Ruth Sanderson
The Downing Street bullying row and allegations about the temper of Prime Minister Gordon Brown could have repercussions in the boardrooms of British businesses, according to North West leadership expert Ruth Sanderson.
For the much publicised claims in a book by political commentator Andrew Rawnsley that the Premier bullied staff could well stir-up concerns about the potentially serious consequences of such behaviour in the corporate world.
“The claims and counter claims about what goes on in Downing Street is manna from heaven for the tabloid press but for leaders in the business world it is a stark reminder that bullying is not acceptable in any workplace,” added Ruth, MD of Chester consultancy blue pea POD.
“I have met business leaders who are focussed, impatient and who sometimes get angry. When they lose the plot they may well explode and tear a strip off the employee who has fallen foul of them. A frightened employee might not fight back but the consequences of such outburst can be serious.
“Leaders who lose their temper and bully staff usually behave that way because they feel vulnerable or insecure, but they don’t want anyone to know it. It’s a sign of low self esteem and a lack of Emotional Intelligence.
“When they lose their temper and scream the odds they are simply admitting they can’t master their emotions. They let rip because they lose control of their temper and that can lead to dictatorial leadership – leading through fear.
“Such leadership will have a negative impact on their organisation and could well lead to expensive legal action down the line. Good leaders, on the other hand, have that all-important emotional intelligence, can empathise with others and deal with their team in a reasonable way – getting the best from their workforce.”
By highlighting the issue of bullying, the Downing Street debate would no doubt result in calls from business leaders requesting help with controlling their tempers.
“An angry leader can learn to deal with his issues by calling on professional help,” she added. “They can learn how to develop their Emotional Intelligence, empathise with their team and consign their bullying ways to the waste bin.”
For further information click onto www.bluepeapod.com
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