Surviving Work: Dysfunctional Workplace Communication
Edition: 2
Copyright: 2017
Pages: 400 - LSI page count is 402
Edition: 2
Copyright: 2017
Pages: 408
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In many ways, the modern workplace evolves at a staggering speed. Regardless of how an organization measures time (i.e., financial quarters or the more standard months of the year) factors such as new technologies, products and services, globalizing influences contribute to a dizzying, and oftentimes, downright confusing work environment. While this unpredictability impacts all organizational members, perhaps, due to relative newness to the professional arena experiences, it mostly befuddles millennials or other college-age individuals. Throughout all of these changes, however, knowledge of how to communicate effectively remains imperative for employees to survive, if not thrive on their professional journey.
Surviving Work: Toxic Organizational Communication is a text designed as a guidebook, of sorts, rooted in theory, but which also advises on what to do and what to say when you encounter sources of workplace dysfunctionality. Through the creation of this text we sought to provide students with a comprehensive overview of traditional, as well as cutting edge, communication breakdowns (we invoke the term “toxic” to reflect the pervasive and corrosive effects these communication phenomenon have on professional interactions). In order to most effectively appeal to a college age audience, the voice of this text draws upon many relevant, and easily relatable examples workplace toxicity. While we build a foundation upon traditional communication academic sources, we also include a variety of social media and web related content.
Instructors will appreciate the variety of online materials (activities, lecture notes, testing bank, etc.) which accompanies this book. Students will find its approach on modern workplace communication and relationships relatable, correct, and most importantly, applicable. This will be a textbook that will enjoy a space on their office bookshelf for years to come.
Acknowledgment
About the Authors
Preface
CHAPTER 1. What Is Dysfunctional Workplace Communication
What Is Dysfunctionality in the Workplace?
How Do You Socially Construct a Dysfunctional Workplace?
How Can You Survive Workplace Dysfunctionality?
What Are the Principles of Dysfunctional Workplace Communication?
CHAPTER 2. Dysfunctional Workplace Personalities
Who Are Workplace Lackeys?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Lackeys in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Credit Stealers?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Credit Stealers in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Drama Kings/Queens?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Drama Kings/Queens in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Controllers?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Controllers in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Overachievers?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Overachievers in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Chronic Complainers?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Chronic Complainers in the Workplace
Who Are Workplace Busybodies?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Busybodies in the Workplace
Who Are Workplace Slackers?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Slackers in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Excuse makers?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Excuse makers in the Workplace?
Who Are Workplace Hotheads?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Hotheads in the Workplace?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 3. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Trust Violations
What Is Backstabbing in the Workplace?
Why Do We Backstab?
How Does Backstabbing Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Backstabbing in the Workplace?
What Is Cheating Like in the Workplace?
How Does Cheating Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Cheating in the Workplace?
What Is Lying Like in the Workplace?
Why Do We Lie?
How Does Lying Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Lying in the Workplace?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 4. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Relationships Wrapped in Uncertainty
What Does Romance in the Workplace Look Like?
How Does Romance Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Romances in the Workplace?
What Is Intergenerational Communication in the Workplace?
Who Are the Traditionalists?
Who Are the Baby Boomers?
Who Is Generation X
Who Are the Millennials?
What Are Strategies for Communicating with Younger Organizational Members?
What Are Strategies for Communicating with Older Organizational Members?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 5. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Marginalization
What Constitutes Discrimination in the Workplace?
What Is Sexual Discrimination?
What Is Racial Discrimination?
What Is Religious Discrimination?
What Is Sexual Orientation Discrimination?
What Is the Impact of Discrimination in the Workplace?
What Constitutes Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
What Is the Impact of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace?
What Are Workplace Cliques?
What Is the Impact of Cliques in the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Cliques in the Workplace?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 6. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Leadership Interactions
What Does Dysfunctional Leadership Look Like in the Workplace?
What Are Inept Bosses Like?
What Are Unethical Bosses Like?
What Are Rigid Bosses Like?
