Matt Paknis Leadership Development

"America remains mankind's best hope. Their eyes are on us, counting on us to protect the peace, promote new prosperity, and provide for a better world." - Ronald Reagan "The future rewards those who press on. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I'm going to press on." - Barack Obama #Hope #protect #promote #provide #grit #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #tough #psycholigicalsafetyatworkact #nevergiveup

i.e.: Sandusky/Paterno/2nd Mile/PSU Football, Predator Priests/Complicit Catholic Dioceses, Predator Scoutmasters/Complicit BSA, Enron, Madoff, Corrupt Judges/ Colluding Corps., etc... "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule." - Charles Dickens "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15 #truth #appearances #disguises #reality #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #real #psycholigicalsafetyatworkact #transparent

Thomas Jefferson:  "I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare to challenge our government to a trial by strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country." Billy Corriher:  "Big Business tightening its grip on our courts. Instead of serving as a last resort for Americans seeking justice, judges are bending the law to satisfy the concerns of their corporate donors." #democracy #equality #justice #liberty #truth #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psycholigicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp

"Evil prospers in the shadows." - John Curran  #LeadersArentBullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #light  #psycholigicalsafetyatworkact #truth  For predators to be held accountable and bullying and abuse to cease, #transparency is essential. When an organization's members (workers, students, citizens, etc.) learn to distinguish healthy leaders from bullies  and thriving from toxic cultures. When people are protected and encouraged to report egregious behaviors, transparency will be normalized.

Happy Memorial Day! "For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue." — President James A. Garfield "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." — John 15:13 #sacrifice #virtue #freedom #love #liberty

"The predator wants your silence. It feeds their power, entitlement, and they want it to feed your shame." - Viola Davis "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." – Justice Louis D. Brandeis "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good (people) to do nothing." – Edmund Burke "Stop protecting predators." – Rep. Ro Khanna "We must protect those who cannot protect themselves." – Brandon Sanderson #SpeakUp #light #action #protect #truth #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #fight  #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #courage

"Global enterprises are bumbling, shambolic, bullying, bureaucratic affairs, as certain of the rightness of their cause in infancy, as they are corrupted by power in their dotage." - Felix Dennis "The corporate state has successfully captured the very agencies and courts designed to regulate it, turning the tools of justice into tools of influence." - Ralph Nader #true #noble #dedication #agile #transparent #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #earnest #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Decent

"Adopting a continuous learning mindset ensures personal growth and resilience." - Carol Dweck  "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." — Confucius "It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see." - Henry David Thoreau #resilience #positive #silverlinings #learning #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #growth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #hope  #Resilient people acknowledge reality and the problem and look for positive outcomes and options. Ask yourself: am I finding a silver lining or the hidden lesson or benefit in this experience?

Abraham Lincoln: "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Dwight D. Eisenhower: "The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity." Thomas Jefferson: "On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock." #Character #integrity #style #principles #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #honesty #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #empower

"Normalizing abuse behaviors empowers abusers, not survivors." — Anonymous  “What is happening to me? Am I crazy? It's normal?” — Anonymous “Abuse is a choice, not a given... make no excuse for abuse.” — Lundy Banroft #health #empower #ChooseWisely #protection  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #trust #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #liberty

"[J]udge-shopping sends a terrible message to the public at large about the neutrality of the federal courts... [when] litigants' 'partisan behavior' makes the courts look like they can be so easily manipulated..." - Steve Vladeck  "Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty." — Thomas Jefferson #justice #equality #FairTrial #truth #liberty #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #ethical #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #transparency

"My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me." — Jane Austen "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule." - Charles Dickens "False face must hide what the false heart doth know." - William Shakespeare #transparency #heart #truth #evidence  #leadersarentbullies  #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #factfind #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #courage  Bullies and bullying organizations leverage false appearances. They go to great lengths to appear competent or appealing, or they use intimidation and fear to control their followers.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." -  Martin Luther King, Jr. "You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars. If they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime." - Babe Ruth "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." — Henry Ford #together #brothers #sisters #team #success #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #maturity #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #love

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." - Aristotle "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen #light #truth #Love #expose #heal #freedom #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #SpeakUp #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #nevergiveup

Miscarriages of justice, where innocent individuals are wrongfully accused or convicted or the legal system fails to uphold fairness, are often described as profound systemic failures.  "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." — Martin Luther King, Jr. "The moment you lay down—that's when it's over." — Huwe Burton "Give me the man and I will give you the case against him." — Soviet-era jurists #innocence #justice #fairness #fight #truth #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #honor #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #FreeSpeech

“We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity, and power in our society.” – Nelson Mandela #equality #power #opportunity #wealth  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces  #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  Bad executives cultivate in constituents a sense of financial dependence to undermine free speech and self-efficacy. Deviant managers can manipulate and leverage worker insecurities and immaturity to force compliance, rather than empowering employee commitment.

