Blog
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 how to make homemade crescent…
Read MoreThe 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 how early family experiences can…
Read More
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, Anna was walking on eggshells,…
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 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 More
The Power of Apology: Restoring Harmony and Making Wrongs Right
Before my current role as an Executive Coach, I was a Marriage & Family Therapist. I worked with individuals, couples, and families to repair long-standing conflicts restoring harmony in their lives. Most often, reconciling relationships was a privilege. This week, leading up to Mother’s Day, I am thinking of one particular client, Jane. Despite being…
Read More
Helping Teams Through Transitions: 4 Effective Strategies
Are you in a leadership role where you find yourself helping teams through transitions? Perhaps a new initiative was recently launched and your employees are struggling to adjust. As a result, morale is down and you’re concerned about the success of the new initiative. According to William Bridges, author of Managing Transitions: Making the Most…
Read More
5 Steps to motivating abrasive leaders to change
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…
Read More
What is a Fixer? The Costs and Benefits of Taking Charge
Have you ever found yourself stepping into a situation at work or at home, and taking on the task of solving other people’s problems? Perhaps at the expense of your time, energy, and even money, you tend to step in to save the day? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of constantly trying…
Read More