Today’s topic might seem unusual to you. Because it is unusual, I hope it makes you think seriously about something we don’t often talk about. It is likely that you will find yourself uncomfortably close to a situation you never imagined whether in your organization, your community, or your home. What should be a leader’s response to abuse? I met Marty while participating in a bystander intervention training a few months ago. Fortunately, he was willing to do an interview with me on this topic.
Marty has been an anti-violence educator and activist for over 15 years. He has extensive experience speaking and training students, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities around the US, as well as providing programming in the public and private sectors. Marty provides in-depth and interactive presentations, programs, training, and keynote speeches. His unique style fuses humor and direct engagement to inform, guide, and support audiences into reflective critical thinking and active personal commitment.
Marty’s professional career has focused on engaging with college and university students. He has an expansive range of programming and presenting experience. Currently, Marty serves as the Men’s Engagement Specialist for the Utah Department of Health, coordinating statewide efforts to engage men in anti-violence work. Additionally, he is the co-founder of the Men’s Anti-Violence Network (MAN) of Utah.
So, if you would like to learn more about the training and information that he provides, go to his website and you can see the Programs he offers, some of the clients he has served, and testimonials from satisfied customers. He’s bold and is addressing a topic that most aren’t willing to talk about and one that all leaders need to be capable of handling. The best part about it, seriously, it was one of the best training sessions that I have participated in during the last several years. He’s entertaining and has a story for everything.
Key Points From The Discussion:
- The definition of violence should be broadened to harm. Mistreatment, emotional abuse, verbal abuse are all the kinds of things that we want to step in and mitigate, ameliorate or stop.
- It should be our goal to make people kinder and encourage people to help when help is needed.
- We know how to hurt the people we care about even better than strangers
- Leaders take accountability for failures and establish what accountability looks like from there forward
- Make opportunities for your quietest team members to share their insights and thoughts
- Find out what your state and/or your employer requires of you when you become aware of an abuse situation
- Always get involved in some way when you suspect there is harm (even if only to call someone to assist)
- It’s valuable to share and talk about moments where we did nothing and wish we would have done something
- Don’t be wedded to a specific outcome – interrupting the violence is a great outcome
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Phone: (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
For information on sexual assault and rape in Utah:
Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Phone: (801) 746-0404
Utah Domestic Violence Council
Phone: (800) 897-LINK (5465)
Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program
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