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling "Government of the people, by the people, for the people." - Abraham Lincoln #united #strong #people #equality #together #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #team #psychologically #justice

"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie." - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn "Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save." — John Gay "The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars, and the selfish hide in high places." — Bryant McGill  "Bullies are always cowards at heart." — Anna Julia Cooper "Time will inevitably uncover dishonesty and lies." — Norodom Sihanouk #courage #brave #mercy #honesty #Solid #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #strength #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #character

"The entire judicial apparatus is hopelessly corrupt and beholden to the same corporate interests that own our legislatures." — Bob Marley "The Founding Fathers deeply distrusted judges and thought that the lawyer class was dangerous and that you could not give them unbridled power or they would undermine and destroy free society." — Newt Gingrich #integrity #hope #trust #safety #freedom #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #equality

“There is no limit to what a (person) can do so long as they do not care a straw who gets the credit for it.” – Charles Edward Montague “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein “We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone” -Sandra Day O’Connor #sharethelove #others #worth #together  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #give #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #collective How many executives choose individual incentives for profit and status, or, despite incompetence, to fill pivotal roles, over their employees’ and constituents' safety, health, peace, and well-being? As consumers, employees, and citizens, demand multi sum, utilitarian, outcomes.

"United we stand, divided we fall." — Aesop "Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable." — Kenyan Proverb "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America – there is the United States of America." — Barack Obama "When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you." — Winston S. Churchill #united #unbreakable #community #teamwork  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #share #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #learning

"Fall seven times, stand up eight." — Japanese Proverb "If you're going through hell, keep going." — Winston Churchill "Still I Rise." — Maya Angelou "Endure and persist." — Marcus Aurelius #StandUp #keepgoing #RiseUp #endure #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #persist #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #nevergiveup

"Big business is tightening its grip on our courts. Instead of serving as a last resort for Americans seeking justice, judges are bending the law to satisfy the concerns of their corporate donors." — Billy Corriher "The appearance of corporate influence or access... breeds cynicism and distrust." — Judge Paul A. Crotty #justice #rights #influence #Transparency #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #trust #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #integrity

A voice is a human gift; it should be cherished and used, to utter fully human speech as possible." — Margaret Atwood "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." — Martin Luther King Jr. #speak #cherish #matter #humanity  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #stepup #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice Victims and targets who make bullying observations and claims are often stigmatized as troublemakers or whistleblowers, even though breaking the silence by exposing and stopping bullying and abuse is most courageous and admirable.

"I've been blessed with a deep and abiding faith in the country I love." - Barack Obama "I love the United States very much. We are one people, chasing one dream, and one magnificent destiny." - Donald Trump  #blessed #faith #love #dream #destiny #usa #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #Respect #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #dignity

"Nowadays, respect is disappearing. People no longer know how to treat one another with dignity," —Yan Keirstin Domdom "Without dignity, identity is erased." —Laura Hillenbrand "Respect is a reflection of inner strength. Choosing dignity in every interaction says more..." — Judge Frank Caprio #respect #dignity #identity #strength #stand #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #SpeakUp #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #support

"When you make threats to do physical harm, it becomes more than a prank – it becomes illegal." - Rusty Fulbright "Workplace "leaking"—when a person shares their intent to harm—should be treated as a serious red flag, not a joke." - Reid Meloy "Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn't change the heart of others-- it only changes yours." - Shannon Alder #takeaction #investigate #protection #safety #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #truth

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." — George Orwell "Truth is mighty and will prevail." — Mark Twain "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." — Thomas Jefferson #truth #honesty #wisdom #prevails #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #mighty #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #light  Successful leaders seek and embrace the truth. They solve problems, influence people in positive ways, and achieve growth-perpetuating healthy outcomes.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Hellen Keller "Coming together is a beginning... Working together is success." - Henry Ford  "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now". - Martin Luther King, Jr. "Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi #together #success #team #commitment #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #unity #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #sacrifice

"Your past is not your potential. In any hour you can choose to liberate the future." — Marilyn Ferguson "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." — Malala Yousafzai "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." — Lao Tzu #liberate #inspire #dreams #future #potential #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #goals #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #elevate

"Suppressing free speech constitutes a dual injustice, impinging the rights of both the speaker and the listener." - Frederick Douglass "Depriving Americans the right to a trial erodes the foundation of the Constitution..." — John Garamendi Toray Plastics America sued me in RI Federal Court 3 months after Simon & Schuster released my book.  To silence it, Toray also threatened my publisher, who stopped printing the book. 51 months later, Toray dismissed their bogus claims, with prejudice, denying my right to a fair trial.   #leadersarentbullies

  "People striving for approval from others become phony." - Ichiro Suzuki "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." — Oscar Wilde #authenticity #standup #bereal #speakup #stepin #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #ExposeTheTruth #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #stopabuse  Bullies expect blind obedience, for people to laugh at their jokes (indecent or not), and for their so-called minions to kowtow, comply, and fawn. Don’t be fooled.

