Matt Paknis Leadership Development

"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

"Don't leave inferences to be drawn when evidence can be presented." - Richard Wright "Facts are always friendly; all evidence one can acquire, in any area, leads one much closer to truth." - Unknown "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." - Mark Twain #evidence #facts #truth #freedom #justice #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #expose #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp  Objective bullying evidence, like emails, photos, videos, recordings (where 1 party consent laws apply), etc. is critical to prove workplace abuse.  In addition, there is great strength and credibility with workplace bullying and abuse witness testimonies.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." — Martin Luther King, Jr. "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." — J.K. Rowling "Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." — Mattie Stepanek #live #together #strength #unity #teamwork #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #love #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #collaboration

“People want to know they matter.” – Les Brown "No job is worth your sanity or health. Let’s focus on what you can control." - Chris Pine "Like toxic relatives, toxic colleagues are best kept at a distance." — Suzy Welch "I see how you're treated; just know I’m here for you." - suggested “The culture didn't align with my values. I found a better fit to thrive.” - Leonardo Montini #sanity #health #values #control #fit #thrive #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #choices #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #culture

"Ethical people operate with transparency, making it impossible for hidden agendas and complicity to thrive. Bullies target Integrity-driven people as they, by nature,  threaten, intimidate, and expose corrupt organizations and toxic / phony individuals." - Barbara Kellerman #ethics #transparency #integrity #ExposeTruth  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #courage #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp

The worst bullying manager I’ve known conducted his assaults in private sans witnesses. This was intentional.  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #protest #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp  "Be isolated, be ignored, be attacked, be in doubt, be frightened, but do not be silenced" - Bertrand Russell “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” — Dr Martin Luther King Jr

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." — Harry S. Truman "It is a good thing to keep in memory the greatness of the nation's past; but it is only a good thing if it spurs us on to make greater the nation's present." — Theodore Roosevelt #courage #Imagination #determination #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #unity #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #greatness

"It isn't about what's wrong with you, it's about what happened to you." - Bruce D. Perry "The wound is the place where the Light enters you." — Rumi "Trauma changes you forever, but it doesn't have to destroy you." — Lundy Bancroft "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." — Marcus Aurelius #healing #recovery #light #grit #transcend #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #evolve

"Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame." - Benjamin Franklin "Toray sought and was granted a subpoena for the book's publisher, Post Hill Press, (tortious interference) to review drafts and communications regarding the book." - ECF, Rhode Island "Toray Plastics (America), Inc. voluntarily dismissed all claims with prejudice against Matthew Paknis in a Rhode Island federal lawsuit, according to a report by Godbout Law. The case, filed in December 2018, was dismissed 51 months after initiation. Paknis did not sign a settlement agreement or pay any money to the company." #justice #truth #rights #AbuseOfProcess #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #Equality #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Karma

"Do not be silent; there is no limit to the power that may be released through you." — Howard Thurman  "Build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear." — Martin Luther King, Jr.  "The mark of admiration: steadfastness in the face of trouble." - Ludwig van Beethoven #SpeakUp #power #courage #steadfast #grit #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #strength #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #fight  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.

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln "Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong." - John F. Kennedy "Adversity introduces a man to himself." - Albert Einstein #character #responsibility #adversity #grit #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #strength #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #dignity

"You always have the right to have no opinion." — Marcus Aurelius "Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality." - Les Brown "My psychiatrist told me I was crazy and I said I want a second opinion. He said okay, you're ugly too." - Rodney Dangerfield #Choice #Observation #facts #truth #freedom #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #liberty #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #AprilFools

"There can be no such thing as publick Liberty  without Freedom of Speech" - Benjamin Franklin "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  "Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away." - Elvis #liberty #freedom #speech #trial #truth #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #SpeakUp

"The predator wants your silence. It feeds their power, entitlement, and they want it to feed your shame." - Viola Davis "Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don't give up the fight." - Bob Marley #getup #StandUp #SpeakUp #fight  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces  #justice #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct   #psychologicalsafetyatworkact  #rights Predatory bullying refers to cases where a victim has done nothing provocative to explain the behavior of the predator. #supportvictims

"There can be no greater good than the quest for peace, and no finer purpose than the preservation of freedom." — Ronald Reagan  "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." — George H.W. Bush #good #peace #purpose #freedom #people #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #rights #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy

"All warfare is based on deception." — Sun Tzu "As Commander-in-Chief, I have no greater responsibility than the security of the American people." - Barack Obama "As commander in chief, my highest duty is to defend the American people and the Constitution of the United States of America." - Donald Trump #unite #Secure #protect #defend #democracy #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #rights

"The most dangerous people in the world... act without a conscience, but for a paycheck" - Suzy Kassem "If ethics is poor at the top, that behavior is copied throughout the organization." - Robert Noyce "Behind every corrupt "judge" are 10-20 corrupt businessmen." — Mo Ibrahim #fair #moral #ethical #legal #character   #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #impartial

"The measure of a (person) is what (they) do with power." — Plato "Character is shown through manners and respect rather than power." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  "The possession of power inevitably spoils the free use of reason." — Immanuel Kant #Conduct #character #manners #Respect #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #decency #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  Bullying involves exposure to repeated and enduring negative acts in the workplace when an imbalance of formal or informal power exists between the involved parties. #workplaceculture

"A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on". - John F. Kennedy "Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages." – George Washington "Everything in life should be done with reflection." – John Adams #ideas #persevere #spirit #rise #reflect #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #peace #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

