Political skill and the job performance of bullies

an article by Darren C. Treadway and Maiyuwai Reeves (State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA), Brooke A. Shaughnessy, (Technical University of Munich, Germany), Jacob W. Breland (Youngstown State University, Ohio, USA) and Jun Yang (Renmin University of China, Beijing) published in Journal of Managerial Psychology Volume 28 Issue 3 (2013)

Abstract

Purpose
Recent studies suggest that 84 percent of employees are affected in some manner by workplace bullies. The current study aims to integrate theory from social information processing and political skill to explain how bullies can successfully navigate the social and political organisational environment and achieve higher ratings of performance.

Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire, archival performance data, and social networks methodology were employed in a health services organisation in order to capture the individual differences and social perception of bullies in the workplace.

Findings
While victims are usually targeted due to their social incompetence, on some occasions bullies can possess high levels of social ability. Due to their social competence, they are able to strategically abuse coworkers and yet be evaluated positively by their supervisor.

Research limitations/implications
This study is the first attempt to measure the high performance of bullies who thrive in the workplace. Future research could investigate the ways in which bullies select their targets and the role of an abusive organisational climate in their subsequent effectiveness.

Practical implications
Companies and researchers should consider how organisational interventions could serve to balance bullying behavior in a manner that limits deviant behavior while rewarding high performers.

Originality/value
The current paper applies a social effectiveness framework (social information processing (SIP)) as a lens through which to explain bullies who maintain high levels of performance ratings. The application of this theory to bullying leads to a functional perspective of workplace deviance.

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