Tips for Dealing with Jerks at Work?
17 April 2013
Read by 1728 persons
Friands of malicious rumors and unpleasant emails, some employees make life difficult for their colleagues. Tonvoisin Debureau, author of the bestseller Working with Jerks, dissects the habits of these employees.
Who are the jerks in companies?
We are always someone's jerk, but some are unanimous. In the company, there are those who make multiple mistakes and blunder after blunder. These do not create a bad atmosphere in the company. On the contrary, people often feel sorry for them. The most dangerous are those who harm our quality of life, who put obstacles in our way to reach the highest level of power faster. This reflects a certain form of violence in the company. These malicious employees are generally a very small minority within a team but have a strong potential for nuisance and alone unbalance a group. To achieve their ends, they can, for example, send an email to your entire hierarchy when you have made a small mistake or usurp your work to enhance themselves. They can also sow discord in a team by spreading various defamatory rumors.
What does it bring them?
These jerks are generally driven by jealousy. They are unable to rejoice in the success of others and seek to have what others have. They are not at the level of their colleagues and cannot therefore enjoy a natural authority linked to their skills. To remedy this, they use a power of control. These humiliations are the only way for them to assert their authority.
Why doesn't the hierarchy blame them?
Human stupidity is found at all levels of the hierarchy. If managers themselves have become accustomed to morally harassing their employees or humiliating them publicly, employees will reproduce this behavior. Why, for example, refrain from attacking an employee if even their hierarchy has no qualms about doing so? One almost feels encouraged to adopt this behavior. Conversely, if the company is well-managed and has an irreproachable code of conduct, employees will follow its example.
What are the daily consequences?
Jerks have a strong potential for nuisance, especially if they are in important positions. They first create a bad atmosphere in a department or even in the entire company. Employees are stressed and are therefore not at their best. This behavior also has an impact on the company's productivity. Employees no longer dare to take initiatives or even suggest improvements in the production system for fear of being publicly humiliated, even if their remark is relevant. With the crisis, this tension has increased: employees no longer try anything for fear of losing their jobs.
What advice would you give to the victims of these jerks?
It is necessary to take a step back because you will not change the situation. These jerks are often very predictable, their pettiness, their methods are always the same. Once the harmful person or persons have been identified, it is necessary to detach oneself from their actions so as not to suffer too much from them. It is also necessary to realize that one is generally not alone in this situation and to rely on one's colleagues.
But if petty meanness turns into real moral harassment, it is necessary to talk to your hierarchy and file a complaint if nothing changes. Obviously, in times of crisis, making this decision is complicated, but it is necessary to know how to preserve your health. If you keep everything to yourself, without talking to anyone, you risk becoming depressed.
Caroline Politi.
Lexpress.fr
Posted online April 17, 2013.
Who are the jerks in companies?
We are always someone's jerk, but some are unanimous. In the company, there are those who make multiple mistakes and blunder after blunder. These do not create a bad atmosphere in the company. On the contrary, people often feel sorry for them. The most dangerous are those who harm our quality of life, who put obstacles in our way to reach the highest level of power faster. This reflects a certain form of violence in the company. These malicious employees are generally a very small minority within a team but have a strong potential for nuisance and alone unbalance a group. To achieve their ends, they can, for example, send an email to your entire hierarchy when you have made a small mistake or usurp your work to enhance themselves. They can also sow discord in a team by spreading various defamatory rumors.
What does it bring them?
These jerks are generally driven by jealousy. They are unable to rejoice in the success of others and seek to have what others have. They are not at the level of their colleagues and cannot therefore enjoy a natural authority linked to their skills. To remedy this, they use a power of control. These humiliations are the only way for them to assert their authority.
Why doesn't the hierarchy blame them?
Human stupidity is found at all levels of the hierarchy. If managers themselves have become accustomed to morally harassing their employees or humiliating them publicly, employees will reproduce this behavior. Why, for example, refrain from attacking an employee if even their hierarchy has no qualms about doing so? One almost feels encouraged to adopt this behavior. Conversely, if the company is well-managed and has an irreproachable code of conduct, employees will follow its example.
What are the daily consequences?
Jerks have a strong potential for nuisance, especially if they are in important positions. They first create a bad atmosphere in a department or even in the entire company. Employees are stressed and are therefore not at their best. This behavior also has an impact on the company's productivity. Employees no longer dare to take initiatives or even suggest improvements in the production system for fear of being publicly humiliated, even if their remark is relevant. With the crisis, this tension has increased: employees no longer try anything for fear of losing their jobs.
What advice would you give to the victims of these jerks?
It is necessary to take a step back because you will not change the situation. These jerks are often very predictable, their pettiness, their methods are always the same. Once the harmful person or persons have been identified, it is necessary to detach oneself from their actions so as not to suffer too much from them. It is also necessary to realize that one is generally not alone in this situation and to rely on one's colleagues.
But if petty meanness turns into real moral harassment, it is necessary to talk to your hierarchy and file a complaint if nothing changes. Obviously, in times of crisis, making this decision is complicated, but it is necessary to know how to preserve your health. If you keep everything to yourself, without talking to anyone, you risk becoming depressed.
Caroline Politi.
Lexpress.fr
Posted online April 17, 2013.
