for the new. Of course, this idea itselfContinue Reading

Share