I recently had the opportunity to participate in the “culture of respect” training offered by Catharsis Productions. This virtual course is offered as an invitation to discuss the deep-rooted issues of harassment that cultivate a toxic work environment, whether intentionally or not. At first, I figured it would be another standard boilerplate message about how to keep yourself out of trouble by outlining in detail via PowerPoint all the ways someone could get fired. I was under the impression this was a recorded webinar, so I logged on and immediately clicked over to a few other projects I had been working on, thinking I would just listen in and out. The instructors mentioned the chat box and read people’s comments, which caught me by surprise. Participants are anonymous to encourage participation and prevent the paralysis that often happens when faced with people’s GS levels that far outweigh our own. The dialogue began to flow freely after a short introduction.

Not only was I pleasantly surprised with the content and the unfiltered nature of this course, I found myself actively engaged, unlike so many offerings of this type. This was not standard boilerplate: the authenticity of the presenters and their tangible (albeit uncomfortable at times) content provided a framework of understanding and introspection I didn’t expect. I felt the content was real and unadulterated. It put a spotlight on not only the most egregious of acts but the subdued and unintentional as well, which in turn generated some great conversation. The program’s foundation for all participants was an idea of inclusivity and building communities of respect.

This course took a deep look at our daily practices of understanding and negated the standard policy-driven course where people leave feeling frustrated or as if they are walking on eggshells. Each participant was taken through intentional introspection to find their own personal biases, and we walked through the path together to find a better way. At the end of the training there was a moment where the instructors took time to explain that we don’t have all the answers for righting past wrongs and working ourselves into a frenzy over it won’t help either, but we can move forward from here with an inclusive mindset.

As the training concluded, I had more tools in my toolbox to continue my personal dialogue and figure out where potential pitfalls lie. Hope is not a strategy, hope is the only strategy. Through thoughtful and deliberate action that hinges on hope for the future we can learn to live the ethos of duty, respect, integrity. I hope you’ll attend this training; you won’t regret it!