Civility at Work: Developing an Active Bystander Mindset

Many of us have witnessed someone being spoken to or treated in a way that raised a concern, and wondered whether we should step in and what we could do.

Being an active bystander involves a range of social skills you can use in many different situations. It means recognising potentially harmful behaviour, considering what is happening and what is safe and appropriate, and choosing how best to respond.

In this practical session with Fitzroy Andrew, you will explore ways to model pro-social, respectful, and civil behaviour in academic and professional settings. Through realistic scenarios, you will consider different ways to respond when you witness unwanted or harmful behaviour, including direct challenge, distraction, delegation, and appropriate follow-up.

We will also look at how to support someone who has experienced harmful behaviour, including when it is more appropriate to seek help or use formal support and reporting routes.

The session will give you:

·      greater confidence in modelling pro-social and civil behaviour;

·      practical tools for choosing and using safe interventions when harmful behaviour is witnessed;

·      a clearer understanding of everyday support and allyship in creating a culture of positive treatment.