Impact on the abusive boss and his team

Impact of abuse on the workplace

Abuse has become common in many people’s conversations, and is often encountered in the workplace by individuals who are in leadership roles. Can such bosses really be effective team leaders? According to a new research, the answer is not the same for everyone. It depends on how their team receives that language.

Abusing in the role of team leader

You might have worked with a leader who never shied away from using abuses while motivating his employees. However, reactions from colleagues vary. Some find it fun, while others consider it poor leadership and unprofessional behavior.

Study findings

This study has made it clear that people’s opinion towards an abusive boss does not depend only on his words, but it is also important who is the listener and in what social environment he is. The study found that employees who were frequently abused by their superiors were less satisfied with them.

Who likes an abusive leader?

Participants who were higher in psychopathic and Machiavellian traits reported that as their boss’s language increased in abusive language, their satisfaction also increased. Such people do not care about social norms and consider the abusive boss to be more truthful and self-confident.

impact of economic inequality

In countries such as Sweden and Austria, where income equality is high, responses vary by personality. Whereas in countries like South Africa and Mexico, abusive bosses are viewed negatively due to economic inequality.

Research findings

Effective communication is not just about choosing the right words. The same sentence can motivate one employee, while angering another. Therefore, leadership advice sometimes seems contradictory. A good boss is one who understands his team and knows what words to say in which situation.