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| Toxic Workplace There could be one near you! |
http://www.leadership-and-motivation-training.com/toxic-workplace.html
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| "It's dynamic management, not 'Bullying!' |
http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/serial.htm
Initially, my job description was a three sentence email sent to the organization as a whole stating that I would be supervising the employees of the three functional groups in the department I work in reporting to the manager of the department. In interviews with the reporting supervisor of the department, the director of the department, and the Human Resources Director of the organization, my mission was stated that I was to "clean up the department." The first problem I noticed is probably the same one you just picked up on: to clean up a department while reporting to the manager of the department who allowed the department to be in a state that needed to be cleaned up. Needing something to do, never being afraid of a challenge, and having been asked to perform similar tasks with other organizations, I took the job.
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| So I took the pill! |
But what was different here was that the upper-level management didn't really clarify what was needed or desired. There was no discussions of the situation, strategies for tackling the issues, or any real support to do what would be necessary to get the job done. In short, I was setup for failure. I, especially, because I am ready to tackle the challenge; I can be aggressive and determined (others have tried to call me hard-headed and stubborn, but what do they know? [;')]) in pursuit of the goals set for me. So as I began to do what I thought I was supposed to do, the situation crumbled around me. I now see how I must have been perceived as a 'Bull-in-a-China shop.' I discussed everything with the Director of the department, but what I assumed to be benign support, was really a quiet giving of length rope that I would be hanging myself with.
Now, if you have looked at the links I provided above and are wondering how what I have discussed and the links have in common, well, everything. You see, the culture is very toxic and the ambiguity of my intitial employment is a result of the toxicity and a bullying culture - both of which are a sign of poor-to-no management. As a result, what I now see as the 'bull' perception of my approach, was considered and twisted to be that very thing, accompanying commentary (completely behind my back - the one being stabbed - but now has been shared with me) for proof: "who does he think he is...", "He doesn't understand, that's not how we do it here....he just wants to make it hard on us...", "they just gave him this job because his wife works here...", "how dare he say that, he can't do that...," etc. And these comments I expected from those 'supposedly' reporting to me, but not so much from those who hired me.
The above-referenced links were found during research to understand the confusing and somewhat depressing state I have been wandering and wondering through since I began my employment. A number of links have been found during this journey. My fellow student in my program have learned of my experiences and, thank goodness, they are scattered all over the world with none of them here. For a long time, I blamed myself - a habit of years trying to perfect and fix everything I find broken. Did the demise of my consulting business and loss of our team send me into a ranting stage? Did the resulting loss of income stress my outlook and attitude? Was it my inexperience and resulting misunderstanding of the organization's culture that put me into such a lost state? In many ways, the answer was yes. I even began to question my own sanity. I allowed myself to get put on anti-depressants. I even began to drink regularly. But in the end, it was my responsibility to handle the situation; I just did so poorly.
But as I began to analyze my situation, the history as shared to me of the place, and the comments of others hired within a similar time period, I began to realize it was not just me. The level of mistrust, the amount of destructive gossiping and the incorrect information conveyed, and the overall poor morale of those charged with the implementation of the work helped me to realize that it just wasn't all of my making. While this has helped me to not take things so personal, it still leaves me in this place, what can only be politely called a "Toxic Workplace" (emphasis intended!!!!!!!).
So I hope that while what is relayed in these two of many other links of information on the subject will help establish a foundation of what I will relay. I hope you will recognize what I have: the pain of incompetency, the result of wrong (insecure, bullying, self-centered, and self-promoting) people in positions of authority, responsibility, and control, the abuse of power, the assault on and reduction of humanity, and the unnecessary injury to mission and vision of the organization. Brought to you by the management and staff of 'Plato's Cave!'
What you read here....well that's
Justin Credibill
