Sorry, this page is no longer available
Sorry, this page is no longer available
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Laura Crawshaw, Ph.D, BCC and Kirsi Aulin, MS, LMFT, ABW

What does it take to successfully manage abrasive workplace behavior? It takes courageous intervention paired with psychological insight, otherwise known as Management Backbone. This course provides step-by-step guidance on how to confidently and compassionately intervene to stop the individual suffering and organizational disruption caused by abrasive workplace behavior.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO ABRASIVE WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR
Welcome to Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior with Backbone. In this first module, you’ll learn what constitutes abrasive workplace behavior, the suffering it causes, and what drives individuals to behave abrasively.
Read more

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone . These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Employee Relations Specialist
An Employee Relations Specialist is primarily responsible for resolving workplace conflicts, investigating complaints, and ensuring fair and consistent application of company policies, often dealing with sensitive and difficult situations. The course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," is profoundly relevant to the work of an Employee Relations Specialist as it provides a robust framework for addressing the very behaviors these professionals are tasked with mitigating. Learning about what drives individuals to behave abrasively and understanding the impact of their actions on coworkers and the organization is foundational. Moreover, the step-by-step guidance on courageous conduct intervention, including strategies for dealing with defensiveness calmly and confidently, directly enhances an Employee Relations Specialist's ability to manage challenging situations effectively and compassionately.
Conflict Resolution Specialist
A Conflict Resolution Specialist facilitates communication and negotiation between parties to help them find mutually acceptable solutions to disputes, often within an organizational context. This course is directly aligned with the core responsibilities of a Conflict Resolution Specialist. "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" provides a deep understanding of the causes and impacts of interpersonal friction and disruptive behavior, which are often the root of workplace conflicts. The course's emphasis on "courageous intervention paired with psychological insight" offers a strategic approach to de-escalating tension and addressing underlying issues. The detailed guidance on the five steps of conduct intervention and how to deal with defensiveness calmly and confidently provides invaluable tools for a specialist to mediate complex situations, reduce suffering, and restore productive working relationships.
Human Resources Business Partner
A Human Resources Business Partner works closely with business leaders to align HR strategies with organizational goals, serving as a trusted advisor on talent management, employee relations, and workforce planning. For a Human Resources Business Partner, the "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course is incredibly relevant. This role frequently involves advising leaders on complex employee issues, including managing disruptive behaviors that impact team performance and morale. The course provides essential psychological insights into what drives abrasive behavior and the suffering it causes, enabling an HRBP to offer more informed and empathetic guidance. Furthermore, the practical, step-by-step approach to courageous conduct intervention, including dealing with defensiveness, empowers an HRBP to coach leaders effectively, ensuring they can confidently and compassionately address challenging situations and maintain a productive work environment.
Human Resources Manager
A Human Resources Manager plays a pivotal role in fostering a healthy and productive workplace environment by overseeing employee relations, conflict resolution, and policy implementation. This course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," directly addresses a core challenge for this role: effectively handling employees whose conduct causes friction and disrupts organizational harmony. The course's focus on understanding what constitutes abrasive behavior, the suffering it causes, and the psychological drivers behind it provides critical insight. It also equips a Human Resources Manager with the "Management Backbone," a foundation for courageous conduct intervention, offering step-by-step guidance on confidently and compassionately intervening, dealing with defensiveness, and restoring organizational flow. This preparation is invaluable for ensuring a positive workplace culture.
Leadership Development Specialist
A Leadership Development Specialist designs and implements programs to enhance the capabilities of an organization's leaders, focusing on skills like communication, team management, and conflict resolution. The course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," is profoundly relevant for a Leadership Development Specialist. The course explicitly targets employees in leadership roles who can "inflict especially deep wounds," and provides the "Management Backbone" required to stop this. By understanding the suffering caused by abrasive behavior and the psychological insights behind it, a specialist can better equip leaders to prevent and address such issues. The step-by-step guidance on courageous conduct intervention and managing defensiveness offers practical tools for developing leaders who can effectively maintain a respectful and productive work environment, preventing disruption and fostering positive team dynamics.
Director of Talent Management
A Director of Talent Management is responsible for an organization's overall talent strategy, including recruitment, performance management, leadership development, and employee retention. This role often requires an advanced degree. The "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course is highly beneficial for a Director of Talent Management. Abrasive behaviors can significantly impact employee motivation, performance, and retention, directly affecting talent management outcomes. Understanding the drivers of such behavior, the suffering it causes, and the importance of courageous intervention provides crucial insights for shaping a positive work culture. The course's emphasis on building "Management Backbone" and effectively addressing difficult conduct offers strategies that can be integrated into leadership development programs and performance management frameworks, ensuring that talent thrives in an environment free from disruptive interpersonal friction and organizational disruption.
Workplace Investigator
A Workplace Investigator conducts impartial inquiries into allegations of misconduct, harassment, or violations of company policy, playing a critical role in maintaining a fair and compliant work environment. The "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course is highly relevant for a Workplace Investigator, as it illuminates the nature of abrasive workplace behavior, the suffering it causes, and its underlying drivers. This understanding is crucial for conducting thorough and empathetic investigations. While the course focuses on intervention, the principles of identifying abrasive conduct and understanding its impact directly inform the investigative process. Furthermore, the emphasis on courageous conduct intervention and dealing with defensiveness can help investigators navigate challenging interviews and gather information effectively, ensuring that their findings lead to appropriate and compassionate resolutions for organizational disruption.
Executive Coach
An Executive Coach partners with leaders to enhance their performance, leadership skills, and decision-making, often addressing complex interpersonal and organizational challenges. This role often requires an advanced degree or certification. The course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," is highly beneficial for an Executive Coach. Leaders often struggle with managing difficult employees or even recognizing their own abrasive tendencies. The course's focus on "courageous intervention paired with psychological insight" directly supports a coach's ability to guide executives through such sensitive situations. Understanding the drivers of abrasive behavior, the suffering it causes, and the step-by-step guidance on confident and compassionate intervention provides a coach with a robust framework to empower their clients. This knowledge can help executives develop the "Management Backbone" necessary to lead effectively, fostering healthier team dynamics and reducing organizational disruption.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist
A Diversity Equity and Inclusion Specialist works to create an inclusive and equitable workplace culture where all employees feel welcome, respected, and valued. Abrasive workplace behavior often creates environments where individuals feel marginalized or attacked, directly undermining DEI efforts. The "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course is invaluable for a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Specialist. By understanding what constitutes abrasive behavior, the suffering it causes, and its psychological drivers, a specialist can better identify and address behaviors that impede inclusion. The course's emphasis on courageous conduct intervention provides a framework for addressing microaggressions, bullying, or other disruptive behaviors that create an unwelcoming atmosphere. This knowledge helps the specialist contribute to building a truly inclusive culture by proactively reducing interpersonal friction and ensuring a respectful environment for everyone.
Corporate Trainer
A Corporate Trainer designs and delivers educational programs to employees, focusing on skills development, compliance, and professional growth across various topics. The "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course is highly relevant for a Corporate Trainer, especially one specializing in leadership, communication, or employee relations training. The course provides a comprehensive curriculum on understanding, identifying, and effectively intervening in abrasive workplace behaviors. A trainer can leverage the course's insights into the psychological drivers of such behavior and the step-by-step guidance on courageous conduct intervention to develop impactful workshops. This equips leaders and employees with the practical tools and "Management Backbone" needed to foster a more respectful and productive work environment, reducing interpersonal friction and organizational disruption by promoting effective communication and proactive conflict resolution skills throughout the organization.
Learning and Development Manager
A Learning and Development Manager designs, implements, and manages training programs to enhance employee skills, performance, and career growth, directly impacting organizational effectiveness. The course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," is highly relevant for a Learning and Development Manager. The course provides a structured approach to addressing behaviors that erode motivation and disrupt work, offering insights into psychological drivers and effective intervention strategies. A manager in this role can leverage the course's content to develop and deliver training modules for leaders and employees on identifying, preventing, and managing abrasive conduct. The "Management Backbone" framework and the steps for courageous conduct intervention are invaluable tools for cultivating a culture where employees are equipped to address interpersonal friction proactively, enhancing overall workplace communication and collaboration.
