Anti-Bullying Week: Let's build belonging together

Reflection prompt: What action can I take if I witness problematic or harmful behaviour? 

Top Tips: 

It can be difficult to know how or when to act when we see or experience a situation that doesn’t feel right. The 5 Ds of Active Bystander Intervention can help: 

• Direct: Intervene by addressing the situation head-on, such as by speaking up to stop the behaviour. After calling the behaviour out, direct your attention to the individual affected to check on their wellbeing.  
• Delegate: Seek help from someone who may be better equipped to intervene, such as a Line Manager or member of HR. 
• Delay: Check in with the individual affected by the behaviour after the incident. This is a good way to approach a situation that you may not feel safe or confident directly intervening in. 
• Document: If safe, and with the consent of the individual affected, make a note of the incident details. This may be useful for later action if required. 
• Distract: Diffuse the situation by redirecting attention away from the harmful behaviour to shift the focus from the incident. 

There is no one correct course of action to take. Knowledge of the 5 Ds of active bystander intervention may arm you with the tools you require when intervening in a situation that doesn’t seem right or is causing harm.  

Please note that you should only ever intervene if it feels safe for you to do so. Not all interventions must be direct, there are many ways you can engage to improve the outcome of a situation that do not involve confrontation such as the tactics Delay or Delegate. 

Reflection Prompt: How do I create space where people feel safe and appreciated in my team?  

Top Tip: Model empathy in your workplace, make it clear that it is okay to be open about your experience and challenges you may face. By sharing your own experiences, within professional boundaries, you will encourage others to feel comfortable to do the same. This can be done regardless of your position within a team. Empathy built among peers is a powerful tool in creating a supportive team environment. 

Reflection Prompt: How am I prioritising my own mental wellbeing? 

Top Tip: Show kindness and compassion to yourself as you would do for those around you. Learn the resources available to you and your peers. For students this can look like college welfare support and services such as Student Wellbeing and Support Services. For Staff this could be the Employee Assistance Programme from Occupational Health. Being aware of what support is out there can itself be a comfort in stressful times. 

Reflection Prompt: How do I uplift those around me that may experience more marginalisation than myself? 

Top Tips: 

• Amplify voices: in meetings and group settings, be mindful of who speaks and who is quieter. Actively give credit to those who may be less likely to credit themselves. This can look like “I think Emma made a great point about this topic earlier, Emma would you like to elaborate on it now?”  
• Think about leaning in rather than leaning out when you don’t understand someone’s perspective. When you are unsure of the ‘right thing’ to say, think about leading with curiosity. Ask questions and be openminded to different perspectives than your own. This approach goes a long way to demonstrate commitment to understanding others’ experiences and building empathy.  
• Be a consistent ally: challenge exclusionary behaviour using the 5 D of Active Bystander intervention. This will signal what is and is not acceptable behaviour to the wider community and over time impact real cultural change.