Matt Paknis Leadership Development

"The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world." — Plato "The functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy." — Dean Koontz #empathy #intelligent #courage #love #lead #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #connect #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  

"Power does not corrupt (people); fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power." — George Bernard Shaw "Justice isn't something that appears on its own, it's something that must be fought for, protected, and rebuilt by those brave enough to challenge the system." — Chris Matheka "One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap." — Ida B. Wells #power #justice #keepfighting #protection #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #rebuild #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

“Love and respect yourself enough to not let people use and abuse you, and to tell them how you expect to be treated.” – Jeanette Coron “An atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration for boundaries leads you / employees to the path of personal happiness.” – Nancy B. Urbach #love #Respect #consideration #boundaries #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #team #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #happiness  Workplace bullying includes, but is not limited to, behaviors such as intimidation, public humiliation, offensive name-calling, social exclusion, and unwanted physical contact.

"A basic tenet of a healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency." - Peter Fenn "Transparency is key to reciprocal accountability, which we use to be both free and smart. It is the miracle tool that enables us to question the lies of monsters." - David Brin #transparency #democracy #accountability #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

All abuse and violence (domestic, racial, sexual, pedophilia, political, educational, interpersonal, international, religious, physical, verbal, emotional, geographic, etc.) is rooted in power and control dynamics. "No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise. - Marian Anderson #strength #respect #equality #freedom #peace #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #soaring

"The exposure and punishment of public corruption is an honor to a nation, not a disgrace." — Theodore Roosevelt "The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be... In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity." — Frank Serpico "You'll never find justice in a world where criminals make the rules." — Bob Marley #honor #justice #dignity #EndCorruption #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp

"Bullies may be the perpetrators of evil, but it is the evil of passivity of all those who know what is happening and never intervene that perpetuates such abuse." - Philip Zimbardo #intervene #protect #stopabuse #love #speakup #takeaction #truthtopower #bulliesarentleaders #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #safety #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice  About 80% of the US employees polled report being aware of workplace bullying. They were bullied or witnessed another employee being bullied.  Research shows workplace bullying bystanders intervene in only less than 20% of the cases.

"Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them." — Aristotle "The most practical kind of politics is the politics of decency." — Theodore Roosevelt "When the norm is decency, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust." — Raja #dignity #respect #decency #kindness #good #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #kindness #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #consideration

"Federal Judges Make Tidy Profit Ruling In Favor Of Companies They Own." - WSJ "When there is money involved, it is human nature to protect your own interests... Judges should be above reproach." - John Schneider A federal judge accused two judges of the "most outrageous conduct" he had ever seen in 37 years, warning that failing to act against them would set a "horrendous precedent that 'might makes right' and the end justifies the means". #truth #justice #integrity #Transparency #whistleblower #leadersarentbullies #FairTrial  #HealthyWorkplaces #freedom #rights #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #speech #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy

This is a statue of Senator John Chafee (R-RI), in Bristol, RI at beautiful Narragansett Bayside Colt State Park, land he secured for all to enjoy.  He prioritized collective citizen well being over the partisanship he found selfish & destructive. https://share.google/xFNnqIGK2XRrW5T9t #liberate #inspire #collaborate #Unity #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy  Bullying does not liberate or inspire. Great leaders do both. They encourage, motivate and value their workers / constituents.  They collaborate and seek win/win outcomes for all.

"America is a melting pot. Our diversity is our strength." - Ralph Northam "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." - Phil Jackson "I am a member of a team (society), and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion." - Mia Hamm #Diversity #strength #teamwork #sacrifice #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #Reliance #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #champions

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." — Voltaire "Recognition is the golden key unlocking the treasure chest of human potential." — Oliver Westwood "The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement." — Charles Schwab #appreciate #recognize #retention #Results #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth  #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"Corporations are bullies and we're seeing that right now." — Katherine Tai "A corrupt judge does not carefully search for the truth." — Horace "The power thus put in their hands [federal judges] is great, and subject, like all power, to abuse." — Justice Benjamin Cardozo  "A fair trial is one in which the rules of evidence are honored and the judge enforces the proper courtroom procedures." - Harry Browne #justice #FairTrial #collusion #complicity #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"Our nation's founding fathers carefully crafted a Bill of Rights - an articulation of personal liberties woven into the entire fabric of our free society. When any of those freedoms are threatened anywhere, they must be defended and protected everywhere." - Wayne LaPierre #liberty #freedom #rights #protection #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice Workplace Bullying can violate the US Constitution and our Bill of Rights. These protect specific individual liberties, such as free speech, religion, freedom to a fair trial, to life, liberty, and to the pursuit of happiness.

“Ignorance is the parent of fear.” -Herman Melville, Moby-Dick "In time we hate that which we often fear.” -William Shakespeare "Most bad behavior comes from insecurity." - Debra Winger #competence #compassion #confidence #love #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #talent

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed." - William Faulkner "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." - Ida B. Wells-Barnett "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell #voice #rights #honesty #truth #light #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"Trust is believing 'I will be safe with you'." - Drishti Bablani "Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live." - Franklin D. Roosevelt #trust #safety #honesty #protection #justice #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  Successful leaders create safe environments where people trust— they know they will be protected if / when vulnerable. Everyone is committed to making each other feel part of, and responsible for, the team's success.

“If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.” - Ronald Reagan "Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." - Jim Morrison "Outrage sells. For our generation, hate has been commodified. It has been turned into an asset." - Scott Sauls #Unity #america #grace #freedom #love #truth   #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #collaboration

"Revenge and retaliation always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear and violence." - Coretta Scott King "Fair-minded people avoid zero-sum games in which one-person's win translates into another person's loss." - Frank Sonnenberg "People will throw stones and hide their hands and then get back and play the victim." - August Alsina #fairness #justice #collaboration #winwin #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #love #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

Pictured clockwise around Dawkins, from lower left: my mom, Diane Bowen Paknis, in a 1957 College Graduation Photo, leading Rhythm Band at Vacation Bible School (I am in the red hat), with her children in a cherry tree at Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ in 1968, watching the 1979 Madison Dodgers from our car, the last time she saw me play. Bryan Fennelly – photo credit.       Darryl Dawkins, aka Chocolate Thunder, first shattered an NBA Backboard with a thunderous dunk on November 13, 1979, the same day my mom died following her courageous eight-year battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Malignant Melanoma in 1971 when prognosis was five months. My brother was four, my sister was thirteen, and I was nine. A miracle, she lived eight years post-surgery, close to twenty times longer than expected.   After diagnosis, she underwent radical surgery, requiring over 2,000 stitches, to remove her infected lymph system. This left her with lymphedema, o...

"Walls keep everybody out. Boundaries teach them where the door is." - Mark Groves "Without boundaries in our lives we feel constant chaos. Almost like we're 'on call' for other people. This can lead to self-neglect." - Dr. Nicole LePera #boundaries #protection #safety #selfrespect #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"Strong people don't put others down... They lift them up." — Michael P. Watson Bullies tear others down.  Successful Leaders build them up.  "Weak people put others down. They attempt to crush them in spirit." — Annette Caldwell #strength #liftothersup #build #elevate #heal #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice #truth

"I shall not submit to injustice from anyone. I shall conquer untruth by truth." - Mahatma Gandhi "It is in justice that the ordering of society is centered." - Aristotle "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."  - Elie Wiesel #truth #justice #protest #rights #freedom #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #speakout #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #protection

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr. "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel #speakout #standup #shine #light #love #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  People are afraid of the ramifications of dealing with the dark instead of celebrating the light. Silence encourages bullies. Expose all abuse.

"Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking." - Mahatma Gandhi "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." - Martin Luther King, Jr. #unity #standup #common #goals #teamwork #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #trust #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"To be a good leader, you have to have something in your character to cause people to follow you." - Jimmy Johnson "A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity." - Dalai Lama "The greatest act of courage is to be who you are — without masks to cover the truth of who you are." - Brené Brown #character #integrity #courage #transparency #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #speakout

 

  Homer, or Paknis?😉 “When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” - William Arthur Ward "Real leaders attack problems not people." - Colin Powell #seek #discover #talents #gifts #solutions  #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #decency #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #kindness  Bullies seek to find what’s “wrong” with people in their lives, rather than what’s right. They attack people, not problems.

