John,
We’re all guilty of doing or saying something unsavory from time to time. But what about repeat offenders—people who can’t ever seem to act civilly? People who seem to live by different rules—and get away with it?
Our research on bullying behavior in the workplace shows that people who demean or verbally abuse their colleagues often aren’t held accountable. Others assume “This is how they are, and nothing I do or say will change them or their behavior.”
The problem with biting our tongue when we see bad behavior is that it does nothing to help someone change. Instead, it provides silent endorsement of unacceptable behavior. And as they continue, people get hurt and the workplace—or home, or community—becomes unbearable.
So just how serious is your silence? Take our five-minute What Would You Do? assessment to see how well you confront bad behavior.
