Is Today the Day?

As I travel speaking to groups about the complexities of workplace harassment, I'm reminded of the realities of human nature. How people are driven by relationships and how relationships can be good, bad and ugly and most certainly necessary to accomplish anything. 

That's why it can be frustrating to know that work relationships are easily fractured by one inappropriate joke or misguided, opinionated rant. That's why it's more important than ever that we speak up, on the spot when we are made to feel uncomfortable or witness inappropriate behavior. We can no longer "let it lie," or ignore the transgression. 

I tell anyone who will listen that when they see something, they need to say something. It can be as simple as, "I don't find that funny, please don't say that to me again." The verbalization needs to happen because if we don't all know where the line is drawn, it will continue to be crossed. 

Please get comfortable with standing up for yourself. Practice in the mirror, with a loved one, even in your own head if it helps. It's worth it to say something. You don't have to go along with dirty jokes, inappropriate gossip or worse to get ahead at work. It is OK to say something. Your workplace will be better for it.

Is today the day you turn #metoo into #isaidsomething?

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