Candor & Courage At Work®

Sure, Whatever: Addressing Passive Aggression at Work | Ep20

As a leader, you don't have a choice. You have to have the hard conversations. In this episode, we're addressing feedback from two listeners about our recent series on managing underperformers: * I'm afraid the underperformer will quit if I bring it up, and I can't afford to lose them. * What if *I* am the problem? Then we shift into something that shows up in every workplace: passive aggressive behavior, what it actually looks like, and how to address it directly without blowing up the relationship. If you've been tiptoeing around a difficult person at work, this episode will help you figure out your next move. Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com [http://candorandcourageatwork.com] & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude [http://linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude]

Facts Over Feelings: A Leader's Guide to Addressing Underperformance | Ep19

Every day you avoid the underperformer conversation, you're sending a message to your whole team. In this episode, we’re sharing how to finally address it the right way. We walk through how to analyze the situation and the data, how to have the actual conversation, and why documentation and follow-up are non-negotiable.  We're also sharing two real stories of when underperformers went unchecked, so you can see these principles in action.  If you've been avoiding the conversation with an underperformer, this episode will help you feel more prepared and confident to address it. Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com [http://candorandcourageatwork.com] & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude [http://linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude]

Managing Underperformers: The Conversations Most Leaders Avoid | Ep18

If you've never had an underperformer, you are a leadership unicorn! It's something every people-manager deals with at some point in their career, and how you handle it impacts the whole team. In this episode, we walk through how to handle underperformance before it spirals, including: the honest questions every manager needs to ask themselves first, how to consider the full context around an employee's performance, and what to do when you really feel like you've tried everything. Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com [http://candorandcourageatwork.com] & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude [http://linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude]

Showing Up Fully Without Running on Empty | Ep17

How do you balance a meaningful career with being present for your family, without completely depleting yourself in the process? In this episode, we talk with the winner of our goal-setting contest about her biggest challenge for 2026: refilling her energy bucket so she can show up fully for the things and people that matter most to her.  It's a candid conversation about building meaningful professional connections while protecting what you need to show up fully at home. If you've ever felt like your own needs always come last, this conversation offers both recognition and some permission to approach things differently. Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude]   00:00 Introducing Our Guest, Elena Skorupan 05:46 Elena’s Priorities for 2026 07:34 Deepening Relationships at Work 13:34 Refilling Personal Energy Buckets 16:28 Denise and Maggie’s Commitments for 2026

Ditch the Resolutions, Actually Follow Through on Your Goals | Ep16

If you're tired of setting goals only to abandon them by “Quitter’s Friday” (the second Friday in January), this episode is for you.  We're sharing a better way to approach goals (that actually makes them stick), inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, lessons from legendary coach Nick Saban, and our own experiences. Denise opens up about how one candid moment helped her break a lifelong habit of procrastination. We also break down why most workplace goals fail (hint: it's not about willpower) and what to do instead. If you want to turn your 2026 resolutions into REVolutions, this episode will help you take the first step. Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude]