Recent studies at the University of Georgia have revealed that some bosses embrace abusive tactics such as yelling and belittling as part of their managerial approach. Szu-Han (Joanna) Lin, the W. Richard and Emily Acree Professor in Management at UGA's Terry College of Business, has uncovered motivations behind such behavior.
In interviews conducted as part of the research, a number of supervisors admitted to using aggression under the guise of enhancing performance or asserting control. Despite the prevailing perception that such behavior is counterproductive, the confession, of some managers to UGA researchers suggests a contrary belief, in their own detrimental methods. According to a WSB Radio report, Lin stated, "Some managers do say, ‘well it’s because they don’t follow my instruction, that’s why I yelled at them or ‘this person didn’t respect me."'
The findings also highlighted a dichotomy in the emotional responses following abusive incidents. As detailed in a publication in the Journal of Management and reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, bosses who yelled due to burnout expressed guilt, whereas those who yelled to assert dominance or enhance performance felt a misplaced sense of accomplishment.
Lin, who has analyzed workplace abuse for over 20 years, advises leaders to seek healthier strategies, "It’s important for leaders to recognize they may have motivations for acting abusively to help them find better leadership tools," Lin told UGA Today. The study suggests that this self-awareness could be integral to reshaping leadership training. Meanwhile, employees suffering under such conditions have access to resources, like those recommended by Monster.com, for dealing with a yelling boss—including staying calm, setting boundaries, and seeking external help if necessary.
While some managers justify their harsh demeanor by insisting it yields better results, Lin emphasizes the inherent flaws of such methodology. "We all know that, if they engage in these behaviors, the use of abusive supervision, we all know that this is a bad idea," Lin added in a statement obtained by WSB Radio. "Remind yourself that this is not a good way to achieve your goal because you may have negative consequences that you don’t want to have."
