When bully triads exist, there is often a failure to communicate. When triads exist, otherwise stable employees begin to use dysfunctional methods to communicate everyday processes at work. Dr. Dennis O’Grady (2015), in his Friday Talk News release, clarifies the role of servant leadership, which is to control your mood so that you can fully exhibit your servant-leader character. Within the bully triad, important components of effective communication are missing, and Dr. O’Grady lists eight select components of effective communication that must be a part of servant leadership and the culture of every healthy organization:
· Respect. Respect for others is shown by acknowledging their value as human beings.
· Empathy. Empathy leads to trust and creates strong bonds between people.
· Lack of blame. Lack of blame is the ability not to become defensive and willingness to admit mistakes with a focus on correcting the problem, not the person.
· Humility. Humility is a lack of arrogance. Humility means one does not think less of themselves—they just think more of others.
· Emotional mastery. Emotional mastery is, most importantly, the ability to control anger. Emotional mastery requires remaining calm, not berating others, controlling anxiety, and reflecting before acting.
· Responsibility. Responsibility is accepting ownership by being accountable.
· Self-confidence. Self-confidence is feeling equal to others, even when others may be in a position of formal power. Self-confident people build self-confidence in others and, in the process, are not threatened by doing so. Rather, they find growth within themselves.
· Courage. Courage is the willingness to take risk. Courageous people are sometimes known to ask forgiveness rather than permission. They are willing to try even though they may fail. They overcome obstacles, and their courage inspires other to change.
These select elements of effective communication are about interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. However, organizations that also embed these elements into managerial communication, policies, and procedures; organizational standards; and daily memos will see their efforts and strategies for healing the organization realized sooner. The Cold Communicator
Finding the Good in the Workplace Bully
