Leading Professionally in a Toxic Workplace with Karen Pierce

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It can be hard to know how to navigate a really tough environment as a leader. This is how one woman did it really well.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On today’s episode, host Jeff Mask sits down with Karen Pierce, CEO of</span> <a href= "https://kmpconsultants.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">KMP Consultants</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, to talk about best practices in leadership and how to deal with tough, even toxic, work environments. Karen and Jeff met at an event where Karen told him, “we speak a very similar language.” It’s true. They do. The bottom line? They both believe deeply that leadership is all about putting people first. It’s not as much about skills and getting things done. It’s about developing people, inspiring them, motivating them. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Karen heard someone say once: “You can’t be a leader if nobody’s following you. And if nobody’s following you, you’re just out on a nice walk.” </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listen in for some great examples of leading well when things aren’t going so great. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What Karen Does Now and How She Got Here</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Karen helps leaders in organizations navigate change by developing an environment where people can thrive and have fun, feel valued, like they have a place, like they’re a part of the organization, not just someone who gets assigned a task.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Work doesn’t have to be a four-letter word, she says. It should be rewarding and affirming. We spend at least a third of our waking hours there. Rather than endure it to the weekend, we should feel like we’re contributing to something better than ourselves. As we look at this Great Resignation, employees are voting with their feet. If we don’t create an environment where they can thrive, they’re heading somewhere else. </span></p> <p>