EP. 141: Q&A with Renee: How Leaders Address Disrespect, Feedback Resistance, and Workplace Culture

What do you do when employees are glued to their phones during meetings, refuse feedback, or repeatedly communicate with sarcasm and disrespect? In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson answers leadership questions about phone use in meetings, self-awareness, workplace respect, and disrespectful communication. She encourages leaders to address problematic behaviors directly and to set clear expectations, rather than ignoring issues and complaining about them later. Renee explains that some employees are open to feedback and growth, while others may not be capable or willing to change, requiring leaders to make difficult decisions. She also emphasizes that respect and belonging mean different things to different people, so leaders should ask better questions to better understand their teams. Tune in for practical, real-world strategies on building accountability, improving communication, and creating a healthier, more respectful workplace culture! About Dr. Renee Thompson: Dr. Renee Thompson is a leading authority on creating healthy work cultures by eliminating bullying and incivility in healthcare. With more than 31 years of experience as a clinical nurse, educator, quality manager, and executive leader, she has become one of the most sought-after experts on workplace culture. As CEO and Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute, Renee works with healthcare organizations worldwide to equip leaders with the tools they need to cultivate professional, respectful, and supportive teams. Renee is a published author, award-winning speaker, and one of only 30 nurses worldwide to earn the Certified Speaking Professional designation. She also serves on The Joint Commission’s Workplace Violence Technical Advisory Panel and has been recognized globally for her thought leadership and advocacy. What You’ll Learn In This Episode: Leaders should address disruptive behaviors directly instead of ignoring them. Phone use during meetings should be managed through clear expectations and consistent accountability. Not everyone is equally capable of self-awareness or behavioral change. Open-ended questions create better conversations about respect, belonging, and workplace culture. Ongoing coaching and follow-up are essential when addressing repeated disrespectful behavior. Links & Resources: Connect with and follow Dr. Renee Thompson on LinkedIn. Learn more about the Healthy Workforce Institute on their LinkedIn and website. Trust Matters More than Ever - Book Learn more about the Framework here! Learn the 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior here! Buy Renee Thompson’s book Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility here! Grab a copy of Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! here. Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here! Have a question for Renee? Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode! Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases. Liked this episode? Rate, review, and share with your colleagues. Your support helps us reach more healthcare leaders working to create better work environments.