Blog

3 ways to Shift Team Culture from Blame to Responsibility

By Bonnie Artman Fox / March 27, 2025
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How do you shift team culture from blame to responsibility when you notice a team member struggling to take ownership of their actions? Maybe when a project doesn’t go as planned, you hear a range of reactions, blame, excuses, minimizing, or deflecting, that ultimately stall progress and block accountability. As Dr. Henry Cloud wisely put…

Blueprint for Managing Abrasive Leaders Effectively

By Bonnie Artman Fox / February 6, 2025
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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? When employees feel disrespected, they…

3 Motivators to Turn Around Abrasive Behavior and Improve Your Leadership Credibility

By Bonnie Artman Fox / October 17, 2024
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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,…

Setting Boundaries with an Abrasive Boss: A Story of Courage and Change

By Bonnie Artman Fox / October 1, 2024
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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,…

Feedback Done Right: 3 Tips to Avoid Abrasive Feedback & Create Psychological Safety

By Bonnie Artman Fox / September 19, 2024
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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…

How to Walk Your Talk to Be Both a Smart and Healthy Leader

By Bonnie Artman Fox / August 8, 2024
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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…

The Impact of Abrasive Behavior on Employee Well-being

By Bonnie Artman Fox / July 18, 2024
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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…

Managing Abrasive Behavior: A Blueprint for Success

By Bonnie Artman Fox / June 27, 2024
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Leaders often face the challenge of managing abrasive leadership, where high-performing executives with abrasive behavior create workplace tension. Finding the right balance between productivity and a harmonious environment is crucial for effective leadership, leaving you to wonder… “Do I prioritize operational excellence over interpersonal harmony?” This week, we’re focusing on a critical aspect of leadership:…

What to Do When Replacing a Leader is Costly and When NOT Replacing a Leader is Costly

By Bonnie Artman Fox / May 2, 2024
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Managing abrasive leaders can be a daunting challenge, especially when replacing them proves costly, but understanding the underlying dynamics can lead to healthier workplace relationships and better outcomes. Several years ago, I was in the play The Dining Room, a dramatization of several different families as they grow, as people die, as life happens, all…

5 Steps to motivating abrasive leaders to change

By Bonnie Artman Fox / October 11, 2023
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If you are on the verge of losing valued employees because of a top-performing leader’s abrasive behavior, you’ll appreciate the following 5 steps to motivating abrasive leaders to change. Perhaps you’ve heard complaints from employees as they head for the door:   TEAM MEMBER A tells you she’s leaving because of repeatedly being yelled at in…