On Sunday I ran a 10k race in beautiful central Ontario. When I picked up my kit bag, my t-shirt was men’s size small/medium which was the smallest shirt they had. Too big. Again. Not a big deal you say. Not really. Except that I have so many men’s t-shirts from running races that do not fit because they are too big and too baggy. What’s frustrating is that in recent years more women are signing up to run races than men. In this particular race, there have been significantly more women than men participating for the eight years the race has been in existence. Why are only men’s style shirts available?
Now flip to the boardroom. Last week I was reading about the lack of progress women are making in obtaining boardroom seats. More »
Part 1: Social Media in Bystander Action – A Help or Hindrance?
Part 2: Positive Bystander Action: What’s at stake?
Positive bystander action is as varied and diverse as we are. There is no best way to be as a bystander. It begins by being yourself and ‘noticing’ in a way that is comfortable for you.
Words that describe a bystander include:
Friend, Concerned person, Ally, Leader, Learner, Facilitator, Humble questioner
A bystander is not a…
Judge, Rescuer, Enforcer, Fixer, Hero/Heroine, Know-it-all, Nag
Bystanders do not speak for or ‘over the person’ on the receiving end of the uncomfortable comment or action. Being a good bystander comes more from humanistic empathy than having a good theory or methodology. And like most things, we get better with practice. Start by simply noticing. Pay attention to uncomfortable moments. This raises your awareness and your sensitivity. More »