Workplace bullying reports indicate only 2% of bystanders intervene and up to 60% do nothing.  "There comes a time when silence is betrayal." — Martin Luther King Jr. "When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful." — Malala Yousafzai "Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves." — Proverbs 31:8 "I hear you. I see you. I believe you. You are not alone.  It's not your fault. Healing is possible. It's never too late." #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #justice #SpeakUp #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #freedom #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Rights

"A lawsuit with no legal precedent or standing, seeking  damages, from no jury, in the name of stopping something that never happened? Only in (Rhode Island)." - Kenneth Langone "A boomerang returns back to the person that throws it." — Vera Nazarian #justice #FreeSpeech #FairTrial #Rights #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #Freedom

"All I ask is that you respect me as a human being." - Jackie Robinson "Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it." — Frances Wright "Equality means nothing unless incorporated into the institutions." — Fannie Lou Hamer "No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people." — Anonymous "The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." - Aristotle #Respect #equality #liberty #strength #merit #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom  Dan Olweus, defines bullying as: “...as aggressive behavior or intentional harm doing, carried out with repeated intent, involving actual or perceived imbalances of power between the victim (or target) and the bully (perpetrator)."  

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." — Buddha "If there is to be peace in the world, There must be peace in the nations... There must be peace in the home... There must be peace in the heart." — Lao Tzu "Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." — Ronald Reagan "Peace begins with a smile." — Mother Teresa "Real peace is the presence of something beautiful" — Prem Rawat #peace #World #Nations #home #heart #love #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #smile #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #beauty

"Emotions are energy, and energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed." — Deepak Chopra "It's not about managing your emotions. It's about managing your reaction to your emotions." — Yung Pueblo "Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame." — Benjamin Franklin #emotions #energy #transform #reaction #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #calm #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #peace

Tortious interference is formally defined as intentional and improper interference with another's contractual or business relationships. "Never stir up litigation. A worse (person / company) can scarcely be found than one who does this." — Abraham Lincoln "Misery is the company of lawsuits." — Francois Rabelais "Lawsuits are catastrophic experiences." — Benjamin N. Cardozo #TortiousInterference #litigation #bullying #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice

"The one common denominator for resilient children is early intervention. It does work, and it seems to improve the prognosis." - Temple Grandin  "He who seeks to terrify others is more in fear himself". - Claudius Claudianus "Leadership is taking accountability yourself and holding others to the same standard, regardless of what's going on." - Jason Kelce #intervention #Resilience #accountability #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #change #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #consequence  Unless there is intervention, severe consequences, and changed behavior, bullying children become bullying adults where they continue to do what they learned to do best to get what they want—to terrorize others.

"The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us." — Theodore Roosevelt "Our own safety, our own security, depends upon our willingness to do what it takes to defend this nation and uphold the values that we stand for" - Barack Obama "The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens..." — Donald Trump #AllForOne #safety #security #defend #protect  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #team #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy

"Society has a duty to recognize and defend the human right to safety." - Eleanor Roosevelt "To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of (people)." — Ella Wheeler Wilcox "A (person) dies when (they) refuse to stand up for what is right." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. #recognize #defend #humanrights #protest #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #standup #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy  

Most initial clients hired me to teach and assure their influencers were demonstrating healthy and effective management practices in compliance with safe workplace laws.   After 29 years of successful global service, it was ironic I was sued for elevating a reputable safety threat.   "A lawsuit can be a weapon." - Bari Weiss "Of all injustice, that which is greatest which goes under the name of law..." - Roger L'Estrange Babachanian #teachers #safety #motivation #justice #truth #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #honesty #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy

"Toxic leaders are often protected by their cronies, so cronyism doesn't just annoy employees; it kills morale, tanks productivity, and makes the company look like a clown show, a bad one." - PeopleHum "The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse." - Edmund Burke  #merit #morale #motivation #production #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #justice In a bullying environment, protected, corrupt, complicit, colluding, and preferred executive relations and favoritism violate and undermine a target's individual rights, well being, health, safety, and productivity.

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy."  "...government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth". - Abraham Lincoln "Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right." — Theodore Roosevelt "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." — Desmond Tutu #democracy #rights #justice #peace #equality  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #truth #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #FreeSpeech

"(Bullies) are social predators, and like all predators, they are looking for feeding grounds. Wherever you get power, prestige and money, you will find them." - Robert D. Hare "No One Deserves to Be Abused." - Tina Blacksmith “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls.” ~Kahlil Gibran #strength #character #truth #justice #humility  #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #grit #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #transcend

"If I were to remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity." – Albert Einstein Einstein "There are two kinds of lawyers, those who know the law and those who know the judge." – Anonymous #justice #truth #integrity #freedom #FairTrial #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #honesty #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #democracy

"It distorted reality. Consumed reality. Fear created its own reality." - Louise Penny "Sometimes the point isn't to make people believe a lie - it's to make people fear the liar." - Anne Applebaum "For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth." - Bo Bennett #courage #truth #reality #clarity #honesty #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #justice #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #liberty  Bullies hate to be objective. It requires transparency, integrity, honesty and truth.  These are unwelcome traits in their deceptive and distorted power-control fiefdoms.

"Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country" - Thurgood Marshall. "When I liberate myself, I liberate others" - Fannie Lou Hamer "Happiness depends upon ourselves." - Aristotle #peace #equality #justice #love #happiness #leadersarentbullies #healthyworkplaces #leaderselevatethoughtandconduct #liberty #psychologicalsafetyatworkact #freedom

"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.