Program Overview
Polykala’s Active Bystander training enables participants to take safe and constructive action against discriminatory and harmful behaviour in the workplace and beyond. Our training promotes workplace cultures of decentralised social leadership. That means staff (irrespective of position) are supported to stand up for a just, diverse, fair and inclusive workplace and community.
Too often social leadership in the form of starting difficult conversations or holding people to account is left to people affected by the discrimination itself. We can do much better. If all of us take responsibility for upholding inclusive and respectful social standards, then more of us can develop a sense of belonging. It can also unlock enormous workplace gains in productivity. Being an active bystander requires reflectivity, emotional intelligence, courage and a sense of humour. Making a difference is all of our business.
The training begins by exploring diversity more generally an an expression of human variation subject to the intersecting dynamics of power, privilege and preference. We reflect on what behaviour participants perceive is ‘okay’ and what is ‘not okay’ within the organisation with a view to explore viewpoint diversity and build empathy. We offer a set of tools and behavioural frameworks to overcome those barriers and thus change workplace norms. We do this using small group work and dynamic role play where participants learn and apply concepts in real-time.
Key Outcomes
- 1. Gain awareness of the barriers to bystander intervention.
- 2. Learn techniques to intervene with skill and finesse.
- 3. Be able to engage in ‘difficult conversations’ with greater effectiveness.
- 4. Recognise the potential for social leadership to create inclusive social norms.
Topics Covered
Intervening up, across and down
Principles of harm minimisation
Direct & indirect intervention techniques
Barriers to effective bystander action
Articles
Doing Diversity Differently
In October 2020, Dr Ananth Gopal (Director of Polykala), led a discussion among fellow Australian Adaptive Leadership practitioners at
Oxfam International Australia
The team at Polykala are truly interested in the organisations that they work with and adapt their training to
Glen Eira City Council
The Polykala Diversity & Inclusion Workshop was tailored to our organisation’s needs and is highly educational and fun. The
Program Information
Active Bystander training
Book a session for your workplace or organisation- Delivery mode: Online
- Workshop length: Half day / Full day
- 2 expert facilitators
- 10-25 participants
- Participant evaluation