Verbally Abusive Managers Disrupt the Team Work in an Office Environment

A boss with an authoritarian attitude can stifle the work environment and even prevent employees from properly working together, according to recent findings. Researchers from Michigan State University found that managers who are abusive to individual employees can actually trigger team conflicts.

For the study, researchers examined 51 teams of employees from 10 firms in China. They noted that the average team consisted of about six workers, while the teams carried out a variety of separate functions.

Verbal mistreatment or demeaning emails from supervisors reportedly made many team players feel devalued and less willing to contribute based on a team effort. Overall, the study revealed that supervisors who often talked down to their workers negatively influenced much of their behaviors and attitudes.

"That's the most disturbing finding because it's not just about individual victims now, it's about creating a context where everybody suffers, regardless of whether you were individually abused or not," said lead study author Crystal Farh, in a news release. "Teams characterized by relationship conflict are hostile toward other members, mistreat them, speak to them rudely and experience negative emotions toward them."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Applied Psychology.