Protect Your People
When was the last time you really paid attention to the “little guy” on your team? You know, the people with great ideas who don’t always get a chance to speak up. The ones who might be facing workplace bullying but don’t have the support to push back.?
It’s time to change that.
Start by paying attention to the quieter voices. Introverts often want to have fully formed ideas before jumping into conversations. Start to notice if there is any bullying going on (for example, someone being silenced or rudely talked over when trying to speak). If you see it happening, you have a responsibility to act.
WHY IT MATTERS.
In the military, I had a boss who yelled at us. Some of my teammates took it hard, so I stepped up to shield them. They needed someone to absorb the blows. Not everyone is that lucky, though. I had a colleague during my career who quit because no one protected her from bullying, which meant that her organization lost a great employee and it felt like we failed her.
If you don’t stand up for the little guy, you might lose them. And if the issue still goes unaddressed after the person leaves, the bully will just find a new target and the cycle will continue.?
People don’t want to work in a toxic environment. People want to be a part of a workplace they actually want to show up for. Standing up for the little guy isn’t optional, it’s leadership. When you create a space where everyone feels heard and protected, your team will thank you for it, and your workplace will thrive because of it.
Be the leader who stands up for your people.
If you’d like more information on this topic and more, visit my website here: https://jenndonahue.com/?