AXA Lies Versus Bullshits

AXA so-called “chief agency officer” (cao) claims that he is more demanding and likes to challenge his staffs and agents. This dictator never apologizes for his bullying and without shame – continues to make excuses to justify his atrocious & unprofessional behavior. He often blurted proudly - “Well this is my style, I’m very passionate and I never mean to hurt someone.” But - the sad reality is that – this bully is hurting his staffs/agent. 

It is important to define what constitutes bullying in AXA Malaysia. To help determine where bullying is happening -  it is important to look for one telling sign: the intent to destroy. Aggressive or demanding managers set high expectations, hold people accountable, and follow up in a direct manner, all with the intent of helping that person improve or correcting a deficiency, not to destroy that person.  

To help make the distinction clearer - the subtle differences between a demanding manager versus a bullying manager - or Lies (Hillary Clinton) versus Bullshits (Donald Trump)

Disciplining versus destroying – Even to the point of firing an agent/staff – it is essential to effective management so long as the intent is to “improve performance or correct behaviors. At AXA – the CAO “set-up or forced agents/staffs into targets” that is impossible to achieve. These impossible targets are subsequently used to destroy or oust staffs/agents from AXA – often in public manner.  

Cautioning versus badgering - Setting high expectations for employees and holding them accountable to them is not bullying if they expectations are fair and the employees have the resources to complete them. But at AXA – CAO masquerades as an aggressive “boss”. CAO sets unreasonable goals and does not provide the support for staffs/agents to accomplish the tasks. This bully then proceeds to harass and badger staffs/agents to perform. This is a form of exploitation and bullying.

Coaching Versus Humiliating - True coaching is helpful, but humiliation is just mean. AXA CAO points out everything certain staff/agent - in front of their coworkers without bringing up any of that employee’s accomplishments or inserting any helpful tips or methods for improvement. This dictator offers insult onto injury after a defeat. 

Healthy competition versus un-healthy Competition - Healthy competition is motivated by wanting to do well on the task at hand and focuses on both sides having fun and learning skills along the way. At AXA – the bully CAO - promotes unhealthy competition - motivated by wanting to beat others and the focus is on winning. This bully – apply the divide and rule principle - the organization would be two individuals or groups fighting for his approval. The two sides typically become defensive and stoop to undermining the other side through sabotage, gossip, and innuendo.

Outlining consequences versus making threats - Outlining the good and bad consequences of an action is not bullying, it’s being clear. For example - Breach of this policy could result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge. At axa – dictatorship and bully – does not explain the consequences but turns into threatening staffs/agents - throwing out comments like, “If you don’t do this, you will be fired/terminated” in a nasty tone.

Joking versus taunting - “I was just joking” is not an excuse for bullying. Poking fun at staffs/agents - is fine until the offensive comments are used repeatedly to offend, demean, and ridicule. Bully mistook humiliation for motivation – with names calling – like Stupid (Bodoh), Traitor, Penderhaka (Traitor), Jamban (Shit-house), Pengkhianat.  

Holding accountable versus revenge - Being held accountable for your words and actions is healthy, but being threatened with retaliatory action for them is bullying. Staffs/agents who refused to sell poorly designed life insurance products (that is detrimental to the policyholders) and targeted and subsequently reprimanded and terminated.