What insights can a former gang member bring to toxic workplace environments?
According to Tech Report intimidation, harassment, physical violence, or threatening, troublemaking behavior at work spans the spectrum from verbal abuse to physical fighting and even murder. “Violence or harassment at work has been experienced by 743 million people or 23% of all employees around the globe.”
That is significant. Emphasis on psychological safety has been interpreted as a signal to run for cover and take zero risk. But the real value is found by stepping into the conflict armed with advanced skills.
My guest on this episode of the Inspirational Insights podcast is a former gang member who became a highly trained violence interrupter. In his words, a violence interrupter is like a fireman. “They’re called into a burning building as everyone else is rushing out. They have the equipment and the training to put out the flames before it gets out of control. In the same way, an interrupter runs toward the gunfire. We try to get an incident, like this one, under control before it escalates.”
What can managers creating toxic workplaces learn from a former gang member about character, inner strength, and security sourced from within?
A lot.
Consider the social dynamics that take place when a decision is made and then the ripple effect of social impact spreads through the emotional nervous system of an organization.
Consider the tenuous nature of a transformation initiative that could roll back to its original state when a sense of belonging and trust is not cultivated in the process.
Consider the underlying conditions that create bad behavior in the first place.
My conversation with Cobe Williams is a walk into a world where life and death in the neighborhood sit on the razor’s edge of an emotionally conditioned reaction. Cobe’s work interjects a more mindful thoughtful response. I read his book, and there’s plenty of cross-over to other contexts. By applying lateral thinking, managers and executives can widen their span of perception to consider the ripple effect on mid to long-term health and well-being of decisions.
Think big when you listen to this episode.
What if strength and ethical character were a pre-requisite to be placed in a position of authority? What if bosses were selected based on the level of trust and respected reputation when dealing with hard issues? What if decisions made in responding to a crisis were guided by knowledge of trauma patterns?
What if transformation initiatives were attended to with vigilance knowing that “No matter how seemingly airtight, any agreement can go sideways with enough outside pressure.”
Admittedly I am biased toward making difficult choices in volatile and challenging conditions. It shows what you’re made of and you discover who you become. I found a quote on the cover of O magazine that fits:
“The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were meant to be.” O magazine, Transformation issue, 2023
Read more here: https://www.interruptingviolence.com/
Interrupting Violence: Restoring Trust and Growth