Log in or become a subscriber

Capability, rather than "courage", is what drives employees to act when they witness workplace misconduct or inappropriate behaviour, according to a people and culture expert.

"We assume the people who speak up are braver, more confident, and naturally assertive," Human Incite CEO Blythe Rowe says.

However, framing bystander intervention in this way – as "an act of courage requiring exceptional character" – does "enormous harm", she tells HR Daily.

Rowe, who has authored a whitepaper on the topic, warns that allowing this view to prevail "lets organisations off the hook for building capability within their team"...