What Is the Impact of Poor Leadership in the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Dysfunctional Leaders?
What Does Firing Someone or Being Fired Entail?
What Is the Impact of Firing Someone/Being Fired in the Workplace?
What Negative Impact Does Being Firing Have on the Person Being Fired?
What Impact Does Firing Have on the Person Doing the Firing?
What Impact Does Firing Have on Those Individuals Still Employed by the Company?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Firing Someone/Being Fired?
What Goes into Firing an Employee?
What Goes into Surviving Being Fired?
Be of Value
Always Be Building Your Professional Network
Be a Political Anthropologist
Stay on Top of Your Accomplishments
Plan for the Worst
Conclusion
CHAPTER 7. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Culture
What Is Gossip in the Workplace?
How Does Gossip Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Gossip in the Workplace?
What Is Bullying in the Workplace?
What Is the Impact of Bullying in the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Bullying in the Workplace?
What Is Violence in the Workplace?
How Does Violence Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Violence in the Workplace?
What Is Groupthink?
How Does Groupthink Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Groupthink in the Workplace?
What Is Dysfunctional Workplace Culture?
What Is the Impact of a Negative Workplace Culture?
What Are Strategies for Surviving a Negative Workplace Culture?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 8. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Excess
What Role Do Alcohol and Drugs Play in the Workplace?
What Is the Impact of Alcohol and Drug Use in the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Alcohol and Drug Use in the Workplace?
What Is Work/Life Balance?
How Does Work/Life Balance Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Work/Life Balance in the Workplace?
What Is Hypercompetitivism?
What Is the Impact of Hypercompetitivism on the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Hypercompetitivism in the Workplace?
What Role Does Stress Place in the Workplace?
What Is the Impact of Stress in the Workplace?
What Are the Strategies for Surviving Stress in the Workplace?
Conclusion
CHAPTER 9. Dysfunctional Workplace Communication Involving Technology
What Is Flaming in the Workplace?
How Does Flaming Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Flaming in the Workplace?
What Are Cyber Footprints?
How Do Cyber Footprints Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Your Cyber Footprints?
What Is Cybersmearing in the Workplace?
What Is the Impact of Cybersmearing in the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Cybersmearing in the Workplace?
What Is Cyberslacking?
How Does Cyberslacking Impact the Workplace?
What Are Strategies for Surviving Cyberslacking in the Workplace?
Conclusion
Index
Matthew S. Vorell (Ph.D.–University of Colorado at Boulder) is an Associate Professor of Applied Organizational Communication in the Department of Communication Studies at St. Cloud State University. His research looks at communication creating organizational spaces for people to be creative and innovative. He regularly teaches courses in interviewing, small group communication, workplace communication, organizational communication, organizational failure, and creativity and innovation. He has published articles at the state, regional, and international level; as well as presented over 30 articles at state, regional, and international conferences. His passion is helping students see how communication theory applies in the real-life work setting.
Jennifer A. Scarduzio (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Communication in the Department of Communication at Lamar University. Her research examines issues of emotion, identity, violence, and sensemaking at work. She is especially interested in helping employees learn to cope with sexual harassment and other discrimination at work. She teaches courses on interpersonal communication, research methods, and organizational communication. Her research appears in journals such as Communication Monographs and Management Communication Quarterly. She has also presented on various panels and papers and regional and national conferences. Her most current research project examines the effects of sexual harassment via social media on victims and witnesses.
Jessica L. Ford (Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin) is an assistant professor at Ohio University in the Scripps College of Communication, where she teaches courses in organizational communication. Her research examines organizational disruptions that affect the health and safety of organizational members. Dr. Ford’s research often investigates the implications of technology use during emergency events, such as evacuations, school shootings, and workplace injuries. Her work can be found in such journals as Journal of Applied Communication Research, Communication Studies, Communication Yearbook, Mobile Media and Communication, and the Journal of Homeland Security. She regularly presents her work at regional, national, and international conferences where she has won six top paper awards. Dr. Ford is also the recipient of the top dissertation award in social sciences at UT Austin.