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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…

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5 tips to use curiosity to improve interpersonal skills

By Bonnie Artman Fox / August 1, 2024
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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…

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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…

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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…

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Helping Teams Through Transitions: 4 Effective Strategies

By Bonnie Artman Fox / April 4, 2024
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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…

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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…

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Does the look on your face create psychological safety with your employees?

By Bonnie Artman Fox / July 27, 2023
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Most leaders don’t learn how to create psychological safety until it’s too late. The skillset necessary to strategize your business plan, create systems, and monitor metrics is not the same skillset necessary to retain employees to run your day-to-day operations. That’s why having interpersonal skills that create psychological safety with your employees is so important.…

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Why self-control is the engine of your success

By Bonnie Artman Fox / July 20, 2023
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Do you have a goal you’ve been striving for but haven’t yet reached? Whether it’s finishing a project, addressing team dysfunction, or having a tough conversation, self-control is the engine of your success. It’s the driving force that keeps you focused and persistent, and tools like the If-Then Plan can help you harness that power…

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How To Stand Up To An Abrasive Boss While Staying Level Headed And Respectful

By Bonnie Artman Fox / July 13, 2023
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Imagine having to stand up to an abrasive boss known for angry, emotional outbursts and knee-jerk reactions regardless of who’s around. Now imagine, you’re in a meeting with your boss and peers discussing a project timeline. Each person plays a role in contributing to the project.   Suddenly your boss starts yelling about the project being…

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Overcome Conflict Avoidance – Nicole Greer Podcast Episode Highlights

By Bonnie Artman Fox / June 22, 2023
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Recently, I had the privilege of joining Nicole Greer on her Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast.  We discussed the critical role healthy conflict plays in creating supportive work environments. It was a fun, dynamic conversation filled with actionable insights on how to overcome conflict avoidance. We had a great back-and-forth conversation about the crucial role…

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