"In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith." - James William Fulbright "We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." - Edward R. Murrow "May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion." - Dwight D. Eisenhower #freedom #dissent #loyalty #democracy #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace  

"Defense mechanisms are ways our minds try to protect us from anxiety or threats to self-esteem." - Sigmund Freud "Bullying never has to do with you. It’s the bully who’s insecure." - Shay Mitchell "No one heals themself by wounding another." - St. Ambrose "The common mistake bullies make is assuming a nice person is also weak. Those traits have nothing to do with each other." - Mary Elizabeth Williams #protection #security #heal #bekind #strength #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi "Every act of kindness, no matter how small, carries a quiet strength and a gentle grace." - Spirit of a Hippie  #begentle #kindness #strength #will #Grace #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #peace #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #decency  Bullies are weak and fragile, whereas good leaders are strong and tough. Strive to be the model of a good leader people want to see. There is strength in decency and kindness.

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided" - Atlassian. "At the end of the day, you can either focus on what's tearing you apart or what's keeping you together" - Eric Graham.  "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?" - Henry David Thoreau #unity #strength #choices #Focus #together #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #eyes #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace

"Hate destroys, love builds. Fear closes, love opens. Anger takes, love gives." - Madelaine Standing "We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll "The broken humans of the world make the greatest healer." - Abhijit Naskar  #love #build #Open #giveaway #rise #lift #heal #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #hope #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice

"The great corporation which employed you lied to you, and lied to the whole country—from top to bottom it was nothing but one gigantic lie." - Upton Sinclair "Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases." - John Adams #truth #utility #moral #character #hope #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy

"If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgment of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgement now." – Marcus Aurelius. "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage." – Dale Carnegie #courage #action #protection #safety #peace #LeadersArentBullies # stopbullying #love #strength #HealthyWorkplaces #freedom   #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct    # psychologicalsafetyatworkact #standup #together Bullies plan their sneak attacks. They attempt to immobilize and control their victims with fear and unjustified criticism with unpredictable traps, dead-falls, and tricks.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." - Francis Bellamy "Alone we can do so little, together so much." — Helen Keller  "Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." — Vince Lombardi  "The common needs of many are more important than the needs of a few or one." - Vulcan Tenet #unity #together #collective #safety #peace #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #love #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #sacrifice

"Bullies need to feel superior. Displaying great talent while trying to please and impress a boss can result in the opposite - trigger fear and insecurity." - Robert Greene "A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity." - Dalai Lama "Most bad behavior comes from insecurity." - Debra Winger #competence #confidence #embrace #talent #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #peace #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." - Thomas Jefferson #justice #independence #safety #truth #rights #freedom #speech #FairTrial “Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built. And if impunity is not demolished, all efforts to bring an end to corruption are in vain.“  — Rigoberta Menchú  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #equality #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #speakout

"Truth will prevail where there is pains to bring it to light." - George Washington "Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth." – Buddha "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed." – Proverbs 31:8-9 #truth #light #SpeakUp #justice #safety  #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #safety #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace  Life transcends bad setbacks when people strive for justice, safety, peace, good, and truth. The truth may cause pain in the short term, but it sets people free!  Taking a stance against, and exposing, bullying shines a light on, and stops, abusive behaviors.

“Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.” – Martin Luther "The safety of the people shall be the highest law." - Marcus Tullius Cicero “Prepare and prevent, don’t repair and repent.” - Ezra Taft Benson #peace #justice #safety #prepare #prevention #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #protection

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Edmund Burke "Americans must always place constitutional values over authoritarian control." - Madison Cawthorn #freedom #speech #thoughts #Independence #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #empower

"Multinational corporations do control. They control the politicians and judges. They control the media." - Jerry Brown "If the NDA requires silence, it enables the perpetrator to continue vile behavior. A broken NDA creates a double whammy; exposure of the bad behavior and the sordid effort to use an NDA to hide it. The cover up is often worse than the crime." - Rob Chesnut #truth #justice #speakout #safety #protect #leadersarentbullies #HealthyWorkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #inspire   #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace

If organization #managers #coaches #teachers #volunteers etc (ie Paterno and PSU Admins keeping silent for decades Sandusky's serial pedophilia) do not have the ethical / moral framework to stop bullies, or fail to value people enough to stop abuse, they are not worthy employers.