Abrasive leaders rub their coworkers the wrong way. Commonly referred to as workplace bullies, their destructive management styles erode motivation, engagement, innovation and productivity.
But getting them to stop being abrasive?
Now that’s the challenge.
Maybe you’ve tried talking to them, giving them feedback, setting boundaries, standing up to them, sending them to training, or even bringing in a coach or complaining to HR/their boss.
But their capacity to defend and justify themselves seems limitless. All too often they turn the tables on one: they’re not the problem, you/others are.
The reason these approaches don’t work is that they are rooted in profound misconceptions on who the abrasive leader is, why they do what they do, what it takes to get them to see and care about their impact, as well as what it takes to motivate them to change.
To solve the problem of abrasive leaders we need to start by dispelling the myths about them.
And then use abrasive-leader specific strategies.
will cover:
Each webinar will be
- 30 minutes of teaching
- 30 minutes of Q&A.
These are educational webinars. There is no upsell or offer at the end.
But yes, I do coach abrasive leaders.
Anyone who would like to explore possible coaching with me – either for themselves, or for a leader they manage – is welcome to schedule a confidential follow-up call with me.
When you register, you subscribe.
You’ll receive a few emails from me on how I work with abrasive leaders, so you get a sense of who I am and whether I can help.
You’ll also receive my newsletter as a subscriber.
In addition, you’ll receive webinar-specific emails with the Zoom links, links the recordings afterwards, and a few reminders that the webinars are happening.
- I take privacy seriously. I never share names, emails or other personal information with anyone else.
- While I request you register with your real name, you are welcome to use a pseudonym and/or or be off camera for the webinar itself.
- You will not be asked to identify yourself if you want to ask a question. And your question will not be included in the recording.
Register using the form below. You’ll get access to what you need to participate in the webinars, and access to the recordings after.
When you register for one webinar, you register for all three. Attend whichever ones you wish.
Register
Rough Diamond or Poison in the Water?
The Conundrum of Abrasive Leaders
This webinar has happened.
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They’ve been called snakes in suits, hyena’s, psychopaths and many other names.
But are they?
I’m no apologist for abrasive leaders (a.k.a. “bullies”). They cause hurt and harm – even trauma – to both the individuals affected and the organization as a whole.
And…failing to understand them means we consistently apply the wrong solutions and use strategies that won’t work.
In this webinar we’ll cover:
- What they do and why they do it
- Why they “don’t see”
- The origins of abrasive leaders: myths and realities
- The dynamics of defensive aggression: Threat, Anxiety, Defense
Register using the form below. You’ll get access to what you need to participate in the webinars, and access to the recordings after.
When you register for one webinar, you register for all three. Attend whichever ones you wish.
Register
Webinar 2
Protecting the Organization’s Mission:
How to Intervene with an Abrasive Leader
Webinar has happened.
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Many HR leaders and managers feel challenged with what to do with an abrasive leader who is too good to fire, too expensive to keep, and who has been resistant to change and feedback on their interpersonal style.
In this webinar we’re going to watch two scenarios play out: an unsuccessful intervention and a successful intervention.
And then we’ll draw out the lessons learned in each.
You’ll walk away armed with how to respond to their highly predictable defensiveness, and how to avoid bruising fact battles that you can’t win.
Not in a position of authority? I still encourage you to attend. Here's why.
Yes, ultimately it is only those who have authority over the abrasive leader who have the real power to intervene.
But even if you are not in a position of authority over the leader, I encourage you to attend this webinar as understanding what management needs to do to intervene effectively (and why they so often don’t) will help you as you develop your own strategy and approach (Webinar 3).
In this webinar we’ll cover cover:
- Why managers don’t intervene