Blog
Blueprint for Managing Abrasive Leaders Effectively
Is Managing Abrasive Leaders Costing You Great Employees? High-performing employees drive results, but when their behavior is abrasive, the cost to morale, engagement, and retention is undeniable. Many leaders hesitate to address the issue, after all, these individuals bring in revenue, lead projects, and deliver results. But at what cost?...
3 Ways to Say Goodbye to Gossip: Embrace Direct Communication Today!
Say goodbye to gossip to minimize conflict and divisiveness within your team. Imagine this scenario → During a team meeting, one employee shares a new idea, as two others roll their eyes. They say nothing in the moment, but after the meeting, they criticize and dismiss their colleague’s idea behind...
Beyond Knowledge: 7 Intangible Benefits of Being Mentored in Your Leadership Development
January is National Mentor Month so we're going to look at 7 Intangible Benefits of Being Mentored. And it would be interesting to know how mentorship has impacted you as a leader. Mentors stretch us, believe in us, and take us beyond where we could go on our own.They are...
How to Remove Yourself from Workplace Drama: Breaking Free from the Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer Roles
After a recent workshop that addressed how to remove yourself from workplace drama, a woman approached me with excitement and gratitude. She shared how our discussion seemed to speak directly to her experience in workplace dynamics. The workshop, based on my book How Did My Family Get In My Office?!,...
3 Ways Baking and Conflict Management Mix to make the Holidays Happy
What do holiday baking and conflict management share in common? First—what’s your favorite holiday cookie? While I’m not much of a baker (or cook), I’ve had the privilege of learning from friends and family who are true artists in the kitchen. My good friend Donna, for example, once taught me...
The Tru Leader Podcast – An Interview with Bonnie Artman Fox
Have you ever thought about how your family upbringing and life experiences impact your leadership development? I joined Tracy Christopherson, PhD, MS, BAS, RRT and Michelle Troseth, MSN, RN, FNAP, FAAN on The TRU Leader Podcast to discuss my journey from oncology nursing to family therapy and leadership coaching, and...
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...
What 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...
Setting 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,...
Feedback 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,...