"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars." — Martin Luther King Jr. "Violence produces only something resembling justice, but it distances people from the possibility of living justly, without violence." — Leo Tolstoy "Resorting to violence... isn't a victory, it's proof you've already lost." — Mark Kelly #peace #nonviolence #unity #light #victory #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #love #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #community

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." — Thomas Jefferson "The more you live for truth, the more strength you find." — Maxime Lagacé "Honesty is the cornerstone of all success. Without it, confidence and ability to perform cease to exist." — Mary Kay Ash "Success in any endeavor depends on the degree to which it is an expression of your true self." — Anon  #truth #honesty #wisdom #strength #success #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #facts #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #transparency

"For too long giant companies have filed bogus lawsuits to silence & bankrupt anyone who dares to challenge them." — Rep. Jamie Raskin "Never let bullies win. If someone is coming after you, it's often because they know you have something good." - Daniel Lubetzky #challenge #fight #SpeakUp #justice #standup #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #light #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #nevergiveup

"Great minds discuss ideas; greater minds deliver results." — Frank Sonnenberg "The law often allows what honor forbids." — Bernard Joseph Saurin “Trust, honesty, humility, transparency and accountability are the building blocks of a positive reputation. Trust is the foundation of any relationship.” – Mike Paul #results #ethics #relationships #Trust #honor #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #thrive  Leaders should be measured and held accountable for outcome vitality in three critical dimensions: an organization’s bottom-line results, adherence to #ethical and legal processes, and the demonstration of healthy and respectful relationships.

"Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny." — Harry S. Truma "We can develop policies that treat all people with dignity and respect." — María Elvira Salazar "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it." — Abraham Lincoln "The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people." — Woodrow Wilson #actions #Destiny #dignity #respect #listen #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #good #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice

"It's so nice when toxic people stop talking to you. It's like the trash took itself out." — Karen Salmansohn "A narcissist will attempt to destroy anyone who they believed wronged them." — Medium "The best executive has sense enough to pick good (people) to do what needs to be done, and self-restraint enough to not meddle with them while they do it." —Theodore Roosevelt #good #dignity #respect #restraint #empower #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #fight

"My advice to other accused and sued, innocent, people is don't stop. Don't give up. Continue to fight." — Huwe Burton "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." — Martin Luther King Jr. "Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail." — Mary Astell "Our faith is anchored to a miscarriage of justice. The worst possible thing happened to the best possible person." — Andy Stanley #innocent #fight #justice #truth #faith #prevail #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #fair #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #transcend

  56 years later, can you pick us out from our 2nd Grade, Central Ave, Ms. Piccuto, class pic?  Deidre Covington, Alan Sallie

"Selfishness and greed, individual or national, cause most of our troubles." — Harry S. Truman  "Abusive management practices like bullying and sexual harassment routinely feed on income inequality." - Johanna Rickne #selfless #generous #honest #Respect #equal #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #fair #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #humility  Predatory bullying is more prevalent in economies with aggressive, 0 sum, top down cultures, like in the United States, where power and salary disparities between organizational reporting relationships and titles, not always based on competence and merit, are significant.

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies." - Abraham Lincoln "The majesty of citizenship holds no distinction of race, class, or faith, gender or background." - Donald Trump "...the first wish of my heart was, if parties did exist, to reconcile them." - George Washington "It's important we talk with each other in a healing way, and not to wound." - Barack Obama  #friends #Citizen #reconciliation #healing #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #love #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Neighborly

"Recognition is the golden key unlocking the treasure chest of human potential." – Oliver Westwood "Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." – Voltaire "The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated." – William James #recognize #appreciate #potential #excellence #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #thank #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #love

"The main reasons for the growth and institutionalization of corruption are: a culture of secrecy with lack of transparency..." - Phashant Bhusan "A corrupt judge does not carefully search for the truth." - Horace "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." — Buddha #transparency #justice #truth #expose #clean #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #trust #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #character

"Insults are the last resort of an insecure fool trying to appear confident." - Dustin Woodward "The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury." – Marcus Aurelius "A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman can insult me." – Frederick Douglass #highroad #boundaries #protection #laughter #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #calm #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #standup  During the early phases of workplace bullying, indirect and discrete types of behavior prevail; for example, sly comments & insults no one else but the target witnesses from the bully. More direct acts appear later.

"My concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right." - Abraham Lincoln “When one of us falters, we all falter. When one of us rises, we all rise.” – Barack Obama “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” – John F. Kennedy #Godisgood #RiseUp #courage #purpose #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #effort #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #direction

"Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?" — Confucius "The best organizations are the best because they have the best culture." — Tony Hsieh "Share our similarities, celebrate our differences." — M. Scott Peckl #Respect #culture #similarities #differences #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #love #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #thrive

In 100% of organizations where toxic power and control dynamics manifest as bullying, abuse, pedophilia, and discrimination, those in leadership roles are aware of the abuse, yet fail to address, stop, or report it to legal authorities.   All bullying and abuse is rooted in a bully's, and co conspirators', fear of being exposed as incompetent frauds.  The most talented, and decent, people trigger this fear, and are targeted. So, the best people are often bullied. "When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up." — John Lewis #dignity #respect #equality #decency #talent #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #protect #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp