A little bit of yeast leavens the whole loaf. Which essentially means that it only takes a small catalyst to make a big difference. In today’s context, one person can raise the tension in a room just like a few grams of yeast can raise a loaf of dough. It doesn’t take much.
Combine that idea with something Albert Einstein said: “The world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it.” Thus, the greatest obstacle of justice is possibly the innocent, but inactive, bystander. What you allow will continue.
Catalytic passivity: the substantial impact or major consequences that follow directly from the inaction of an individual or group.
My first encounter with unprofessional behavior went something like this. I was following up with a senior lawyer after she sent several puzzling, and inappropriate, emails. However, my attempt to query her was cut short by her shouting that she had bigger fish to fry. Being a younger, more daring Olga who perhaps had slightly less wisdom than the Olga of today, I responded with unchecked words and unhindered wit. I apologized to her … for mistaking her for a lawyer when it turned out she was a cook.
She was, of course, not a cook and so she didn’t take that particularly well. No one stood up for me, but I moved on. Over the years I met many associates who had very similar stories about that same person. Apparently, I was not her first. People who knew her before me and long after I shared near-identical tales of her explosive episodes. It really bothered me that such a hostile environment continued to exist for so long — that no change had come about even though so many people were negatively impacted by it. I wondered why nothing changed. After some reflection, I realized that I may have been a part of that problem.
How?
Catalytic passivity.
I called her out on her bullying by pointing out how childish she was being. But I don’t think we should be drawing the line there. For a once-off, I think it is quite apt simply to draw their attention to their behavior and why it was wrong. But for a repeat offender, further action is required.
The second step would be to approach the individual with a colleague. Ensure you’re approaching Dr. Jekyll, not Mr. Hyde, and that you’re not doing so during or immediately after an incident. The only exception would be if there is absolutely no other choice because every conversation escalates into a shouting match and you knew this would be no different. Of course, a toxic environment can be made equally as noxious through whispers or shouts. It is unprofessional, unnecessary, or demeaning behavior — regardless of what form it takes.
The final step would be to approach superiors. Be it their colleague, superior, or HR. A superiority complex may prevent them from listening to you but hearing the words of someone above them may be shocking enough to trigger a change in behavior.
Let’s stop allowing what we do not want to continue because when we do, we endorse it. Maya Angelou so poignantly said that “we are only as blind as we want to be.” At the end of the day, turning a blind eye leaves Lady Justice impaired.
Olga V. Mack is the CEO of Parley Pro, a next-generation contract management company that has pioneered online negotiation technology. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to participate on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat and Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security. You can follow Olga on Twitter @olgavmack.