Episodes

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa answers a listener question about working in a startup where team goals keep shifting, priorities are repeatedly changed, and progress seems impossible. She explores the difference between healthy flexibility and chronic instability, why constant swings drain morale and productivity, and how employees can raise the issue in a way that stays focused on business outcomes rather than understandable frustration. Christa then shares practical strate...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa answers a listener question about a manager who gossips constantly and creates an uncomfortable, unprofessional work environment. She explains what habitual workplace gossip often signals about insecurity, control, and team culture, why it damages trust and psychological safety, and how employees can respond without getting pulled into the behavior. Christa then offers practical guidance for setting boundaries, documenting harmful patterns, and...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa answers a listener question about a manager who keeps asking different people the same question until he hears the opinion, number, or client story he wants. The episode explores why this behavior damages trust, undermines expertise, creates ethical risk, and teaches teams to go silent. It also offers practical steps for documenting patterns, responding with clarity, protecting data integrity, and escalating concerns when necessary. Key Takeawa...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses how to handle a manager who plays favorites, creating a toxic team environment. Learn strategies to navigate favoritism, maintain professionalism, and foster a fair workplace. Key topics include the effects of favoritism on team morale, strategies for addressing favoritism, legal and policy resources for fairness, and the importance of a team culture. Key Takeaways · Favoritism demotivates teams and dam...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses how to handle workplace overload caused by a manager demanding excessive reporting tasks, despite available tools and organizational focus on client success. It offers strategies for setting boundaries, understanding organizational structures, and maintaining performance and engagement. Key takeaways · Set clear boundaries with your manager about your role and responsibilities. · &nb...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo discusses strategies for managing a chaotic boss, focusing on creating structure, aligning goals, and understanding underlying behaviors and personality patterns to improve workplace dynamics. She also offers practical tips and resources for employees dealing with disorderly and disruptive leadership styles. Key Takeaways · Force structure by connecting your boss's goals to team work through weekly status meeting...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses how to handle a boss who belittles and demeans employees, focusing on strategies for emotional relief, understanding power dynamics, and seeking resources. Key Takeaways · Power dynamics set the groundwork for abuse in the workplace · There are strategies for emotional relief and support · Understand your resources and policies for addressing toxic beh...

Summary This episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo explores how to manage stress caused by a stressed-out boss, emphasizing the importance of self-care, recognizing stress signals, and organizational support strategies. Key takeaways · Understanding the importance of recognizing stress signals early · The role of HR in supporting stressed employees and managers · Practical steps to help teams ma...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo discusses how to handle a perfectionist boss, exploring the impact of perfectionism on team dynamics and providing practical strategies for employees to manage such challenging workplace relationships. Key takeaways · Perfectionism is about unattainable standards that can harm team morale. · Managing expectations and setting boundaries is crucial when dealing with perfectioni...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo explores the challenges of effective listening in the workplace, especially when dealing with managers who do not seem to listen. She provides practical strategies to improve active listening, enhance communication, and foster better understanding at work. Topics include: the importance of active listening in the workplace, common barriers to effective listening and how to overcome them, practical techniques to improve listening and being...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses a listener question about an employee feeling like their boss is holding them back as the boss prepares for retirement. She explores how employees can navigate situations where their manager seems to hold them back, especially during a manager's transition to retirement. The discussion offers practical strategies for maintaining development momentum and understanding managerial behaviors. Key takeaways · &nbs...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa explores the challenges of being underemployed while also having more management training than your boss. It offers practical strategies for leveraging your skills, realigning expectations, and turning frustration into constructive action. Key topics include underemployment and its impact on career satisfaction and strategies to leverage management training in a lower-level role. Key takeaways · Leverage your managemen...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's question about managing a likable but ineffective boss. This episode is focused on ways to enable a manager to support growth and development for the team’s career paths. Christa emphasizes the importance of effective feedback and offers actionable strategies for employees to initiate coaching discussions with their boss so the boss can improve. Christa highlights the significance of leveraging the manager's likeabi...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa, Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concern about their manager's poor feedback skills. She emphasizes the importance of effective feedback in management and discusses the challenges of coaching a manager. Christa outlines the art and science of feedback, providing practical advice on how to approach the situation and improve communication. She also shares valuable resources for further learning and development in feedback skills. Key Takeaways · ...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concern about their boss's lack of meetings and the implications of this dynamic on workplace engagement. She emphasizes the importance of purposeful meetings, the need for connection between employees and managers, and the potential consequences of infrequent communication. Christa provides insights into how meeting frequency should align with the employee's role, tenure, and the nature of their work, while al...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's question about dealing with a difficult boss who belittles a new team member. She emphasizes the importance of documenting such behavior, understanding workplace policies, and knowing employee rights. Christa provides actionable steps for reporting misconduct and highlights various resources available for employees facing workplace bullying. (she also thanks the listener and teammates for looking after a co-wor...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concern about her boss assigning her work that belongs to him, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and recognizing one's value in the workplace. Christa provides actionable steps to shift the mindset, help employees reclaim their roles and navigate the complexities of workplace dynamics, especially when dealing with bad bosses. Key Takeaways · Most people aren't prepared ...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, a listener explains that they do not like their boss and asks how to handle it. Christa discusses the challenges of managing relationships with people you may not like and offers practical advice for those facing these situations. Additionally, she shares valuable resources to help listeners navigate their workplace challenges effectively. Key Takeaways · Most people aren't prepared to become a manager. · &...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concern about job boredom and the challenges of waiting for a promotion. She emphasizes the importance of open communication with managers and offers strategies to stay engaged at work while waiting for new opportunities. The episode concludes with resources for further reading on managing workplace boredom and preparing for career advancement. Key Takeaways · Boredom at work is common...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's question about the distinction between a job and a career and how to talk about them in a way that works for you. She emphasizes that it's perfectly acceptable to love a job without labeling it as a career. Christa discusses the evolving nature of careers, the importance of self-reflection on personal strengths, and how to articulate one's job in a way that aligns with career aspirations. She also provides reso...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concern about feeling at a standstill in their job with no possible development ahead. She discusses the emotional journey of loving a job and then feeling stuck due to a lack of advancement opportunities. Christa emphasizes the importance of recognizing job stagnation and provides strategies for seeking new opportunities and resources for career development. She encourages listeners to explore organizations th...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Dr. Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's question about feeling ready for a promotion and needing to convince their manager they deserve the promotion. Christa discusses the importance of understanding the promotion process, the role of readiness, and the value of a formal development plan. She emphasizes that promotions should be based on an employee's readiness to succeed in a new role rather than just mastering their current position. Additiona...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concerns about feeling stagnant in their career despite having qualifications, experience, and an upcoming promotion. The listener shares how setbacks, including layoffs and a lack of challenging opportunities, led to feelings of being stuck. Christa emphasizes the importance of shifting perspectives on career stagnation, encouraging listeners to recognize their progress and prepare for future opportunities. Sh...

Summary In this episode of Ask Christa!, host Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's question about career development amidst budget cuts and organizational uncertainty. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and creativity in navigating these challenges and provides practical strategies for self-development without a formal budget. Christa also highlights the need for clarity in communication regarding promotions and development plans, encouraging listeners to seek out free resources a...