Blog
Six Years on Eggshells: What Happened When a Manager Ignored the Bully
You can’t always control how someone treats you at work, but you can make conscious choices about how you respond, protect your well-being, and seek support. Have you ever dreaded going into work because you didn’t know what kind of treatment you would receive from a coworker? Maybe you’ve been publicly criticized, excluded from important…
Before Good Employees Quit: The Warning Signs of Abrasive Leadership
Employee turnover doesn’t always begin with a resignation letter, sometimes it begins with a leader’s behavior. One of your most dependable employees has become unusually quiet in meetings. Another has stopped offering new ideas. Someone who used to volunteer for challenging assignments now does only what’s required, and your strongest team members seem less engaged…
When Your Boss Is Abrasive: How to Stand Up for Yourself Without Losing Your Composure
Standing up to an abrasive boss is risky. Read further to learn what is at stake if you take stand with an abrasive boss.
High Performance Doesn’t Excuse Harmful Behavior: How Leaders Can Address Abrasive Employees
“They’re one of our best performers.” I’ve heard versions of this statement many times from leaders struggling with an abrasive employee. The person gets results. They have expertise the organization depends on. Clients value them. They generate revenue. And yet, coworkers often dread interacting with them. Their words are often condescending. Their feedback belittling and…
When Team Conflict Gets Heated: What Should a Leader Do?
The meeting starts normally. Then two team members disagree. Voices get louder, one person interrupts, someone makes a sarcastic comment, and before long, they’re blaming each other while everyone else in the room becomes increasingly uncomfortable. As the leader, what do you do? Ignore it and hope they’ll work it out? End the meeting? Jump…
When Problematic Employee Behavior Goes Unaddressed, Your Team Pays the Price
An employee comes into your office frustrated about a coworker. You’ve heard the complaint before. The interruptions, abrasive comments, blame, and the dismissive tone. You’ve hoped the two employees would work it out. Maybe you’ve offered suggestions, encouraged them to communicate, or tried to smooth things over. Yet here you are again. At this point,…
Can You Disagree Without Disconnecting? How Strong Leaders Navigate Differences at Work
Someone challenges your idea in a meeting. A direct report pushes back on your feedback. A colleague strongly disagrees with the direction you want to take. What happens next? For some leaders, disagreement creates an immediate urge to convince the other person they’re wrong. Others become defensive. Some retreat, smooth things over, or abandon their…
Why Some Workplace Conflicts Feel More Personal Than Others
Have you ever had a coworker or leader who could get under your skin faster than anyone else? Maybe it’s the way they dismiss your ideas. Their need to control every detail. Their defensiveness when you offer feedback. Or the way they become abrasive during a difficult conversation. You walk away frustrated, replaying the interaction…
The Self-Awareness That Sets You Free: How to Let Go of Workplace Negativity
During a move several years ago, I found boxes of outdated documents I’d been holding onto far longer than necessary. Old bank statements, tax forms from a decade ago, receipts for items I no longer owned, and information that served no purpose anymore. I decided to clear them out. Over three weeks, I took stacks…
The Hidden Skill That Transforms Problem-Solving: Curiosity
When faced with a problem or personnel issue, leaders have two options: Option 1: Resolve it and figure out why it’s happening in the first place. Option 2: Ignore it, hoping it will go away on its own. Most leaders choose Option 2. In the moment, it seems easier. You don’t have to have the…