From Bystander to Upstander
Fostering a culture of respect and inclusion in the workplace
Bystanders—those who witness situations where harm, discrimination, or injustice occur—have a unique opportunity to make a difference. By choosing to intervene, they can disrupt harmful behavior like sexual harassment, support those affected, and ultimately contribute to the creation of safer and more inclusive spaces.
In this workshop, we will look at a range of possible actions you can take, from speaking up against disrespectful language to offering support to someone experiencing harassment. We also explore what keeps us from acting, such as the number of bystanders, ambiguity, group cohesiveness and diffusion of responsibility which reinforces mutual denial.
The workshop wants to empower you to become an ally instead of a bystander so that you can act more in alignment with your values and be an agent of positive change in the workplace.
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Content
- What is the bystander-effect and what are its consequences?
- 5 possible interventions: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, Direct
- How to tackle possible obstacles that come in the way of helping
- The concept of Nonviolent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg) – a powerful tool for courageous, respectful communication
Methods
- Inputs
- Group discussions
- Exercises and roleplays
Format
- One-day workshop with maximum 12 participants