Seeking the 'Magis': A Pathway to Enhancing Civility in Higher Education

Purpose:

Despite growing international attention to its negative and long-term consequences, workplace bullying continues to expand in settings worldwide.  Published literature reflects a paucity of research that addresses effective workplace bullying interventions and simultaneously highlights its troubling influence on wellbeing and productivity, not only on targeted victims but also on uninvolved bystanders and on workplaces as wholes.  This presentation describes findings of our most recent study of workplace bullying dynamics, suggesting the utility of the Jesuit notion of the ‘magis ’ to structuring interventions to limit the effects of workplace bullying.  Results of our study provide evidence of the importance of attention to workplace context in efforts to stem workplace bullying, highlighting the need for milieu-focused organizational policy, conflict resolution skills, and reflective practice.

Methods:

Through a hermeneutic approach, we described, thematically reduced, and interpreted statements found in published reports of workplace bullying.  Then using  recursive metasynthesis to situate emergent themes, we examined the  nature of workplace milieu as it influenced workplace bullying across multiple settings   

Results:  Our analyses suggest that recognizing characteristics of the workplace context is the first step in a program of administrative, interpersonal, and individual level intervention to address workplace bullying.  Of great significance are individuals' efforts to do what they believe is best for the organization and to demonstrate respect for others even when they do not agree with the actions they are taking.   

Conclusion:

Seeking the ‘magis ’ in the workplace can contribute as an effective interventions, serving to strengthen a workplace culture that anticipates and forestalls workplace bullying behaviors.