Originally presented February 1, 2023

Elaina Norlin explores a topic we rarely talk about in the workplace…how written and unwritten policies are weaponized to marginalize, penalize and push people out the door.

In some cases, this is a favorable course of action, but in many instances these actions have long-term consequences that erode staff morale, trust and positive engagement.

Here are a small sample of statements she hears from current employees:

• Our workplace culture is “guilty until proven innocent”
• Leadership is actively pushing me out the door and I feel helpless
• As a BIPOC faculty/staff member, I feel more severely penalized for perceived mistakes
• I was blindsided with a negative performance review/reprimand/memo and was not given a chance to defend myself

As workplace organizations, we can do better. This webinar discusses strategies to communicate clear expectations but lead with compassion, empathy and transparency. 

Click below to experience this webinar as a tutorial. When you continue past the introduction to the webinar, you'll be prompted to log in. We require login to view the whole tutorial so we can provide certificates of completion for your records and for professional development credit. No purchase is required and you can create a Niche Academy account if you don't already have one. The certificate will be available for download when you have completed all sections of the tutorial.  

 

Click the link below to download the presentation slides:
Blindsided at Work Slides

 

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Workplace bullying is common, and it creates an environment of fear and negativity that impacts individuals and the library. As a manager or director, you may have to deal with a workplace bullying situation. While you might hope the situation resolves itself, allowing bullying to continue makes things worse. Knowing how to respond to bullying will help you deal with situations when they crop up in your library. 

 

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Being Bullied? 

Many people are bullied—or have witnessed bullying—in the workplace. And unfortunately, libraries are no exception. Bullying is often subtle and secretive. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if you are being bullied. And even when you know what’s going on, you might not know how to respond. Knowing what to do if you’re being bullied, and how to take care of yourself, will help you manage a stressful situation. 

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Even the best workplace can experience conflict at some point. No one likes conflict, but ignoring it won’t make it go away. In fact, not dealing with conflict can lead to a lack of trust, negative work environment, and bad reputation for the library. The best way to deal with conflict is to get to the root of the issue, address differences, and find common ground, also called conflict resolution. These skills are not only useful—they’re in demand. Developing these skills can help build your resume and lead to positive changes in the library.

 

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When it comes to work, everyone wants to do a good job. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what a good job means or looks like. Details that seem obvious to one person, may not be clear to another. And the stress and frustration caused by unclear expectations can lead to poor performance, conflict, and unfair dismissals. Knowing how to establish explicit expectations—that everyone understands—can eliminate confusion and help your team be more engaged and successful.


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