The success of any business depends on how a company listens and treats its workers. Organizations should provide a conducive working environment for their employees to enable them to air their views. Furthermore, human resource departments should strategically place suggestion boxes within the precincts of an institution to enhance effective communication and deal with the concerns raised by workers. The creation of a conducive working environment is essential to the growth and success of a firm since it acts as an intrinsic motivation to workers. Consequently, a healthy work environment enhances productivity, curbs losses related to absenteeism, increased employee retention rates, reduces workers' compensation and medical claims. The selected doctoral topic is, "Leadership Effects on Sexual Trauma Survivors." This topic is not openly discussed and continues to remain the "elephant in the room". If we make it commonplace to discuss and provide truly effective and relatable training and resources, people will be more likely to report themselves or co-workers having issues. It starts with the leadership and the tone they create in the workplace. Leaders have the power to impact change in their firms through their vision, mission, and conduct. Organizational behavior and leadership change play a critical role in promoting a healthy working environment. Transformational leadership technique is people-centered and can provide a conducive environment for employees to report cases of sexual harassment without fear of victimization and create a healthy working condition for sexual trauma survivors.
Like the world, leadership styles are dynamic and subject to change depending on a leader's ideologies and target of a company. Leadership theories have evolved over the years to cater to the changing needs of people. Sexual harassment is common in the workplace and affects both genders. Furthermore, sexual discrimination and stereotypes in society contribute to increased cases of sexual abuse in workplaces. Statistics from the World Bank indicate that 60% of women in the United States have reported cases of sexual harassment at work ( Arekapudi and Recavarren, 2020) . Additionally, 55% of women in the European Union have declared having been sexually harassed at least once in the workplace ( Arekapudi and Recavarren, 2020) . The figures assert that 75% of females in top management jobs experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime ( Arekapudi and Recavarren, 2020) . Based on the data, sexual harassment is common in numerous workplaces and it targets women who are considered a weaker gender. Sexual harassment leads to psychological and physical challenges that may lead to trauma. Unconducive working environments are detrimental to the success of an organization since it leads to high employee turnover, low productivity caused by absenteeism and lack of motivation, negative publicity that may adversely impact on the profitability and sustainability of a business. Based on the statistics provided sexual harassment at work continues to be a challenge that negatively affects a working environment and can lead to economic losses. The transformational style of leadership is people-centered and puts the needs of employees first ( Hart et al., 2018) . Companies that embrace transformational leadership can provide a conducive working environment for sexual trauma survivors compared to firms that embrace transactional leadership techniques ( Sadler et al., 2018) . The leadership style adopted by organizational leaders can help in curbing increased cases of sexual harassment in firms since specific leadership techniques determine if a company is people-centered and willing to listen to the needs and grievances of its workers or performance-centered and only care about profitability and sustainability of a firm.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
This study will depend on the secondary research technique because it allows the use of data and information from other peer-reviewed articles in obtaining an informed finding. Furthermore, secondary research methods such as surveys and questionnaires allow a researcher to obtain personal statements from survivors and leaders on the best methods to curb sexual harassment and how to treat sexual trauma survivors. Like the media piece “Choosing Your Doctoral Topic”, I chose the topic because it falls within my area of interest since I believe that violation of any human right is a crime and should be punished by law. Additionally, the form of leadership adopted by an institution determines its organizational behavior, culture, and employee relationship. The success of a business depends on creating a conducive working environment for all. Contrary, any form of discrimination, violence, and harassment hinder the creation of a healthy working environment and can result in losses (Lee, 2018). The speaker on the media piece advises doctoral students to find their area of interest and narrow it down to a specific topic within their area of interest. Based on my proposed topic, the area of interest is the form of leadership and how it can help in the creation of a conducive working environment where all workers are treated equally and with respect ( Sadler et al., 2018) . I have narrowed the topic to focus on the impact of leadership on sexual trauma survivors. Although there are other forms of discrimination such as age, race, nationality, and sexual orientation that contribute to the creation of unconducive business environments. The topic is relevant in today’s society since the number of sexual harassment at work continues to rise despite the awareness created and stringent measures proposed to curb the menace.
Overall, sexual harassment at work is a criminal offense in some countries since it is an infringement of the right of others. Curbing sexual harassment depends on the leadership style adopted by an organization and communication channels provided to employees to air their views and grievances. Sexual trauma victims deserve psychological help and it is the responsibility of firms to create a conducive working environment for all. Negative publicity, high employee turnover, and reduced productivity are some of the economic challenges associated with sexual harassment at work and can lead to losses. Companies should adopt leadership styles that promote equality, inclusivity, effective communication, and respect for all as a way of curbing sexual harassment and providing conducive working environments for sexual trauma survivors.
References
Arekapudi, N., & Recavarren, I. S. (2020, February 5). Sexual harassment is serious business . World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/sexual-harassment-serious-business
Hart, C., Crossley, A. D., & Corell, S. J. (2018, December 14). Study: When leaders take sexual harassment seriously, so do employees . Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/12/study-when-leaders-take-sexual-harassment-seriously-so-do-employees
Lee, J. (2018). Passive leadership and sexual harassment. Personnel Review .
Sadler, A. G., Lindsay, D. R., Hunter, S. T., & Day, D. V. (2018). The impact of leadership on sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military. Military Psychology , 30 (3), 252-263.
