Newsflash! Research proves being rude at work hurts the bottom line!
Oh, please. Did we really need a research project to tell us that? Apparently so.
As reported in Human Resource Executive Online, researchers studying the effects of rude behavior found that both the targets of the rude behavior and the second-hand victims were negatively impacted by just one incident of rudeness. Problem solving, creativity and learning all decreased after rude behavior occurred.
According to Donna Flagg, founder of The Krysalis Group in New York City, “Oftentimes…the rudest employees also just happen to be the highest producers and line management does not want to let them go.
Here’s the kicker: Rude + High Producer = Type A on the path to a train wreck. It’s just a matter of time before things implode.
Pulling rude Type A top performers back on track is not for the timid. It requires a special touch. Admonishing, threatening or hog tying a Type A with more rules is only throwing gasoline on a smoldering fire. If you want to avoid the train wreck, you must get right to the root of the rudeness.
I’m going to tell you a secret. With the exception of a few nut cases and some celebrity Type A’s who have built billionaire brands on hurling insults, Type A rudeness tends to grow from one of three roots: frustration, fear or simply being unaware of how they are coming across.