Civility Matters: Conversations on Rudeness, Respect and Workplace Culture

John O'Brien
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Civility Matters is a podcast about workplace civility, incivility, rudeness and the human side of leadership. Hosted by psychologist and speaker John O’Brien, the show features guests from business, healthcare, education, and public life who explore why rudeness happens, how it affects people and organizations, and what we can do to build more respectful workplaces and communities.    Each episode offers research-based insight and practical steps for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone working to reduce toxic behavior and strengthen trust. The show provides a regular reminder that how we treat each other at work isn’t a soft skill, but rather it is a strategic advantage.

Episodes

  1. Colt Briner on Purpose, Workplace Conflict, Toxic Culture, and Difficult Leadership

    APR 16

    Colt Briner on Purpose, Workplace Conflict, Toxic Culture, and Difficult Leadership

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Civility Matters, Colt Briner joins us for a discussion about purpose, workplace conflict, toxic culture, and the leadership behaviors that undermine trust and performance. Briner, author of “The Race to Relevance” and co-creator of the “Wayfinding” system, discusses how purpose helps people navigate work and life with greater clarity and alignment. We explore how rudeness, poor communication, and unhealthy power dynamics show up in teams and why addressing them early matters for both people and organizations.  Colt also shares practical strategies for leaders, HR professionals, and managers who want to improve workplace communication, strengthen leadership and respect, and create a healthier workplace culture. They explore how civility connects to purpose-driven leadership, why rudeness happens in organizations, and practical strategies for building more respectful workplaces. The conversation highlights that treating people well isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage grounded in purpose-centered messaging and human-centered leadership About Colt Briner: Colt Briner is a strategist, speaker, and creator focused on helping individuals and organizations reconnect with what makes them fully human. As the founder of an award-winning marketing agency and a senior marketing leader in healthcare, Colt has spent over two decades driving growth at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and purpose.  His work challenges conventional, performance-driven models by introducing more relational, intuitive, and holistic ways of thinking. Colt is the co-creator of Wayfinding, a reflective system designed to help people navigate life with greater clarity and alignment, and a leading voice behind the Invitation to Wholeness—an emerging body of work exploring the balance between logic and intuition, structure and flow, and the seen and unseen forces that shape our lives. Whether working with executive teams or individuals, Colt’s approach is rooted in a simple idea: the path forward isn’t something we force, it’s something we learn to sense, trust, and follow. Contact Colt at: https://coltbriner.com/ You can also contact him at: coltbriner@gmail.com For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at: www.activatesuccess.org www.rudenessrehab.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/ https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab

    29 min
  2. Dr. Dana Ackley on Emotional Intelligence, Rudeness, and Workplace Conflict

    MAR 26

    Dr. Dana Ackley on Emotional Intelligence, Rudeness, and Workplace Conflict

    Send us Fan Mail Civility Matters welcomes psychologist and emotional intelligence expert Dr. Dana Ackley for a conversation about rudeness, workplace conflict, and toxic polarization. Together, we explore how emotions shape reactions, fuel conflict, and can also be used to build empathy, better decisions, and braver conversations across differences. Dr. Ackley shares practical tools for recognizing triggers, managing impulses, and improving workplace communication in divided environments where respect and connection are often strained. Dr. Ackley explains emotional intelligence as the intelligent use of emotion, sharing practical tools for recognizing triggers, managing impulses, and humanizing “the other side.”  This episode offers hopeful, actionable insights for anyone tired of rudeness and ready to help repair our social fabric. Dr. Ackley's Bio: Dr. Dana Ackley is a psychologist who is an executive coach and author of the book “The Little Book to Save Humanity” published in 2024. In addition, he has a forthcoming book to be published soon, entitled “Emotional Intelligence for a Divided World (https://theeqpress.com).   Dana is an internationally recognized expert in Emotional Intelligence. He works as an executive coach to senior leaders in a variety of industries. Much of his current work is devoted to helping society overcome toxic divisiveness. For more information on Dr. Ackley: https://theeqpress.com/about-dr-ackley For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at: www.activatesuccess.org www.rudenessrehab.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/ https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab

    33 min
  3. Dr. Audrey Tang on Toxic Talk, Workplace Incivility, and Leadership and Respect

