These are simple tools to help stop power abuse in the workplace and encouraging team members to speak up and speak out in real-time.

1. GOSSIPPING
OBSEQUIOUS
…why?
Why do organizations look like this?
ACQUIESENCE
ASSENTING to authority
CONFORMITY
Politically Correct
Failing to ask “dumb questions”
Compromising
SYCOPHANTS
Walking on Eggshells
discomfort

2. Power Abuse
FEAR
FEAR of ….being ABUSED
….being ABUSIVE
….getting in trouble
….getting fired
Shut UP!of

3. The offender’s favorite TOOLS ….
Browbeating
I’m angry &
DOGMA
Blaming Rhetorical Questions
Volume
Tone
Intimidation
Manipulation
Steamrolling
MISLEADING
Sulking
Humiliating
Ignoring
(silent treatment)
SARCASM
Coercion
ThreateningDEADLINES
I’m offensive
swearing
nagging
GASLIGHTING

4. SNOWFLAKE
Go with the flow
Let SLEEPING DOGS lie
Don’t ROCK the BOAT!
Don’t make WAVES!
Don’t upset the applecart
Suck it up BUTTERCUP
Have a THICK SKIN
Get OVER IT!
Don’t be a SNITCH!
The victim’s escape TOOLS….
I’m too SENSITIVE!
I’m offended
& I’m passive

6. During a disagreement we agree to..
Disagree with
the
…in real-time
content.
Object to the
behavior…
and…

7. When one feels offended simply…
The offender.. Or escalate to
like a ref’s Whistle……
“ ”

8. or escalate to
like a ref’s Whistle……Yellow Card
When one feels offended simply…
“ ” “ ”
The offender..

9. like a ref’s Whistle……Yellow Card……Red Card
When one feels offended simply…
“ ” “ ” “ ”
The offender..

10. …our peers decide if still unresolved
...not HR!

11. Someday these tools will also
be mandatory.
Occupational Health & Safety
Mandatory tools in the workplace.
Psychological Health & Safety

12. Adding safety is exhausting…
or…to remember….
Too much….
reading…. workshops….

13. or use simple tools to stop abuse…
“want to teach…
don’t bother…
give them a tool…
which leads to new
ways of thinking”
Buckminster Fuller

14. What people are saying…
“
”
Very interesting point, Desmond.
Democratize organizational power as we do
political power, so (we) can vote people out
Timothy R. Clark Author of The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety

15. What people are saying…
Me:
”
“Amy:
“What is the opposite to psychological
safety?
You’ve said it quite nicely in your slide
share: Walking on eggshells
Amy Edmondson author of The Fearless Organization”

16. …the sky’s the limit
…no more walking on eggshells
When we stop power abuse