Organizational Development Specialist
An Organizational Development Specialist focuses on improving an organization’s effectiveness, health, and capacity to change, often by optimizing structures, processes, and culture. This role often requires an advanced degree. The course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," may be useful for an Organizational Development Specialist because abrasive behaviors can significantly erode motivation and disrupt work, directly impacting organizational health and productivity. Understanding the drivers of such behavior and the suffering it causes provides valuable context for assessing organizational dynamics. The course's emphasis on Courageous Conduct Intervention and its impact on abrasive individuals, their coworkers, and the greater organization aligns with the specialist’s goal of fostering a more functional and cohesive workplace culture, helping to design interventions that promote positive change.
Ethics and Compliance Officer
An Ethics and Compliance Officer ensures that an organization adheres to legal standards, internal policies, and ethical guidelines, often involving the investigation and remediation of misconduct. This role typically requires an advanced degree in law or a related field. The course, "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone," may be helpful for an Ethics and Compliance Officer, particularly in understanding behaviors that violate codes of conduct. Abrasive behavior can often cross into areas of harassment or bullying, which fall under the purview of compliance. The course's modules on what constitutes abrasive behavior, the suffering it causes, and the need for courageous conduct intervention provide context for developing and enforcing ethical standards. While the course focuses on management intervention, the insights into the impact of such behavior on the organization contribute to a comprehensive approach to fostering an ethical and compliant workplace culture, reducing organizational disruption.
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager oversees the daily activities of an organization or department, ensuring efficiency, productivity, and the smooth flow of work. This role involves significant team management and problem-solving. While not their primary focus, abrasive employee behavior can severely disrupt productivity and the smooth flow of work, directly impacting an Operations Manager’s responsibilities. Therefore, the "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course may be useful for an Operations Manager. Understanding how to identify and address behaviors that cause interpersonal friction, as well as learning about the psychological insights behind them, can help in maintaining team cohesion and efficiency. The course’s guidance on courageous conduct intervention can equip an Operations Manager with strategies to confidently address disruptive behavior, fostering a more harmonious and productive operational environment, ultimately reducing organizational disruption caused by interpersonal issues.
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for leading projects from conception to completion, which involves coordinating teams, managing resources, and mitigating risks to ensure successful delivery. This role requires strong leadership and interpersonal skills. The "Manage Abrasive Workplace Behavior With Backbone" course may be useful for a Project Manager because abrasive team behaviors can significantly impede collaboration, communication, and project timelines. Project managers often navigate complex team dynamics and address interpersonal friction that erodes motivation. Understanding the psychological insights behind abrasive behavior and developing a "Management Backbone" for courageous conduct intervention can equip a Project Manager to confidently address team members whose actions disrupt progress. This helps in maintaining a cohesive and productive project team, ensuring a smoother workflow and minimizing the organizational disruption that often arises from unresolved interpersonal issues within project teams.

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Focuses on the employee experience, providing insights into how to create a positive and productive work environment.
Save
Pink explores the science of motivation, arguing that intrinsic motivators like autonomy, mastery, and purpose are more effective than traditional rewards and punishments. is essential for understanding what truly drives employees in the modern workplace and how to create an environment that fosters engagement.
Provides a framework for measuring the effectiveness of HR practices.
Provides a comprehensive overview of human resource management in Chinese, including employee management.
A solid introductory text to human resource management, this book covers the essential functions and practices. It is suitable for those seeking a broad understanding of how HR principles apply to managing employees effectively. Often used as a textbook, it provides a good starting point for students and new managers.
Uses a fable format to illustrate common pitfalls that prevent teams from performing effectively. It focuses on building trust, managing conflict, fostering commitment, embracing accountability, and focusing on results. It's a highly popular and accessible read for understanding team dynamics, which is crucial for employee management.
Offers a framework for providing effective feedback, emphasizing the importance of caring personally while challenging directly. It is highly relevant for managers looking to improve their communication and coaching skills. This contemporary and popular book that provides practical guidance for day-to-day employee interactions.
A classic in management literature, Drucker's book focuses on the practices that make an executive effective, including time management, prioritization, and decision-making. While not solely focused on employee management, the principles outlined are fundamental for any manager seeking to optimize their own performance and, by extension, their team's.
Comprehensive guide to employee management, covering all aspects of the field from recruiting and hiring to performance management, employee relations, and compensation and benefits.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser