SWE - Winter 2009 - (Page 30) H owever, as evidence continues to grow and research sheds light on the dynamics of bullying, women may be in a better position to empower themselves and function as change agents. In this current business climate, with high concerns regarding productivity and efficiency, even industry survival, companies need well-functioning, healthy teams. Management and human relations should be all the more willing to recognize and resolve bullying in order to meet the company objectives, improve morale, and strengthen the bottom line. This confluence of factors — greater awareness of the problems that accompany bullying and the economic costs — may cause a tipping point. Mary Lynn Crow, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor of education at the University of Texas at Arlington, identified what she calls the “authoritarian personality” in her doctoral work 33 years ago. The research first appeared in the educational journal Phi Delta Kappan. “The authoritarian, or bully, sees himself as an underling. He doesn’t have the confidence he needs to lead, or the belief in himself,” Dr. Crow said. “He surrounds himself with weak people because strong people would threaten him.” Ways to spot a bully “When someone has an intense need to gratify and validate his or her ego, he projects that on to everyone,” Dr. Crow said. “The organization becomes him or her.” Authoritarian personalities often talk a good game, and gravitate toward positions in which they can exert near-total control. They often become executives, pastors, educators, and military officers. They control the flow of information, expect total loyalty, send spies to seek out traitors, and surround themselves with similarly weak people, Dr. Crow said. “Creativity is doomed in this atmosphere,” she said. “One has to feel safe in order to challenge ideas. By definition, the authoritarian oversees a work force that copes, but doesn’t accomplish anything that’s creative or of longterm value.” There’s a key difference in working for a jerk and working for a truly authoritarian personality. “Authoritarians are very dangerous in a position of power,” Dr. Crow said, because they retaliate and can injure a person’s career or reputation. A saving grace is that authoritarian personalities cannot thrive in healthy organiza- BY SANDRA GUY, SWE CONTRIBUTOR A word of advice to ambitious, intelligent, and savvy female engineers: Look closely at your prospective employer’s culture, because cultures that tolerate bullies can make your life miserable. Psychologists and researchers agree there’s often not much that can be done in a company whose leaders are bullies — except to play nice or ferret out a powerful, healthy supporter who can change the system. A NEW LOOK 30 SWE WINTER 2009
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