VIDEOS
Ask Christa! What Does a Healthy Work Culture Look Like?
Summary
In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo explores the complexities of workplace culture, emphasizing the importance of employee engagement over mere satisfaction. She discusses how a healthy work culture is characterized by trust and respect, with a mindset that organizational performance is sustained by getting the best out of your employees each day, not the most out of your employees (which often leads to burn out and disengagement). She provides insights on how to identi…
Workplace Culture: It’s Bigger Than Satisfaction #business #leadership #success #work #career
Workplace culture is a competitive value-- a STRATEGIC value-- for a business. It drives WAAAAY more performance, failure, and success than, sadly, many leaders care to understand.
Culture is about the shared behaviors, norms, and values that shape how people work with and relate to one another.
Episode 18 of Ask Christa! Is LIVE and answers the question, "What Does a Healthy Work Culture Look Like? Check it out!!
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Ask Christa! Busi…
Giving feedback is SO UNCOMFORTABLE, especially to your boss-- check out the BIC model... #business
Check out Episode 16 that answers the question, "How do I get my boss to stop interrupting me in MY MEETINGS???"
TRUTH: if you have a good relationship with your boss, the best way to get your boss to stop interrupting you is to ASK.
I know it's uncomfortable to provide ANYONE feedback. I learned the BIC model years ago and still use it today: describe the observed Behavior, talk about the Impact of that behavior, then talk about what you'd like to see Cha…
Managing to your employees strengths makes your team (and your biz) competitive... #management
Episode 18 is LIVE and answers the question, "Does Management Training Matter?"
Yup, especially when you think of what management used to be like back when everyone thought managers should focus on developing an employees's weaknesses when in fact, managing to an employee's strengths is what makes the grade.
Check out this episode and follow my show Ask Christa! where I review the listener question, answer using practical tips, then offer additional resou…
Org Structure shouldn't kill your business! #business #smallbusiness #businessgrowth
Small and mid-sized companies often want the most effective strategies, yet several forego the more "boring" aspects of strategy: your organizational structure. Check out Episode 19, which focuses on why organizational structure matters!!
And check out my show Ask Christa! where I review the listener question, answer using practical tips, then offer additional resources (always in the show notes)!
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Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straig…
Ask Christa! Why Org Structure Matters!!! (E18 Bonus; S2E19)
Summary
In this episode, Christa Dhimo discusses the strategic role of organizational structures in business success. She explores various organizational structures, explains how they directly impact employee and organizational performance, and how org structures impact decision-making and employee empowerment. The conversation highlights the importance of aligning organizational structures with business goals to enhance innovation and overall performance.
Takeaways
• Employees…
(Ugh, do I REALLY need to talk to my boss about a coworker's bad behavior??) (yes, well, maybe...)
Check out Episode 17 that answers the question, "How do I stop putting up with bad behavior (put-downs) at work?"
Part of it is knowing your work policies-- and don't shut that down before you understand that many of them are upheld by employment law. Even if you work in a place that seems to disregard employment laws, your in-writing policies have more power than you may think or believe.
But-- yeah, if you have the trust with your boss, that's an import…
Going along to get along at work is draining-- especially with bad behavior at work #business
Check out Episode 17 that answers the question, "How Do I Stop Putting Up with Bad Behavior?" (this one is about someone who puts others down and thinks it's "funny")
Sometimes it's easier to just go along to get along, but that can be really draining also, especially if you feel you're compromising your values while at work.
Check out my show Ask Christa! where I review the listener question, answer using practical tips, then offer addition…
Defensive behavior at work can get to abusive levels... #business #leadership
In Episode 13, I answer a listener question asking how to give feedback to a defensive teammate. We've all been there. Aside from addressing the actual feedback you need to give, you also have to address the defensive behavior that occurs any time you are providing feedback. Defensive behavior can range from off-putting physical cues to outwardly abusive behavior—verbal insults, put-downs, yelling, withholding of information… silent treatment. None of that is appropriate in the workplac…
Interested in a management role? Here are the basics... #management #business #leadership
Episode 18 is LIVE and it answers the question, "Does Management Training Matter?"
Oh boy, yes it does-- we've all had nightmare managers, and ANY improvement would be a BIG improvement.
Here are some basics, and check out my show Ask Christa! where I review the listener question, answer using practical tips, then offer additional resources (always in the show notes)!
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Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real…
Ask Christa! Does Management Training Matter? S2E18
Summary
In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo discusses the critical importance of management training in today's workplace. She emphasizes that effective management is essential for organizational performance, team success, and employee retention, especially in matrix organizational structures. Christa outlines necessary skills that managers need to develop, such as active listening, diplomacy, and emotional regulation, and the significant impact that well-trained managers …
It's annoying to be interrupted, but there ARE times when an interruption is appropriate #business
Check out Episode 16 that answers the question, "How do I get my boss to stop interrupting me in MY MEETINGS???"
Not all interruptions are equal! There are times when it's appropriate-- even really HELPFUL-- when we are interrupted... but not when it's a power play from someone at work, especially if it's our boss...
Check out my show Ask Christa! where I review the listener question, answer using practical tips, then offer additional resources (alway…
We all AVOID giving defensive co-workers feedback, but there ARE WAYS to do it!! #business
Check out Episode 15 for a 10 minute crash course on how to give defensive co-workers feedback. As always, the segment includes a read-out of the listener question, my quick tips, then additional resources you can learn more from...
There ARE ways to give defensive employees feedback...
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Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real Impact
© 2025 Christa Dhimo in partnership with Impono LLC and 21st Century Strategies. Ask Chris…
Don't knock the power of your coworker feelings-- your influence and impact depends on it #business
Check out Episode 17 that answers the question, "How Do I Stop Putting Up with Bad Behavior?" (this one is about someone who puts others down and thinks it's "funny")
We've all seen their handy work at work, and some of us have had the great misfortune of having to deal with someone who puts others down at work.
And if you think it's dumb to think about your co-workers' feelings, think again. Your ability to influence and impact their w…
Ask Christa! How Do I Stop Putting Up with Bad Behavior at Work?
Summary
In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses a listener's concern about dealing with a disrespectful coworker whose style is to put others down. She emphasizes the importance of respect and dignity, and the impact respect and dignity has on organizational performance. She discusses how to understand and utilize harassment policies, encourages listeners to seek support and resources to address their challenges, and provides actionable advice on communicating with …
"Learned Helplessness" in #business business when employees give up because of #leadership
Episode 14 is out and it answers the question, "How can I introduce a new idea to a rigid team?" We've all been there: the super resistant team members, but an entire team? That's probably “Learned Helplessness," which is when employees LEARN that their efforts are of no use, that they have no control, and that even when it's in the organization's best interest: they will probably hear NO a lot from leadership.
When you have cultural issues, look a…
When dealing with a defensive co-worker, you don't always have to tip-toe around them... #business
When dealing with a defensive co-worker or employee, it's not JUST about how to frame an issue so they don't become defensive. It’s also about how to prepare yourself so you don’t have to work so hard to avoid someone’s defensiveness. It’s how to change your perspective in a way that works for you so you can speak your truth WHETHER the person becomes defensive or not.
Aim for lasting change and stronger boundaries-- you don't always have to tolerate highly defensive …
Do you have a coworker who is hyper defensive? Step 1: Don't React. The aim is to shut you down...
Season 2's Episode 15 is out-- in the 10 minute segment, I answer a question about how to give feedback to a defensive co-worker, and for starters: don't react. It’s easy to feel defensive after experiencing defensive behavior because that’s the point, and the first time you receive a defensive response, the aim from the other person is to shut what you said down, and shut you down so you won’t do that again. That neutralizes whatever threat the other person may feel.
And …
Got a boss that interrupts you in your meetings??? Here are some tips... #business #smallbusiness
Check out Episode 16 that answers the question, "How do I get my boss to stop interrupting me in MY MEETINGS???"
There are different ways you can address interruptions in the moment-- here's one of them, and check out my show Ask Christa! where I review the listener question, answer using practical tips, then offer additional resources (always in the show notes)!
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Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real Impact
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Ask Christa! How to I Stop My Boss from Interrupting Me in My Meetings???
Summary
In this episode of Ask Christa, Christa Dhimo addresses the challenge of being interrupted by a manager during your team meetings—in front of your team. She explores the concept of an interrupting culture, the reasons behind interruptions, including excitement, poor listening skills, and power dynamics. Christa provides practical strategies for managing such behavior, including setting ground rules for meetings and using a feedback model called BIC (Behavior, Impact, Change) to ad…
Tips to Manage Defensive Co-Workers (fear of giving feedback?) #business #coworking #leadership
We've all experienced the nightmare of working with a defensive teammate who can't handle ANY feedback-- or even help-- because they are so hyper sensitive. Here are some quick tips to manage defensive co-workers...
Check out the full 10-minute episode (S2E15) and additional resources available-- just released!
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Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real Impact
© 2025 Christa Dhimo in partnership with Impono LLC and…
The "Why Bother?" Culture creeps up on all of us (even the person who asked the question) #business
Episode 14 focuses on how to introduce a new idea to a team that resists new things or change. We see a lot of this in a “why bother?” culture...
In fact, the person who submitted this question is probably one or two years away from their own learned helpless—their own, “why bother” moment.
Of course, in the workplace, very few will actually say, “why bother”—instead, they’ll say things like, “Yeah, we tried that years ago and it didn’t work,” or “give it a few years, you’ll …
Tips to Manage Defensive Co-Workers (fear of giving feedback?) #business #coworking #leadership
We've all experienced the nightmare of working with a defensive teammate who can't handle ANY feedback-- or even help-- because they are so hyper sensitive. Here are some quick tips to manage defensive co-workers...
Check out the full 10-minute episode (S2E15) and additional resources available-- just released!
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Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real Impact
© 2025 Christa Dhimo in partnership with Impono LLC and…
There are key #negotiation skills we should all learn about in #business ...
Age-old negotiation skills include understanding the difference between the surface-level needs, or the asks in front of you, versus the underlying concerns—the REAL wants behind the negotiation.
The quicker you understand the underlying concerns, the smoother the negotiations tend to be (and the more brass-tacks, time-useful the process will be)
But you know what makes it much, much better? Easier?
Making sure we consider ourselves, too. What are OUR underlying con…