Written by Ray Arata and Narrated by Marie T. Russell.

All it takes is turning on the news, reading the newspaper, or talking to people these days to be reminded that men’s behavior is getting a lot of attention — and not necessarily for good reason. The #times up, #metoo and Black Lives Matter movements provided the requisite spark to raise awareness about toxic, masculine behavior. The list of “fallen men” in high profile public and private sector industries and companies continues to grow. This group of men are the minority of men. 

Yet they are not the only culprits. In fact, the majority of men — who stand by unaware, silent, idle, afraid and reluctant — are contributing to men’s behavior remaining in the spotlight. 

In my work with men, both at the individual and organizational level, when I bring attention to the unwritten rules of what it means to be a man and how they do not work for anyone, men included, I rarely get any pushback. Rather, most men are interested in not adhering to the old “playbook” of what it means to be a man. They just haven't given it much thought. Because there hasn't been a new playbook created yet, many men end up asking, “What do I do?” This is their early-stage empathy growing roots, and it's a good thing...

Continue Reading this article at InnerSelf.com (plus audio/mp3 version of article)

Music By Caffeine Creek Band, Pixabay

Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission of the author.

Book by this Author:

Showing Up

Showing Up: How Men Can Become Effective Allies in the Workplace
by Ray Arata

In Showing Up, you’ll discover the DIY method of heart-based leadership Ray Arata has used with such companies as Verizon, Bloomberg, Moody's, Intel, Toyota, Hearst, and more—a male-modeled, real-solutions approach by and for men to increase diversity, bolster the bottom line, and create a culture so everyone in the workplace wins.

Showing Up is a “how-to” book for men in organizations seeking to be better allies and leaders. The book also gives guidance to HR, Diversity & Inclusion Professionals on how to engage their men in diversity efforts. With stories that illuminate common missteps, followed by key learning sections, and deep-dive training exercises to support the development of allyship, Showing Up turns good intentions into specific actions you can implement immediately.

For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as a Kindle edition and as an Audiobook.

About the Author

Ray Arata is an award-winning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leader and speaker, consultant, and trainer, with global clients from PwC to Verizon to Toyota to Bloomberg. He founded the Better Man Conference for the development of healthy masculinity and men as allies and partners. He was recognized by UN Women in 2016 as a HeForShe Champion for Change and received the Ron Herring 2020 award.

His new book is Showing Up: How Men Can Become Effective Allies in the Workplace. 

Learn more at RayArata.com and BetterManConference.com.

More books by this Author.