Collenemy: difficult people and toxic behaviors are costing businesses profits, and productivity
Marsha Petrie Sue
March 15, 2008
I love this! Deirdre McMurdy (Canada), The Financial Post, published this Collenemy article today, and thanks to her, I learned a new "official term" for difficult people -- "collenemy" -- which is like a frenemy you know you have to deal with every day. Here is what she said...
"Marsha Petrie Sue, self-declared former collenemy, has written a book called Toxic People: Decontaminate Difficult People at Work Without Using Weapons or Duct Tape. She's identified such characters as Steamrollers, Backstabbers, Know-It-Alls, Zipper Lips and Needy Weenies. You get the drift."
She continues, "But Ms. Sue is not the only one starting to focus on this problem: In a survey of the "consequences of workplace incivility," researchers at the management school at the University of North Carolina found that 52% of the 1,400 workers they surveyed lost work time worrying about past or future confrontations with co-workers. About 40% said that hostility among colleagues reduced their commitment to the job, 28% lost time by trying to avoid their nemesis and 22% cited confrontation for being less productive.
"Most significantly of all in a tight labour market, 12% up and left their jobs after a run-in with a colleague. Given the price tag on employee churn (it can run as high as 200% of a person's salary to recruit a replacement), cat fights can be costly."
"Furthermore, a study on team performance from the University of Washington Business School concluded that just one negative or toxic member reduced communication and co-operation among others. The performance of the entire team suffered as a result."
I love her research and she ends the article by saying, "Loathing your colleagues may make you unproductive. But at least you're not alone."
What are your thoughts and stories? I love receiving your emails! Cheers and have a non-toxic, collenemy free day!! Visit www.DecontaminateToxicPeople.com for more information on how to handle difficult people! Marsha
Marsha Petrie Sue, Decontaminator of Toxic People
Featured in the New York Times, Business Journal, Investors Business Digest, Legal Management, WorkWise and more.
Author of Toxic People: Decontaminate Difficult People at Work without Using Weapons or Duct Tape and The CEO of YOU: Leading Yourself to Success
Bestseller: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Bookscan and "What Corporate America is Reading" from CEO-Read.
Booking information: MarciaSnow@MarshaPetrieSue.com 1.888.797.6700
"Silence is Golden. Duct Tape is Silver."
Website www.MarshaPetrieSue.com
Blog at www.DecontaminateToxicPeople.com
"Marsha Petrie Sue, self-declared former collenemy, has written a book called Toxic People: Decontaminate Difficult People at Work Without Using Weapons or Duct Tape. She's identified such characters as Steamrollers, Backstabbers, Know-It-Alls, Zipper Lips and Needy Weenies. You get the drift."
She continues, "But Ms. Sue is not the only one starting to focus on this problem: In a survey of the "consequences of workplace incivility," researchers at the management school at the University of North Carolina found that 52% of the 1,400 workers they surveyed lost work time worrying about past or future confrontations with co-workers. About 40% said that hostility among colleagues reduced their commitment to the job, 28% lost time by trying to avoid their nemesis and 22% cited confrontation for being less productive.
"Most significantly of all in a tight labour market, 12% up and left their jobs after a run-in with a colleague. Given the price tag on employee churn (it can run as high as 200% of a person's salary to recruit a replacement), cat fights can be costly."
"Furthermore, a study on team performance from the University of Washington Business School concluded that just one negative or toxic member reduced communication and co-operation among others. The performance of the entire team suffered as a result."
I love her research and she ends the article by saying, "Loathing your colleagues may make you unproductive. But at least you're not alone."
What are your thoughts and stories? I love receiving your emails! Cheers and have a non-toxic, collenemy free day!! Visit www.DecontaminateToxicPeople.com for more information on how to handle difficult people! Marsha
Marsha Petrie Sue, Decontaminator of Toxic People
Featured in the New York Times, Business Journal, Investors Business Digest, Legal Management, WorkWise and more.
Author of Toxic People: Decontaminate Difficult People at Work without Using Weapons or Duct Tape and The CEO of YOU: Leading Yourself to Success
Bestseller: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Bookscan and "What Corporate America is Reading" from CEO-Read.
Booking information: MarciaSnow@MarshaPetrieSue.com 1.888.797.6700
"Silence is Golden. Duct Tape is Silver."
Website www.MarshaPetrieSue.com
Blog at www.DecontaminateToxicPeople.com