Workplace culture doesn’t just evolve from policies or mission statements. It grows from the choices people make in real time. Sometimes those choices involve speaking up, stepping in, or supporting someone who needs help. That’s what Effective Bystander Intervention, a new course by Bigger Brains, is all about. This course equips individuals at every level of an organization to recognize inappropriate conduct, understand their role in preventing harm, and take effective action when something crosses the line. It empowers learners to become proactive participants in shaping respectful, inclusive, and safe environments, not just by knowing what’s right, but by learning how to act when it counts.
Throughout this engaging and practical training, you’ll build a strong foundation by learning how to define what it means to be a bystander and how bystander intervention plays a role in maintaining a healthy workplace. You’ll determine what constitutes a Hostile Work Environment and sharpen your ability to recognize inappropriate behaviors that may not be immediately apparent. You’ll explore how to evaluate whether you’re in a position to act, and practice using four proven strategies for intervening safely and effectively. You’ll gain insight into the desired outcomes of each plan, so your actions contribute to de-escalation, support, and long-term cultural change. The course also explores psychological barriers to action such as diffusion of responsibility, evaluation apprehension, and pluralistic ignorance, helping you recognize when those dynamics might be at play and how to overcome them.
Watch the course sample below!
More than just a list of do’s and don’ts, this course invites you to step into mock workplace scenarios that reflect real-world challenges. You’ll identify appropriate responses, apply what you’ve learned, and build confidence in your ability to speak up when something feels wrong. You’ll finish the course with the skills to support colleagues, diffuse tense situations, and stand up for values that build a better workplace for everyone. Effective Bystander Intervention helps you understand that culture isn’t someone else’s job, it’s yours, too. If you want to be part of the solution and create a work environment where everyone feels safe, seen, and respected, this course gives you the tools to do just that.
