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THREAT MANAGEMENT INSIGHTS


. . . lessons learned from 25 years of managing workplace violence By Bruce T. Blythe, Crisis Management International


This regular feature article is provided to share common and uncommon learnings of Bruce T. Blythe (former U.S. Marines Corps Police Officer, Psychologist, Chairman of four crisis-related companies - U.S. and international - and Threat Consultant since 1988). The intent is to provide take-and-use guidelines that will help managers and practitioners be better at their craft. Hopefully, it will also serve as a forum to compile best-practices from the field. If these articles stimulate take-and-use content that you would like to suggest, please provide your ideas to bblythe@cmiatl.com.


Lesson Learned #3 Defusing Delusional Threatening People


Sometimes, people are mentally instable who make threats of violence that are related to the workplace.1 Many times in these cases, there is paranoid thinking. These individuals truly believe that others are intruding in their lives, e.g., following, watching, listening or trying to harm them. These delusional people have false impressions based upon evidence that would not pass the reasonable person test when objectively examined by others.


If you tell delusional persons they are ―wrong‖ in their beliefs, they will typically categorize you as someone who doesn‘t understand, or possibly you're now one of the


conspirators yourself. This could be an employee who is to be terminated, an ex-employee who won't accept having been ousted, or possibly an external individual such as a domestic violence perpetrator, customer, or other person with a tie to the organization.


The objective is often to get these delusional persons to peacefully cooperate with job requirements, treatment, fitness- for-duty examination, employment termination, or leave the organization alone. The operative word is cooperation in a ―peaceful‖ manner. How can you do this when the individual wants something that you won't give them and any resistance only reinforces the paranoid delusions?


Go With the Flow


There is an adage that is foundational for intervening successfully with delusional threatening people, i.e., ―you must meet people where they are before you can move them in desirable directions.‖ As a general rule, if you polarize with these individuals they will only entrench. Persistence causes persistence. So, the key is to first align with these individuals and their delusions before trying to get them to accept treatment, go for fitness-for-duty examinations, or cooperate in other desired ways.


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