Confusion is a good thing

by Nov 1, 2016

Organizational culture change can feel like a big undertaking. But, if you break it down into little steps, it becomes more doable. It’s something that happens over time, little by little, one step after the other.

Now, one required ingredient of culture change is confusion, or more specifically, cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance happens when your mind and your actions don’t match.

Here’s a simple example: Your mind says you value time (your own and others), but you arrive late to a team meeting. Then you experience cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is very stressful for us and we’ll do just about anything to relieve it. That means we’ll either change our thoughts, or change our actions, so the two can align.

You’ll either convince your mind that your tardiness isn’t doing any harm or that it was absolutely necessary in that scenario, OR you might make a point to change your actions and be on time in the future. Either will solve the cognitive dissonance.

If there is bullying in your workplace, some might think it’s normal because they’ve been around bullying, or been engaging in bullying, for a while now. Their mind says it’s normal, so they engage in bullying or have convinced themselves it’s normal in order to align their mind and actions.

Others might think it’s not normal, and they are caught in the hell of cognitive dissonance every day at work. Their mind says bullying isn’t okay, yet they endure it day after day. Their mind and actions don’t match.

Start asking your employees to engage in positive action items and cognitive dissonance will work to your advantage. Those who bully will be forced to act in positive ways that go against their mindset, and they will have to shift their mindset to match their new positive behavior in order to relieve the cognitive dissonance.

If they don’t shift their mindset, then they will no longer thrive in your new and improved positive culture. One client I worked with had two “bullies” quit when they realized this culture change was for real.

Those who do not bully will of course welcome the positive change. Your initiative will relieve their cognitive dissonance and they will be forever grateful.

Learn more about the ins and outs of solving workplace bullying by attending my two-day intensive course. Click here to fill out an application.

The course will take place here in San Diego, CA, on December 5 and 6, 2016, from 8:30 to 4:30 each day.

Half of the seats are already gone, so claim your spot ASAP by filling out the application.

Anyone who wants to learn how to solve bullying can attend – internal HR professionals, external consultants, attorneys, EAP’s, workplace violence experts, risk management experts… anyone.

I’ll be teaching Jedi mind tricks (ok, no interplanetary tricks, just human skills) to get cognitive dissonance working for you, and other strategies that will literally transform your company culture. Hope you can join me.

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Civility Partners
Your partner in building a positive workplace so your employees can thrive
www.CivilityPartners.com

Do you know how much money chronically bad behavior costs your company? Spoiler alert – it’s a LOT higher than you want it to be. Download our data and worksheet to see how it’s costing your organization and what you can do to fix it.

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is President of consulting and training firm, Civility Partners, and has been successfully providing programs in workplace bullying and building positive workplaces since 2007. Her clients include Fortune 500’s, the military, several universities and hospitals, government agencies, small businesses and nonprofits. She has published in a variety of trade magazines and has appeared several times on NPR, FOX, NBC, and ABC as an expert, as well as in USA Today, Inc Magazine, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, and more. Catherine is Past-President of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), San Diego Chapter and teaches at National University. In his book foreword, Ken Blanchard called her book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.” She recently released a second book entitled, SEEKING CIVILITY: How Leaders, Managers and HR Can Create a Workplace Free of Bullying.

Reflections on Workplace Behavior: Am I a Bully?

Getting along in the workplace can be tough, and many people wonder if they're behaving the right way at work. One particularly important aspect to reflect on is whether one's actions may be perceived as bullying. Bullying at work is a serious issue that can...

Join Our Team As OD/People & Culture Analytics Subcontractor

Civility Partners believes in making a positive difference for every employee at every organization we work with. Through a variety of services including coaching, training, and organizational culture consulting (OD), we partner with clients to create positive work...

The Importance of Intercultural Communication in Organizations

In the age of globalization, organizations are evolving into hubs of diversity, uniting individuals with varied cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, and perspectives. The process of diverse talents and experiences can lead to innovation and enhanced problem-solving...

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Kindness at Work

Last Monday, November 13th was World Kindness Day. As an organization that is focused on building positive and healthy work environments, being kind doesn't just make us feel warm and fuzzy; it actually helps us achieve awesome results, especially as we're growing....

Dealing with an Angry Boss

In the workplace, dealing with an angry boss is not uncommon. They might get upset for a moment or be consistently frustrated. It can be tough to handle, but if you figure out why it's happening and find good ways to deal with it, you can make the work situation...

When Intersectionality and Toxic Behavior Intersect

We often discuss how various aspects of who we are, like our race, gender, and other things, can impact how we experience the diverse workplace today. We call this intersectionality. However, when the profound concept of intersectionality collides with toxic behavior,...

Ten Ways to Practice Self-Care at Work

Do you often find yourself stuck in a never-ending loop of deadlines, meetings, and tasks? The pressure to do well at your job can be really intense. But it's crucial to remember that taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health should come before...

What Indicators Help in Identifying Low Performers on Your Team?

Every successful team depends on its members to contribute effectively and work together cohesively. As a manager or team leader, it is important to make sure that your team is working effectively and efficiently. Every team should have people who do their job that...

Why Money Can’t Buy Employee Engagement

Right after I wrapped up my university degree, I was super excited to dive into my career. But let me tell you, it was no walk in the park trying to land my very first job. Finding a job, especially in my hometown, was a real challenge. After a whole lot of searching,...

Is It Unprofessional to Show Your Human Side at Work?

In the fast-paced world of modern workplaces, people have often thought that acting professional means not showing too much emotion or getting too attached to things. Employees are expected to act like they're always super focused and calm, and they don't have much...