Breaking the Barrier to Upward Communication: Strategies and Skills for Employees, Managers, and HR Specialists Book

Basic rules for the workplace. Things I pretty much knew, but sometimes it's nice to go back and reinforce those principles. Where I disagree with him is on the subject of toxic people. He takes the traditional belief of distancing yourself from them in the work place. Maintaining a professional level. My own experience, over years of working with some real psychotics is that they won't let you distance yourself, and if you attempt to do they, they will create a scene. Even the author admits one time where he lingered in taking steps to release someone who was causing disruptions. I've been through that situation myself, and he makes a valid point when he says, "It took over a year for the other employees to regain ground and resume their own work focus." I agree. It can have tremendous impact. As harsh as it sounds, I have found that with toxic people, who are essentially bullies (but perhaps with mental health issues as well) you have to pound them into the ground and for some odd reason, they seem to grasp that...rather than say, professional distance or kindness or patience or any other thing one might offer up as a solution from a sane, rational person. You aren't dealing with sane, rational people. You cannot treat them as such. Writing as a professional I am sure Mr. Levine didn't wish to say these things, so I'll say them for him. Get rid of these people. ASAP.