The Bully-Free Workplace: Stop Jerks, Weasels, and Snakes From Killing Your Organization

The Start

Things began to change for Kate when the vice president she worked for left the company to take a job elsewhere. Instead of conducting a thorough search for a new vice president, the senior vice president brought in his former coworker from a competing firm.

Irena, age 44, was hired. She had a marketing background and no technical or mathematical experience. She had also worked for the senior vice president who hired her at another company.

Kate's team was notified two days before Irena's arrival. At that time, they were also told that there was a shakedown occurring in the company. Irena's job was to “whip” their team into shape. They were to beat their overseas counterpart division or risk the dissolution of the entire team and the loss of all their jobs. The team was devastated to learn that they were to do this with a new director who did not have the skills needed to help them with their technical work.

Month 1

Irena spent most of her time in meetings with the executive team of directors. These meetings were traditionally open to all, but with Irena in attendance, the meetings were kept closed. She held only weekly meetings with the team and private sessions with some members of the team; she never met privately with Kate. Team members never knew what was going on, and time and money were lost.

Target Selection

Irena saw that Kate was the quietest at meetings. Kate was naturally quiet and liked to listen before she spoke. Irena also saw that Kate was the one that ...