    MAR 26

    Dr. Audrey Tang on Toxic Talk, Workplace Incivility, and Leadership and Respect

    Send us Fan Mail Toxic Talk, Tired Teams features Dr. Audrey Tang and Dr. John O’Brien in a conversation about toxic talk, workplace incivility, and the ways unhealthy communication patterns damage workplace culture. They examine how gossip, emotional fatigue, and negative communication drain energy, weaken trust, and contribute to toxic workplace dynamics. This live session offers practical ideas for leaders, HR professionals, and business audiences who want to improve workplace communication, strengthen emotional intelligence at work, and create healthier relationships in the workplace.  Dr. Tang's Bio:  Dr Audrey Tang is a Leadership trainer, TEDx Performer/Speaker, Chartered Psychologist and multi-award-winning business author who focuses on practical tools for Wellbeing. With 30+ years teaching practical wellbeing tools in person and for the media, along with directing community theatre, she founded Wellbeing Media Studio broadcasting’s two shows: Mental Health Matters: Office Hours; and Mental Health Matters: After Hours globally with the e360tv Network. These and her other programs shine a spotlight on wellness and provide a visible opportunity and media support for academics and Thought Leaders.  Along with her coaching practice and mental/emotional fitness building workshops that she provides virtually and in person, she is the Founder and Chair of Trustees at CLICK Arts Foundation, a charity which gives grants to grassroots arts projects which build confidence, inclusivity and wellbeing.  She created and hosted the podcast Retrain Your Brain for Success (winner: Positive Change podcast awards); and The Wellbeing Lounge on NLiveRadio (winner of several awards). She also provided psychology contribution (on screen and off) to Channel 4's Don't Diet Lose Weight, and The Chrissy B Show.  She is a sought-after speaker, trainer coach and consultant who continues to give expert comment in the area of wellbeing to published and broadcast media. For more about Dr. Audrey Tang: https://www.draudreyt.com/ For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at: www.activatesuccess.org www.rudenessrehab.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/ https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab

    30 min
  4. Dr. Rob Fazio on Workplace Incivility, Toxic Workplace Culture, and Bullying

    MAR 26

    Dr. Rob Fazio on Workplace Incivility, Toxic Workplace Culture, and Bullying

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Civility Matters, performance psychologist and author Dr. Rob Fazio explores how workplace incivility, bullying, and rudeness erode trust, performance, and well-being. We look at the psychology of power, control, and fear, and discuss why abusive leadership and so-called “tough” management often create a toxic workplace culture. We discuss how to recognize early warning signs of a toxic culture, the hidden costs of tolerating bullies, and the risks for both individuals and organizations.  Dr. Fazio shares practical strategies for leaders, HR professionals, and managers who want to strengthen workplace communication, improve leadership and respect, and build a healthier culture where people feel safe speaking up. Dr Fazio's Bio: Dr. Rob Fazio is a psychologist, speaker and executive coach known for his candor and warmth. He is able to connect with people where they are and challenge them to get them to where they want to go. He places a premium on balancing behavior change with business outcomes.  Dr. Fazio is considered a turnaround expert as he is often called upon to tackle the thorniest organizational challenges and advise tough-minded alpha executives and elite talent, such as CEOs, surgeons, litigators, and wealth managers. He developed the Motivational Currency® Calculator, a self-assessment that helps people understand their own and their colleagues’ motivators and how to tap into that to facilitate improved communication and heightened collaboration.  A recognized expert in intentional leadership and protecting oneself and others from dysfunctional behavior, he penned two books, Simple is the New Smart and the WSJ bestseller, BullyProof: Using Subtle Strength to Influence Alphas and Strengthen Society.  His strategies have been featured in outlets including CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News and his thought leadership has appeared online and in print within publications including Success Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, and CEO Magazine. He is the founder and president of the nonprofit, Hold the Door for Others, that equips and challenges people to grow through loss, trauma, and adversity. More about Dr. Fazio: https://onpointadvising.com/ For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at: www.activatesuccess.org www.rudenessrehab.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/ https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab

    28 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

Civility Matters is a podcast about workplace civility, incivility, rudeness and the human side of leadership. Hosted by psychologist and speaker John O’Brien, the show features guests from business, healthcare, education, and public life who explore why rudeness happens, how it affects people and organizations, and what we can do to build more respectful workplaces and communities.    Each episode offers research-based insight and practical steps for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone working to reduce toxic behavior and strengthen trust. The show provides a regular reminder that how we treat each other at work isn’t a soft skill, but rather it is a strategic advantage.

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