Reference no: EM132226583

Give opinion:

As an HR Business Partner, I am often called in to mediate or investigate issues. A few years ago an employee came to me with a complaint that her manager was bullying her. He was a very tall man with a very loud and deep voice. Even when he was in a good mood he was an intimidating man. After speaking with several people in his department I learned that while he never actually yet AT the employees, he would often yell near them. He would slam his telephone down, slam doors, and raise his voice when he was upset. Our text would classify this as dysfunctional conflict (Baack, 2012). I had to explain to him that due to his size and demeanor, he was already a daunting man. I explained that he needs to be more cognizant of his behavior/communication than an average employee would have to be because of this. He was creating fear among his employees and peers which negatively affected their ability to communicate freely.

We worked together to soften his tone, be more aware of his surroundings when he's getting upset, not slamming doors and phones, etc. Thankfully, he was very receptive to the feedback and really wanted to improve his behavior with his team and the other employees he interacted with daily. I'm glad that I am able to assist employees like the one who came to me with a concern. It's hard enough trying to critique someone's behavior, but it's even harder when it's your boss and he towers over you. It's a good day when I can help two employees get on the same page and more forward together.