Institutional Courage
Institutional Courage is “an institution’s commitment to seek the truth and engage in moral action, despite unpleasantness, risk, and short-term cost. It is a pledge to protect and care for those who depend on the institution. It is a compass oriented to the common good of individuals, institutions, and the world. It is a force that transforms institutions into more accountable, equitable, effective places for everyone.”
Institutional Cowardice
Institutional Cowardice is an institution’s failure to take necessary action, often out of fear of repercussions, which exacerbates betrayal and harm. It can manifest as individuals hiding behind rules, a deliberate “calculated inaction,” or a refusal to address issues, even when they are aware of them. This concept is the opposite of institutional courage, which involves an institution taking responsibility, transparency, and support for those it has harmed.
Institutional Betrayal
Institutional Betrayal is where an institution “is harming those dependent on the institution. [This includes] the failure to prevent or respond supportively to wrongdoings within the institution when there is a reasonable expectation of protection. The harm of institutional betrayal is both pragmatic and psychological.”
What institutions can do:
If you are working with institutions that have a responsibility and role in protecting the survivor(s) you are working with, but have failed to do so, there are several things you can do as an advocate to assist them in moving away from institutional cowardice and betrayal, and towards institutional courage.
Having conversations around and encouraging these institutions to:
Commit to seek truth and engage in moral action, despite unpleasantness,
risk, and short-term cost.
- Comply with civil rights laws and go beyond mere compliance; beware of oversensitive/defensive risk management.
- Educate the institutional community (especially leadership).
- Add checks and balances to the power structure and diffuse highly dependent relationships.
- Respond well to victim disclosures (and create a trauma-informed reporting policy).
- Bear witness, be accountable, apologize.
- Cherish the whistleblowers; cherish the truth tellers.
- Conduct scientifically sound anonymous surveys.
- Regularly engage in self-study.
- Be transparent about data and policy.
- Use the organization to address the societal problem.
- Commit ongoing resources to numbers 1 through 11.
From Center for Institutional Courage, Visit External Link
If you have questions on how to build trauma-informed, institutionally courageous sports organizations, reach out to The Assist at [email protected].
