Hey friends! I'm back with an eye-opening chat about toxic workplaces. Have you ever felt that quiet dread before a meeting? Or wondered if your workplace could really change? My guest today is Catherine Mattice, a leading expert on navigating unhealthy company cultures. Catherine pulls back the curtain on subtle bullying behaviors we often miss, like smear campaigns and public shaming. She explains why abrasive leaders keep getting promoted despite the damage they cause. And she equips us with practical strategies to heal teams, from coaching toxic managers to creating psych safety. If you've dealt with gaslighting at work or stayed silent to keep the peace, this conversation will re-ignite your hope. Let's dive in!

In this episode, you will be able to:

Decode toxic work environments and create a healthier workplace culture.

Spot workplace bullying behaviors and foster a respectful work environment.

Mitigate the negative impact of abrasive leaders on team well-being.

Foster psychological safety to enhance team collaboration and innovation.

Cultivate healthier team dynamics for improved productivity and employee satisfaction.

My special guest is Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners’ clients range from Fortune 500's to small businesses across many industries. Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought-leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She’s an award-winning speaker, author and blogger, and has 50+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning. Catherine’s award-winning book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, was hailed by international leadership-guru, Ken Blanchard, as, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.” Her latest book is Navigating Toxic Work Environments For Dummies (Wiley).

The key moments in this episode are:
00:02:19 - Recognizing Toxic Behaviors in the Workplace

00:08:00 - Overcoming Gaslighting and Competence Questioning

00:10:39 - Shifting Toxic Culture in Organizations

00:13:22 - Misalignment of Organizational Values

00:02:55 - Impactful Conversation with Kathryn Matthias

00:13:54 - Challenging Narratives and Toxic Work Environments

00:15:33 - Dangers of Abrasive Leadership

00:19:37 - Perception and Behavior Change

00:23:25 - Impact of Workplace Bullying

00:25:37 - Uncovering Blind Spots in Organizations

00:27:02 - The Purpose of Core Values

00:29:02 - The Cost of Toxic Behavior

00:32:23 - The Importance of Self-Awareness

00:37:00 - Reimagining HR for Culture Management

00:38:56 - Preparing for Keynotes and Leadership

00:40:01 - Evolution of Workplace Trends

00:41:37 - Humanizing the Workplace

00:42:24 - Supporting Victims of Workplace Bullying

00:44:32 - Encouraging Empathy and Kindness

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