How do you recognize covert workplace bullying and what can be done about it?

<p>Covert bullying is a serious problem in the corporate space. It may not be obvious to everyone in the office, but it can create a nasty workplace culture.</p> <p> </p> <p>It can be relational aggression - Someone talking badly about you behind your back. Or it can be direct sabotage - Someone not inviting you to meetings or sharing information you need to do your job and then criticizing you for being ill-informed.</p> <p> </p> <p>Stewart Wiggins, a fractional COO at Induna Advisors and one of my guests on this edition of Quick Hits, shared his own story of covert bullying in high level corporate roles. In his initial months there, which he described as “pledging a fraternity,” his direct manager called a meeting at his office at seven in the morning. When Stewart arrived, the manager ignored him.</p> <p> </p> <p>“He would just be doing his thing. And I would say, ‘Is this still a good time?’ ‘Yeah, yeah, this is a good time.’”</p> <p> </p> <p>I talked with Stewart and my two other guests — performance consultant Dr. Jenna Ross and financial futurist James Lee — about how corporate leaders can recognize this behavior and create a culture where it doesn’t happen.</p> <p> </p> <p>“A lot of bullying behavior is about preserving the hierarchy,” Jim observed. “The bully may be threatened by the people underneath them or they may feel insecure about their own position.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Jenna encouraged corporate leaders to get to know their team and really hear out the person being bullied. “Sometimes we look at them like, ‘Oh, they’re just being too sensitive.’ Hearing that person’s story and validating what they’re going through goes a very long way.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Have you experienced or observed covert (or outright) bullying in the workplace? What was the result?</p> <p> </p> <p>Connect with the panelists:</p> <p>Dr. Jenna Ross: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennaross712/'>https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennaross712/</a></p> <p>James Lee: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/jleeadvisor/'>https://www.linke