Recap of your options
The manager
Creating a positive culture.
Talk about the effect of bullying using the discussion guide in ‘Creating a positive culture’. Practice using the ABC of Appreciation and BUILD constructive feedback tools. Make conversations about behaviour the norm in your team.
The behaviour may be acceptable.
Help them to see each others’ point of view. Appreciate their efforts to sort things out. Collect accurate details.
There are often grey areas between what different people see as acceptable, for example the tone of voice people use, or how we are feeling more broadly when others speak to us, can make a big difference. Take a moment to step into the other person’s shoes, think about your own reaction, and resolve the issue together.
This is a one-off act of inappropriate behaviour.
Support your team to work through the issue quickly and respectfully. This may also be a good opportunity to revisit with the team the values-led behaviours you all agreed and set expectations.
This is very inappropriate behaviour and possibly bullying.
Review your options in the 'Manager' guide
- Ask for support, to help you work through the situation
- Be clear about your role to resolve things
- Be clear in the definition of very inappropriate behaviour and possibly bullying
- Hear all viewpoints and don’t take sides
- It’s your responsibility to make a plan
- What support do the people need after, to re-build team morale and guide acceptable behaviour.