I would add that backstabbing is not only a sign of bad management (after all, it is the managers who unwittingly set an example for the entire corporate climate), but also a sign of an emotionally underdeveloped manager and staff.
The "Queen Bee Syndrome" can be quite cross-gender, and I've definitely seen it in men. Queen bees really do that, so it doesn't necessarily have to be a sexist thing. Although bringing this back to my original comments, it is an unfortunately common behaviour in female managers.
Sex does factor into every dealing between genders, but I think its a bit unfair to say the problem men have with women leaders is all about sex. I suspect it's far more cultural than anything else. In spite of 40 years of efforts, Americans tend to only reward their women for being "womanly" in the most archaic of ways.
I don't know about the bitchiness issue. While direct conflict is always frowned upon in any respectable workplace, it's quite difficult to rein in the more insidious form of backbiting.
You are certainly right about direct discipline being now out of fashion for fear of lawsuit or other retaliation. Personally, I think this has done more harm than good for the workplace, forcing passive aggression even deeper.
I would add that backstabbing is not only a sign of bad management (after all, it is the managers who unwittingly set an example for the entire corporate climate), but also a sign of an emotionally underdeveloped manager and staff.
The "Queen Bee Syndrome" can be quite cross-gender, and I've definitely seen it in men. Queen bees really do that, so it doesn't necessarily have to be a sexist thing. Although bringing this back to my original comments, it is an unfortunately common behaviour in female managers.
Sex does factor into every dealing between genders, but I think its a bit unfair to say the problem men have with women leaders is all about sex. I suspect it's far more cultural than anything else. In spite of 40 years of efforts, Americans tend to only reward their women for being "womanly" in the most archaic of ways.
I don't know about the bitchiness issue. While direct conflict is always frowned upon in any respectable workplace, it's quite difficult to rein in the more insidious form of backbiting.
You are certainly right about direct discipline being now out of fashion for fear of lawsuit or other retaliation. Personally, I think this has done more harm than good for the workplace, forcing passive aggression even deeper.
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