Autocratic, demanding or bullying?

We spend a lot of time thinking about leadership and management styles. The news is full of it at the moment, with a particular focus on the style used by the Prime Minister towards his subordinates. You will appreciate that the first, most obvious point about leadership styles is that they must be adapted to reflect the situation. Leading a group of creative workers through a brainstorm is very different to being a senior fire officer at a warehouse blaze, or a senior social worker managing an office supporting a demanding range of clients and cases.

But back to the current headlines: when does someone overstep the line from being firm and demanding – into a bullying monster?

The BBC have an article with several interesting points and comments from readers.

In a new book, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been accused of workplace bullying after a number of alleged incidents. He is said to have grabbed staff by the lapels, shoved them aside and shouted at them. Mr Brown admits he can get angry, and is determined and strong willed, but denies he is a bully. So where is the line drawn between being assertive in the workplace and being labeled a bully?

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which represents recruitment experts, defines it as “Bullying at work involves repeated negative actions and practices that are directed at one or more workers.

This is a good launchpad for a discussion on the subject. I often use the example of Gordon Ramsey as someone I would find intolerable to work with (judging by his TV persona, at any rate). But I’ve learnt that opinions are divided and several people admire his ‘passion’.

Back to the article again and a summary that reflects the views in my introduction:

Neil Addison, a barrister who specialises in harassment cases, says context is key. “What might not be bullying in the barrack room, might be harassment in a school. If you’re training for the SAS there’s no point complaining that a sergeant is shouting at you because that’s what goes with the job. But if you’re a teacher in a school or a worker in an office there’s no reason for your boss to shout at you.”

Graham Salisbury (who often focusses on HR issues) has beaten me to this topic in his blog which contains more helpful links to open up the debate.