How To Be An Upstander
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
It has been a horrific week witnessing acts of violence in the news, on our social feeds, on phone calls from people we love. And in the workplace, our colleagues and co-workers are experiencing harassment, bigotry, and hateful language directed toward them and the communities to which they belong. My ask today is for you who are witnessing it in the workplace. Please don't ignore it. Please be the ally. In simpler terms, I call it bystander intervention. Better - being an upstander.
As an upstander, here are three things I want you to do and three things I don't want you to do:
Do:
Speak up if you witness inappropriate behavior or language.
Encourage others to intervene and stand up to discrimination.
Check in with the person being harassed to see if they're okay and offer support.
Don't:
Assume someone else will intervene.
Dismiss or minimize the impact of the behavior or language.
Believe your intervention will solve the entire problem - you may have to take action again and again.
Being an upstander requires thoughtfulness and care in taking action. It's a powerful tool to build a safe and respectful workplace for all of us.
4 Techniques for Being an Upstander
Do the work
This week, I commit to practice the four techniques of being an upstander: distract, delegate, delay, and direct intervention.
Spread the word
If you want to keep going
We Are All Welcome Here: How to
Succeed at Bystander Intervention
What is the difference between being a bystander and being an upstander? How do we create respectful and inclusive work environments free from harassment and discrimination? In this program, allow me to guide you on a journey to transform from being a bystander to an upstander. We will dive into scenarios to help formulate the best approach to intervene effectively in various workplace situations; emphasizing the importance of accountability and creating a respectful, supportive, welcoming, and inclusive work environment where we all can thrive.
