Crucial Skills | Management & Accountability

When Your Teenager Stops Listening | How to Rebuild Trust and Influence

Few situations test our communication skills like a teenager who stops listening and starts pulling away. Joseph Grenny responds to a concerned parent whose daughter has

From Overwhelmed to Focused | How to Clear Your Mind and Get More Done

What if having too much to do isn't actually the reason you feel overwhelmed? Justin Hale, author and consultant at Crucial Learning, sits down with productivity expert

Debunking Psychological Safety: The Difference Between Discomfort and Danger

Have you ever had a boss who talks about psychological safety but still makes you feel tense when you’re around them? Justin Hale, co-author of Crucial Accountability an

The Cost of Avoiding Difficult Conversations | Why Speaking Up at Work Matters

Avoiding a Crucial Conversation can come with both a price and a cost. But what’s the difference between the two? Scott Robley, VP of Learning Solutions at Crucial Learn

How to Confront a Workplace Bully | 8 Tips to Address Bad Behavior

Why do we put up with bullies at work? And how do we stop letting it happen? Brittney Maxfield, Sr. Director of Growth Marketing at Crucial Learning, breaks down a liste

Why Motivation Isn’t Enough | The Six Sources That Drive Behavior Change

People may not resist change as much as they resist being changed—or failing at it. Scott Robley, speaker, coach, and master trainer at Crucial Learning, argues that peo

Stop Venting, Start Talking | How to Handle Workplace Conflict Directly

Have you ever had someone stop by your desk just to vent about work, leaving you to deal with all their baggage? Justin Hale, co-author of Crucial Accountability, unpack

How to Say No: GTD Skills for Managing Work and Life

Most of us are carrying a lot more tasks than we realize. And it's slowly ruining our focus.  Justin Hale, co-author of Crucial Accountability, is joined by David Allen,

How to Negotiate Salary After a Job Offer | Advice from Joseph Grenny

You got the job offer! But the salary doesn't match the role, the cost of living in your city, or your expectations. What do you say? Joseph Grenny, a co-author of Cruci

Victim or Villain? How to Stop Your Thoughts from Sabotaging Your Crucial Conversations

Imagine your manager sends a message that says, "We need to talk." What story does your brain instantly write?  Scott Robley dives into what may be one of the most perso

What to Do When Your Boss Is a Bully

What do you do when your boss is a bully? Emily Gregory, a co-author of Crucial Conversations and a Crucial Learning speaker and consultant, responds to a reader who has

Healthy Boundaries, Stronger Relationships | How to Speak Up Without Burning Bridges

We've all experienced people crossing our boundaries, both in our professional and personal lives. How do we set and maintain those boundaries without settling? Joseph G

Leadership Confessions: Accountability Skills to Set New Leaders Up for Success

Brittney Maxfield sits down with Justin Hale, co-author of the newly released third edition of Crucial Accountability, to discuss why so many new managers struggle in the

Turn Conflict into Connection | The Relationship Skills Every Team Needs

Relationships are the currency of high-performing teams, families, and communities. But, today, we're struggling more than ever to build and sustain them.  Authors Justi

How to Deal with a Passive-Aggressive Boss

When a manager communicates vaguely and then gets upset when their expectations aren’t met, the workplace can quickly become a source of frustration. Crucial Conversatio

Why AI Implementations Fail | The Behavioral Fix Most Leaders Miss

What happens when organizations invest heavily in AI tools only to watch them underperform, or fail, altogether?  Joseph Grenny is joined by JaeLynn Williams, a leader w

A Manager's Guide to Delivering Tough Performance Feedback

What do you do with an employee who believes they're excelling, but the data tells a different story?  Justin Hale, coauthor of Crucial Accountability, tackles this prob

Confessions of a New Manager: How to Set Your New Leaders Up for Success

Stepping into a management role for the first time is harder than most new bosses let on, and harder than most employees realize.  Joseph Grenny shares findings from a s

How to Handle Criticism Without Getting Defensive | Three Practical Ways to Turn Feedback Into Growth

Have you ever heard the phrase "constructive criticism" and immediately felt your guard go up? You're not alone. For many people, feedback feels personal, uncomfortable,

Feedsmacked: Crucial Skills to Receive Tough Feedback

Most of us have spent years learning how to give feedback well, but what about when you're on the receiving end of something unexpected or blunt?  Joseph Grenny looks ba