Matt Paknis Leadership Development

"When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it." - John Lewis "Damaged people damage people." - Steve Maraboli "Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended." - Francois de La Rochefoucauld #takeaction #right #fair #justice #obligation #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #equality

"Every institution, including the judiciary has its share of black sheep and corrupt judges." - Prashant Bhushan "When the law no longer protects you from the corrupt, but protects the corrupt from you – you know your nation is doomed." - Anonymous "A corrupt judge does not carefully search for the truth." - Horace "Make crime pay. Become a lawyer." - Will Rogers #justice #truth #rights #democracy #equality #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #fair #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #integrity

"It is not enough to break the silence; we must break the cycle of ignorance." - Hagir Elsheikh "It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to the fallen; that is the common right of humanity." — Seneca the Elder #speakup #help #encourage #justice #protect #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #action #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom If a workplace is toxic, it’s still possible, even without being a boss, to implement damage control strategies. Advocate for yourself and others.

"For world peace, there must be peace in the heart". - Lao Tzu  "It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it". - Eleanor Roosevelt #peace #heart #values #belief #action #love #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"Unrealistic expectations are perilous because they are set to never be met and to cause unending stress.  They are power and control mechanisms." - Shree Shambav "Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement. Great managers welcome mistakes." — Henry Ford #keepgoing #Innovation #welcome #learning #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #growth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #encouragement

It's an honor to be interviewed by my good friend Bernie Tiger Resilience LLC on his initial Silver Warriors Journey Podcast found here:  https://youtu.be/ySQO9oe6mX0  I hope you find it beneficial.  Your input is welcome! Please feel free to share to help!

"The single most important ingredient in the recipe for success is transparency because transparency builds trust." - Denise Morrison "The greatest deception (people) suffer is from their own opinions." - Leonardo da Vinci #Transparency #honesty #Integrity #trust #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #facts #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  Bullies thrive on subjectivity and flawed mental models. Don’t let them get away with it. Insist on transparency, objectivity, and accountability.

"America stands as a beacon of hope and the possibility of a better life." - Chris Van Hollen "We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail." - Abraham Lincoln #beacon #hope #life #Liberty #happiness #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace

"The worst cruelty that can be inflicted on a human being is isolation." - Sukarno "Every terrorist regime (including some corporations) in the world uses isolation to break people's spirits." - bell hooks "Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome." - Amelia Barr #invitation #welcome #include #Embrace #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #kindness

"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." - William O. Douglas "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "The definition of hell in the legal system is: endless due process and no justice." - Charlie Munger #freedom #speech #justice #FairTrial #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #DueProcess

 "Create psychological safety with open discussion...it's okay to take risks and admit mistakes." — Parabol "Leaders who are learners set an example and create psychologically safe cultures..." — Minette Norman  "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." — Ben Franklin #safety #dialogue #risk #learning #health #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #trust  #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #listen  Good and decent leaders and organizations can manage successful outcomes to buck bullying with shared learning, understanding, accountability, consequences, goals, healthy relationships and executive commitment.

"Maturity is the ability to think, speak and act your feelings within the bounds of dignity." — Unknown "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb #maturity #dignity #decency #utility #together  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #listen #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #collaboration

"The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room." — Frank Lucas "The empty vessel makes the loudest sound." — Plato "The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart." — Benjamin Franklin #strength #wisdom #heart #bounty #silence #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #empathy #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #listen

“If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil (like abuse and bullying) by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence (as with malicious prosecution).” - Justice Louis Brandeis #freedom #speech #truth #justice #Rights #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #FairTrial #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #protection

"Those who persecute others are warding of knowledge of their own fate as victims." - Alice Miller "Accepting necessary conflicts for the sake of improving the lives of children, (and others), is the only fundamental moral crusade that matters." - Stefan Molyn #acknowledge #endcycle #change #stopabuse  #LeadersArentBullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #peace #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #betransparent To end destructive bullying acts at work, one must recognize and acknowledge bullying and abusive behaviors and aggression are not normal, routine, acceptable, deserved, or ever justified.

"If we want unity, we must all be unifiers. If we want accountability, each of us must be accountable for all we do." — Christine Gregoire "Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame." — Courtney Lynch "The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves." — Ray Kroc #accountable #unify #responsible #standards #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice

"When the norm is decency, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust." - Raja Krishnamoorthi "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." — Walter Winchell #integrity #trust #loyalty #reliability #support #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"Bad people always support each other; that is their chief strength." - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn "Some justices appear overly sympathetic to corporate interests who enjoy an easier road to relief in this Court than ordi­nary citizens.” - Ketanji Brown Jackson #justice #truth #fairness #equality #rights #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #SpeakUp #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Goodness

"Narcissists try to destroy your life with lies because theirs can be destroyed with the truth." — Unknown "You cannot fix someone who doesn't believe they are broken." - Sri Kaiser "Follow action with quiet, honest, reflection. From the quiet self critique will come more effective action." - Peter Drucker #truth #selfreflection #change #strength #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #goodness Good organizations recognize the need to change an institutionalized culture of workplace bullying. #LeadersArentBullies #officeculture

"He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own." — Confucius  "Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers." — Tecumseh  "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." — Martin Luther King, Jr. #security #goodness #defend #protect #Unify #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Freedom

"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