In any successful business, there will be certain people who have more power than others. If wielded appropriately, power can influence others in a positive way. If misused, power manifests as dictatorial and bullying behavior. In a business environment, the chain of command typically includes subordinates who report to supervisors or managers. As a small business owner, employees in leadership roles likely report to you. By promoting a fair and productive work environment, you can reduce the misuse of power in your small business.
Code of Conduct
The misuse of power can disrupt the work environment and inflict mental, physical and/or emotional distress on the victim or victims. Examples of misuse of power include public humiliation, physical attacks, frequently undermining another's effort, disrespectful language, discriminatory comments, yelling or name calling, excluding or ignoring fellow employees, spreading insidious and untrue rumors, withholding or purposely giving wrong information, and intimidation. The misuse of power is also used to promote self-interests rather than what’s best for the team. In your policy manual, define acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. Be specific about the type of behaviors that stem from the misuse of power. State that it is forbidden and that the consequences include termination.
If you see misuse of power or bullying, address the problem immediately. For an isolated case, have an informal intervention with the alleged bully. Explain that you expect all workers to behave in a professional manner. If she develops a pattern of misusing her authority, have another meeting showing all data compiled against her, including staff complaints. She might adjust her behavior to reduce the number complaints. If her behavior persists, implement a more authoritative intervention. If she has exhibited good leadership qualities in the past, there might be an underlying reason for her behavior, such as work stress or personal problems. Establish an evaluation plan with a timeline for her to improve. Explain the importance of accepting responsibility, then explain the outcome if she fails to meet the plan objectives.
In some cases, you might have to bypass the intervention level. Immediate termination might be necessary if the misuse of power included physical abuse against another employee, or if the person in the position of power uses her authority to do something illegal, such as embezzlement or theft. The level of discipline depends on the impact the abuse of power has on the victim and/or the company. Regardless of the disciplinary measure taken, your policy should include consequences such as verbal and written warnings, suspension, termination and even legal prosecution.
A true leader motivates and inspires his employees by leading by example. When subordinates consistently fail to perform satisfactory, it sometimes reflects poorly on the leader. This puts the leader in a precarious and stressful position. Offer leadership training to your supervisors and managers to help them develop the skills necessary to become a leader who treats his subordinates with fairness and respect.
The misuse of power can hurt employee morale, lower productivity, cause high employee turnover and frequent absenteeism, cause stress-related illnesses, and harm the company’s reputation. These situations often happen when victims feel they have no one to turn to. Create a strong support system for your employees so they don’t feel isolated.
Have employees complete anonymous surveys to gauge whether power is being misused in the company. In your policy manual, outline the steps employees can take to file a complaint. Assure staff that investigations into misuse of power will be handled promptly, fairly and confidentially. Listen impartially to the alleged perpetrator and victim and obtain as much proof as possible before arriving at a conclusion. If necessary, hire a workplace consultant to act as a mediator in employee disputes and to help you draft policies and procedures that address the misuse of power.
- Chartered Management Institute: Best Practice: Bullying in the Workplace - Guidance for Managers
- The Mind to Lead: Calm, Confident Power
- Mind Tools: Leadership Styles
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research: Recognizing the Abuse of Power
- The Bullying Institute: Definition of Workplace Bullying
- BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images