by Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter—“I love my work. … But I work in a socially toxic workplace. This is a highly political environment that encourages competition between colleagues, backstabbing, gossiping, and hiding information.” This quote from a tech worker on the book’s second page introduces a paradox. Even though companies are going to great efforts to make jobs more meaningful, complaints about incivility, abuse, and bullying are at an all-time high.
She teamed up with Livingston to work on Shared Sisterhood, an agenda setting, yet practical book. One of the techniques they share is amplification. Before you speak up in a meeting, ask two of your allies to back you up. So once you speak one of them immediately chips in what a great idea this is, followed by the second one. A simple, yet powerful way to lend voice to someone usually less visible.