Crazy women in the workplace

[Fyah]

If you knew a woman (specifically) who behaves in a manner that is not befitting a professional workplace, what would you do to help her?

There is a woman here who needs urgent attention.

She operates in a bad mood scares the bejesus out of everyone by her mixed emotional outbursts and cries whenever she is confronted, or if others would defend their positions against her. She is NEVER at fault and is great at turning the tables.

She has been advised to see a therapist through a service provided by our company, but I do not believe she has done that because she has been getting progressively worse.

People are saying that she is suicidal (based on conversations she has had both with them and on the phone) and does not want to be responsible for her "success", so everyone keeps their distance.

What would you do to help?

[loops]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

if she may be suicidal, and you're not her immediate supervisor...unless you are a close friend...i'd stay away.

let HR handle it.

you're not a professional...and you may do more harm, unwittingly.

[j-kid]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

My advice, STAY CLEAR.

I have had the unenviable task of being in such a position before, and having to deal with such a person. You are right, it is never their fault, and most times they are very convincing to others that they are the innocent victim, until people spend a period of time with them. They are their own worse ememy, and will pull you into their abyss. Trouble ALWAYS follow them.

[Fyah]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: loops</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if she may be suicidal, and you're not her immediate supervisor...unless you are a close friend...i'd stay away.

let HR handle it.

you're not a professional...and you may do more harm, unwittingly. </div></div>

She reports to me indirectly as she is project managing a huge deal for my team. A number of the people on the project have expressed to me, concern for their wellbeing so I have I have raised it as an issue with HR. They said that they've recommended therapy but by law, that is all they can do.

[j-kid]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

Well it is apparent that she does not think that there is anything wrong with her, so why go get help.

[Fyah]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J kid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My advice, STAY CLEAR.

I have had the unenviable task of being in such a position before, and having to deal with such a person. You are right, it is never their fault, and most times they are very convincing to others that they are the innocent victim, until people spend a period of time with them. They are their own worse ememy, and will pull you into their abyss. Trouble ALWAYS follow them. </div></div>

I absolutely agree. I just thought that perhaps, I could do something to help her. You are right though.

I am not a professional but sometimes you'd be surprised how much these people could improve by speaking to a &quot;friend&quot;. I am not sure what has happened to her, but she seem to operate from the edge all day long.

[loops]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

ok...you can't deal with a personality that doesn't mesh...thats not a punishable offence.

so the next step...is to deal with the issue on a performance basis.

if it's just personality...you need to overcome it. if it's threatening to the company and potential clients...it's a performance issue.

[Yvonne N.]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

Perhaps she feels that she's not being heard.

She want smaddy fi talk tuh.

Take her to lunch [in the staff caf`e] and let her talk her heart out to you. Juss lissen and aks enuff to get her to talk freely.

<span style="font-style: italic">Hope it yields fruit.</span>

[Fyah]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

People on the team seem to spend an awful amount of time searching for topics on the internet that discusses ways to deal with difficult coworkers etc.

We are genuinely concerned.

[loops]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

unless the folks on the team are shrinks....they should stay out of it!

armchair psychologists armed with advice from the internet...not the best way to deal with someone if they are, in fact, mentally off balance.

[j-kid]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mrs_Ahmidis</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Perhaps she feels that she's not being heard.

She want smaddy fi talk tuh.

</div></div>

Good luck wid dat wan! It most likely will bi blame, blame, blame.

[Fyah]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: loops</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ok...you can't deal with a personality that doesn't mesh...thats not a punishable offence.

so the next step...is to deal with the issue on a performance basis.

if it's just personality...you need to overcome it. if it's threatening to the company and potential clients...it's a performance issue.

</div></div>

Valid points! She is a perfectionist and does perform well...so long as she works independently. She does not work well on team projects, which obviously affects her outcome as a Project Manager.

We have made ammends and tip-toed around her to accomodate her emotional personality, but she always seem to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders and is always two ticks away from an outburst.

[Fyah]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mrs_Ahmidis</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Perhaps she feels that she's not being heard.

She want smaddy fi talk tuh.

Take her to lunch [in the staff caf`e] and let her talk her heart out to you. Juss lissen and aks enuff to get her to talk freely.

<span style="font-style: italic">Hope it yields fruit.</span>
</div></div>

She would more than likely say no to lunch. We have tried that approach, individually. Plus, I hardly want to speak with her in that type of environment, in fear of her reactions. I was thinking of just finding out about her life after work and inviting her to my book club or Toastmasters or the gym or something so she could release some energy.

The point is, she does not need to be provoked. It all comes down to her mood...it seems.

[Fyah]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: loops</div><div class="ubbcode-body">unless the folks on the team are shrinks....they should stay out of it!

armchair psychologists armed with advice from the internet...not the best way to deal with someone if they are, in fact, mentally off balance. </div></div>

No, they search for information that they could use to help themselves to cope with her.

[loops]

Re: Crazy women in the workplace

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh...well tell them to stay away from the sites the postal workers check.