Why Proactive Prevention Beats Reactive Resolution Every Time
For decades, I endured workplace bullying in silence
My bosses were powerful. Two CEOs, one #2, another #3, an executive producer, and a senior exec with clout at the top of NBC News.
They didn’t just manage. They intimidated. Threatened. Shamed. Discarded.
I never imagined I could take them on. I couldn’t dare test their power. I loved the work and needed the paycheck. I never dreamed HR would stand up to them. They were just as afraid, and the bully was often the one paying them.
So I worked harder. I contributed. And the bullying? It didn’t stop.
What I needed then, and what every workplace needs now, is proactive prevention.
I had a conversation this week with a colleague, friend and bully victim, working to pass anti-bullying legislation in California. It was heartening to hear about similar efforts in 20+ states.
But culture can shift faster than laws.
Proactive prevention isn’t just about avoiding healthcare costs and lawsuits. It’s about saving your best people.
Here’s what it gives us:
Psychological safety, retention of devoted employees, higher productivity lower burnout and stronger leadership.
For businesses, it’s a win-win:
Less turnover
More communication and innovation
A reputation as a healthy and supportive workplace
Higher engagement, morale and production
Quote of the Week: "The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate." — Gruenter and Whitaker
Let’s stop accepting toxic behavior as an acceptable management style.
My book Surviving Bully Culture: A Career Navigating Bully Culture and A Guide for Healing (early 2026) is the resource I wish I had during all the years of workplace incivility and degradation.
Join our growing movement:
To a more caring, productive, and proactive workplace—
Andy Regal
#SurvivingBullyCulture #LeadershipMatters #RespectAtWork #AntiBullying #HealingAtWork #CivilityCulture #AndyRegal #ProactiveLeadership