Leader Bullying

Published

There are leaders who are bullies within my facility. Specifically, leader to leader bullying due to an imbalance of power within the facility. The imbalance of power allows leaders to act in a way that does not benefit the good of the entire facility. This has been discussed with my leader, and there has been conversations with my leader with the other leaders as well as my leader's boss. I am waiting to see if there is any change after these conversations, but I am just wondering if anyone has been in this particular situation before and how they handled the situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is kind of hard to give you any real feedback or suggestions without any specific examples... what exact behaviors or "bullying" is taking place? Any way you could be a bit more specific about your situation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Your post is rather vague, and I'm not sure that anyone could tell you whether or not they've been in your specific situation. What do you mean by "bullying" for starters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A leader in my facility has a lot of power due to their position they hold in the organization. It allows for unfair staffing issues within the organization due to this power. It causes a lot of condescending attitude towards myself and my staff by this leaders and everyone below this leader due to having control over staffing, house supervisor and all med/Surg units within the organization which make up the majority of the units in the hospital. It makes for a hostile environment for myself and the people who work for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Describe the unfair staffing issues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A leader in my facility has a lot of power due to their position they hold in the organization. It allows for unfair staffing issues within the organization due to this power. It causes a lot of condescending attitude towards myself and my staff by this leaders and everyone below this leader due to having control over staffing, house supervisor and all med/Surg units within the organization which make up the majority of the units in the hospital. It makes for a hostile environment for myself and the people who work for me.

There is a whole lot of "leading "going on, but not real management. I have fought that fight.. and lost.

Don't use the word " hostile". It's very hard to prove. Management knows what is going on, and is allowing this to continue.

I chose to move on to better places.

Best wishes, get outta Dodge.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

I haven't figured out who the 'leaders' were that were doing such a bad job of 'leading'.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What exactly is an imbalance of power? I don't understand

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).

Power struggles are common in all workplaces and in all industries.

1) Follow the money. A unit, division, group, that generates a lot of revenue is going to have more power.

2) Know the players or stake-holders. What are their motives? Understanding that is very helpful in figuring out how to deal with them.

3) What are the relationships? Is someone close to the CEO? That person will have a lot of power.

4) The wiliness and political savvy of various leaders determines power, also. Some people are just really good at politics, and others suck at it. I fall into the latter category.

There are Machiavellian skills needed to navigate the political landscape. The information above will help map out a strategy. Political and power struggles usually take time to resolve. Personally, I have no patience for that nonsense. If it is really getting to you, then get another job. Life is too short.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.
A leader in my facility has a lot of power due to their position they hold in the organization. It allows for unfair staffing issues within the organization due to this power. It causes a lot of condescending attitude towards myself and my staff by this leaders and everyone below this leader due to having control over staffing, house supervisor and all med/Surg units within the organization which make up the majority of the units in the hospital. It makes for a hostile environment for myself and the people who work for me.

You are being too vague. So there's some sort of nursing supervisor who is at the top? That's how nursing departments typically work. The person in the highest position has the most power. And there's been no examples of bullying given.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
You are being too vague. So there's some sort of nursing supervisor who is at the top? That's how nursing departments typically work. The person in the highest position has the most power. And there's been no examples of bullying given.

This! ^^^^

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
There are leaders who are bullies within my facility. Specifically, leader to leader bullying due to an imbalance of power within the facility. The imbalance of power allows leaders to act in a way that does not benefit the good of the entire facility.

As the old saying goes, crap rolls downhill.

Our former unit supervisor once told a few of us how some meetings with the upper echelon were conducted. The unit supervisors were called out publicly on their managerial shortcomings.

Often times, the proletariat were called to task in not a nice way. This tact was detrimental to morale, created an oppressive workplace, and patient care suffered.

This bullying type of management works in that staff acts attempting to fulfill management's direction out of fear of reprisal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion