Blueprint for Managing Abrasive Leaders Effectively

Is Managing Abrasive Leaders Effectively 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?

When employees feel disrespected, they disengage. When they disengage, they leave.

So how do you address the issue while retaining top talent?

Strategies for Managing Abrasive Leaders Effectively

One key strategy from the Transform Conflict Blueprint is setting clear limits and consequences:

Address the behavior with direct feedback. Instead of brushing off complaints, acknowledge them and make it clear that how work gets done is just as important as the results.

Try this: “I’ve received multiple complaints about interactions with employees. Whether you see it or not, these concerns are real and affecting our culture. Moving forward, this behavior has to change, or we’ll need to take further action.”

This sets a boundary while reinforcing their value, helping them understand that professional behavior is non-negotiable.

If you’re navigating the challenge of managing an abrasive high performer, I’ve put together a free resource to help.

Download the Transform Conflict Blueprint to learn how to take action effectively.

By following this blueprint, you will elevate your team’s performance and create a culture of respect and collaboration that attracts and retains top talent.

Make the Conscious Choice to address abrasive behaviors and create a respectful, collaborative work environment.

About the author 

Bonnie Artman Fox, MS, LMFT works with executive leaders who want to gain self-awareness about the impact of their words and actions and up-level their interpersonal skills. 

Drawing from decades as a psychiatric nurse and licensed family therapist, Bonnie brings a unique perspective to equip executive leaders with the roadmap to emotional intelligence that brings teams together. 

Bonnie’s leadership Turnaround coaching program has an 82% success rate in guiding leaders to replace abrasive behavior with tact, empathy, and consideration of others. The end result is a happy, healthy, and profitable workplace…sooner vs. later.