Blight of business bullying needs fresh focus says sales expert

More companies need to put systems in place to prevent bullying in the workplace having an adverse effect on both their staff and their business, claims a leading sales expert.

Steven Timberlake founder of sales pipeline management company SalesRadar said high pressure positions, such as sales positions were particularly susceptible to seeing employees becoming victims of bullying.

His comments come as the problem is highlighted across the UK in Anti-Bullying week.

“Whilst much of bullying is focussed on schools let us not pretend that it ends when we join the adult world,” said Mr Timberlake, whose company is based in Worcestershire.

“This global economy leads to pressure and unfortunately the result can sometimes be that people feeling victimised by their seniors or co-workers,” he said.

“Research by the TUC (Trade Union Congress) has shown almost a third of people claiming they have been bullied at work and this is alarming,” he said.

“High pressure positions such as sales, which have a big turnover in staff, are particularly susceptible to this and really it needs nipping in the bud before it becomes a huge problem leading to sick leave, industrial tribunals and companies having the morale of their workforce sapped,” he said.

“The problem is the whole debate around bullying is very much all about shades of grey and very much subjective,” he said.

“Companies need to spend more time in educating their workforce about the different ways certain types of characters interact with people, and build in codes of conduct into their organisation where they can work under pressure without the negative repercussions that can sometimes happen in such environments,” he added.

The research by the TUC, carried out to coincide with 2015’s Anti-Bullying week showed 46 percent of people feeling bullied said it had a detrimental effect on their work performance. It also showed that it had led to 22 per cent of people taking time off work.

 Pic: Steven Timberlake, Co-Founder, SalesRadar

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