When Leaders Undermine and Harm.

“What do you do when the leaders who are supposed to serve/protect you are the ones working to undermine and harm you?”

This is the question that we were asked this week.

The individual had recently discovered that (of all people) their HR team was actively starting rumors about them and pressuring the executive team to fire her. She was hurt and felt betrayed.

More challenging, who could she go to?

Those who were supposed to be a resource for her were the ones advocating against her.

She wanted to be an inspiring leader in the organization. She admitted that she had not always been perfect, but felt like she had added a lot of value and her team was doing really well.

And so she came with her question… “What do you do when the leaders who are supposed to serve/protect you are the ones working to undermine and harm you?”

We at SML work with HR teams a LOT. Most of the time they are not the problem. In fact, it is often our experience that they are the ones who are trying to clean up the messes of other leaders in the organization that undermine and harm their team.

But sometimes our primary point of contact ends up being the real problem. This always presents a challenging situation.

It presents a situation where…
– the one who is supposed to be part of the solution is the problem.
– the one who is “helping” others is actually deflecting responsibility.
– the one who is spearheading growth has a reputation for stagnation.

So how can it be handled?

With principles, courage, and clarity (in that order).

Principle – Sometimes we lose the client when we confront the real issue. But our heart for leadership is stronger than our desire for revenue.

Courage – It is not easy to confront the friendly face in the room (it quickly becomes less friendly) but it is necessary if the culture of an org is to be healthy. And sometimes, we have to “take the L” because of our courage to stand up for the principle.

Clarity – No beating around the bush. Clearly articulate what is happening and stand firmly in the truth that has been shared.

Lastly, if you are the person that is being attacked, sometimes the best thing that you can do is find a healthier environment to share your gifts in. No amount of consulting can undo the damage of a couple nasty rumors and rarely are these types of organizational challenges solved quickly. Whether an organization realizes it or not, their most impactful capital is human. Withdrawing the value that you bring from a setting that does not respect it can be a powerful way to assert one’s authentic self.

Facing this challenge? Reach out to us. Let’s see if we can walk together to remove this cancer from your organization.

About SML

SML Consultive got its start when the founder, Jon Antonucci recognized a problem in almost every organization: Front-line leaders were failing terribly, and their teams were miserable!

Jon decided to leverage his 20+ years of leadership experience to solve this problem and empower leaders that leave a positive legacy and change the world!

Providing dynamic and engaging leadership tools for leaders who actively work with staff, SML empowers effective engagement with internal clients, fostering a culture of collaboration and impact that facilitates increased employee retention and customer satisfaction.

Real-world solutions are customized to meet the unique needs of the individuals and organizations served, ensuring dynamic impact and the opportunity for leaders to leave a legacy that changes the world—starting with the team and organization they are serving.

Looking for a great leadership development solution for either yourself or the leaders of your organization? Visit www.ServantMindedLeadership.com for more information on how we serve the forgotten leaders and empower them to change the world!

The above content is provided as a free resource from SML Consultive, the global leader in front-line leadership development. For more free Leadership resources:

 – Join the Servant-Minded Leadership Group on LinkedIn

 – Subscribe to the Servant-Minded Leadership YouTube channel