Posts by Bonnie Artman Fox
3 Motivators to Turn Around Abrasive Behavior and Improve Your Leadership Credibility
To effectively turn around abrasive behavior, leaders must develop self-awareness and be open to feedback. In this post, you’ll discover how one COO recognized her abrasive leadership style, took action to change, and replaced harsh tactics with respect and interpersonal skills, ultimately transforming her leadership credibility. It was a comment I never thought I’d hear,…
Read MoreWhat daily habit are you practicing to be the leader you want to be?
I’ve been reflecting on something powerful James Clear says in Atomic Habits because it applies so well to daily leadership habits. “Making a choice that is 1 percent better or 1 percent worse seems insignificant in the moment, but over the span of moments that make up a lifetime, these choices determine the difference between…
Read MoreSetting Boundaries with an Abrasive Boss: A Story of Courage and Change
Setting boundaries with an abrasive boss is essential for maintaining your self-worth, as illustrated by the story of Anna, a client who bravely navigated the challenges of an unpredictable work environment. Anna worked with a leader whose behavior became increasingly unpredictable and abrasive. One day, everything seemed fine; the next, Anna was walking on eggshells,…
Read MoreFeedback Done Right: 3 Tips to Avoid Abrasive Feedback & Create Psychological Safety
To avoid abrasive feedback while maintaining psychological safety, it’s essential to communicate in a way that fosters growth without causing discomfort or offense. Many leaders think they can’t give constructive feedback and maintain psychological safety at the same time. Just last week, during a leadership training, a leader asked me, “How do I give feedback…
Read MoreWhen Thank You Feels Awkward: 4 Strategies to Give Genuine Appreciation
If you’re finding it difficult to give genuine appreciation to your team, you’re not alone—many leaders struggle with expressing gratitude in a way that feels authentic. Recently, a leader asked me, “Why should I praise employees for doing their job? They’re getting paid, isn’t that enough?” It’s a common sentiment. Many leaders feel appreciation is…
Read More5 key considerations when setting boundaries and addressing abrasive behavior
Addressing abrasive behavior in the workplace is crucial for fostering a respectful, productive environment. Tell me, have you ever overheard a conversation like this at work? “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you.” — “What do you mean?” “He’s in one of those moods.” — “The wrath of Jim mood?” “Yes.” — “Thanks…
Read MoreHow to Walk Your Talk to Be Both a Smart and Healthy Leader
Walk your talk is one of my core values. It is a privilege to work with executive leaders, helping them lead themselves effectively so they can, in turn, lead their teams and organizations with excellence. I hold this responsibility in high regard. That’s why having an inner circle of like-minded colleagues who also value “Walking…
Read More5 tips to use curiosity to improve interpersonal skills
We have two options when faced with a problem or personnel issue. We can either resolve it and figure out why it’s happening in the first place or ignore it, hoping it will go away on it’s own. The later usually leads to bigger problems down the road. The better way is to use curiosity…
Read MoreHow Interpersonal Skills Improve Interpersonal Relationships
Recently, while camping (actually – glamping) with our grandsons, we had a moment that showed how interpersonal skills improve relationships and how important they are for building good relationships. One of our grandsons was playing with the fire, poking it with a big stick and then swirling the stick with the burning tip in the…
Read MoreThe Impact of Abrasive Behavior on Employee Well-being
Addressing the impact of abrasive behavior of top-performing talent often takes a backseat. As an executive leader, the complexity of balancing outstanding results with a harmonious work environment can leave you wondering “Do I prioritize operational excellence over interpersonal harmony?” 4 Facts About Abrasive Behavior Leaders Should Know 1. Decreased Ability to Be Productive “Why…
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