EP 1062 – Become An Active Bystander

We all have a responsibility to do something when we see harassment happening.

But too often we turn the other way. We don’t know what to do. We don’t know what to say.

When we intervene, we don’t just reduce trauma for the person being harassed., we also start to chip away at a culture that allows this harassment to be so prevalent.

Building Resiliency and celebrating Bystander Awareness Month:

These five ‘D’ strategies may be just the thing to help you intervene.

Distract – interrupt the incident. You could engage directly with the person who is being targeted. Start a conversation or ask a question about something completely unrelated. Or you may accidentally-on-purpose spill your coffee.

Direct - You may want to directly respond to harassment by naming what is happening or confronting the harasser. This may be risky: the harasser may redirect their abuse towards you and may escalate the situation, so use this with caution.

Delegate – Look for assistance from someone in authority, like a supervisor, bus driver, security guard or front desk attendant.

Document – It may be helpful to record the incident, but keep safety in mind at all times. And never post the video with out the person that was targeted’s permission.

Delay – Even if you can’t act in the moment, you can make a difference for the person who has been harassed by checking in on them after the fact. Ask them if there’s any way you can support them.

 

it is important that we show up for one another as active bystanders. This lets the person who is being targeted know that they are not alone. However, in any interaction always prioritize your own safety while intervening.

If you like today’s wellness tips, let me know.

Looking for resources to build your resiliency? Check out my Live Smart blog at worksmartlivesmart.com