Take the offensive on workplace violence
Jettison provoking attitudes, actions
Pharmacy directors, does this sound like you: intimidating, insensitive, self-centered, belittling? If so, you could be setting yourself up for a violent confrontation with an employee, says a psychologist who specializes in workplace issues.
The first step toward preventing such a scene is to clean up your act. "The manager has to have the ability to be reflective and open to the human element," says Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD. Employees who feel devalued by superiors or co-workers tend to strike out more, especially if their jobs are stressful to begin with.
Next, make sure that "the system" is working. Are there areas of function in your pharmacy where the work is overwhelming? If so, make staffing adjustments to cope with the workload. And remember, just because you’re not hearing complaints from the staff doesn’t mean the system is working. It could mean they’re wary of confronting you.
Have a plan for dealing with anger before it happens. "Too often with mental health issues we’re reactive vs. proactive," says Bernstein. Thus, crisis management becomes the norm when an employee blowup occurs. Bernstein suggests pharmacy staffs and that includes the manager attend an anger workshop.
Pay attention to subtle cues from your employees that something big in their lives is changing. Are they suddenly coming in late all the time, or are they suddenly always early? Stressors such
as divorce, a death in the family, or legal problems can trigger an uncharacteristically violent reaction. "Good managers are good listeners," Bernstein says. "They pick up not just on the overt signs [that something’s wrong] but subtle cues that someone might be going through a tough time."
And finally, be as careful with what your employees see as with what they hear. Bernstein says 90% of all communication is nonverbal. So dispense with the eye rolls and smirks. They can actually be very damaging.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content