Interview with the Boss Whisperer

by Catherine MatticeJan 24, 2018

I don’t know if you knew this, but I offer one-on-one coaching to “workplace bullies” specifically, through a method created by Dr. Laura Crawshaw.

Dr. Laura Crawshaw created her coaching method, what she calls Boss Whispering, from years of coaching over 450 abrasive leaders. (She prefers “abrasive leaders” over “workplace bullies” because the later signifies intent, though she discovered through her interactions with these folks that their behavior is far from it. And I have discovered the same.)

If you’re curious to hear more about Boss Whispering, hear it from the grand master. She spent 15 minutes chatting with me about it.

Laura Crawshaw Interview: Coaching Those Who Engage in Workplace BullyingP.S. If you want to learn more about what drives abrasive leaders, what the process of coaching entails, and the three steps you can follow to intervene as a manager or HR, sign up for my webinar on February 8 at 1 pm PST.

See you there!

Catherine

#LinkedInLearning

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is President of consulting and training firm, Civility Partners, and has been successfully providing programs in workplace bullying and building positive workplaces since 2007. Her clients include Fortune 500’s, the military, several universities and hospitals, government agencies, small businesses and nonprofits. She has published in a variety of trade magazines and has appeared several times on NPR, FOX, NBC, and ABC as an expert, as well as in USA Today, Inc Magazine, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, and more. Catherine is Past-President of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), San Diego Chapter and teaches at National University. In his book foreword, Ken Blanchard called her book, BACK OFF! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, “the most comprehensive and valuable handbook on the topic.” She recently released a second book entitled, SEEKING CIVILITY: How Leaders, Managers and HR Can Create a Workplace Free of Bullying.

4 Types of Visionary/Integrator Partnerships

by Catherine Mattice | October 15, 2025 | Leadership | 0 Comments

[Caution: Random string of thought ahead. It leads to some good stuff though. Promise!] As a parent, I think a lot about the different roles I play in my kids’ lives. Sometimes I’m their biggest cheerleader, shouting “Yes!” from the rooftops. Other times I offer firm...

What the Heck is a Super-Facilitator? And Why Your Team Needs One

by Catherine Mattice | October 8, 2025 | Leadership | 0 Comments

Harvard Business Review recently published an article called Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator. It's a good read for anyone interested in building strong, inclusive, high-performing teams. I’d never heard this phrase before… have you? Nonetheless, the article...

FREE Webinar: Creating Inclusive Workplaces

by Catherine Mattice | September 17, 2025 | DEI | 0 Comments

What was once applauded as both smart business and the right thing to do has suddenly become controversial. Yep, I’m talking about DEI. It’s disheartening to see that what was once celebrated is now being treated as expendable. But when inclusion takes a back seat, so...

Navigating the Era of “Quiet DEI”

by Catherine Mattice | September 10, 2025 | DEI | 0 Comments

Companies across industries are changing how they talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Not too long ago, DEI was splashed across annual reports, websites, and conference stages. Now? The phrase itself has become a political lightning rod, and many...

3 Cultural Faux Pas You Might Not Realize You’re Making

by Catherine Mattice | September 2, 2025 | DEI | 0 Comments

Cultural missteps happen to everyone, even the most seasoned leaders and global brands. Recently, American Eagle launched a campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney with the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes.” The pun on “jeans” was meant to be playful, but it...

HR, Are You Part of the Incivility Problem?

by Catherine Mattice | August 28, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

You already know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of workplace “drama.” Complaints about rudeness, tension between team members, and employees quietly disengaging are all part of the daily grind. You know it’s expensive. You know it’s draining for you to...

4 Strategies to Infiltrate Civility Into Your Global Organization

by Catherine Mattice | August 20, 2025 | Civil & Healthy Workplaces | 0 Comments

At its core, civility is the foundation of a thriving culture. It shapes how people communicate, lead, resolve tension, and show up, especially when challenges arise. Civility doesn’t look the same everywhere, however. What feels respectful in one culture might come...

Is It Okay To Bully AI?

by Catherine Mattice | August 13, 2025 | Workplace bullying | 0 Comments

According to a Pew Research Center study, 79% of Americans interact with artificial intelligence (AI) almost constantly or several times a day. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of enterprises will be using generative AI in some form. That means we’re not just...

What Exactly is Civility vs. Incivility?

by Catherine Mattice | August 6, 2025 | Civil & Healthy Workplaces | 0 Comments

August is National Civility Month! Civility has recently climbed to the top of search trends, and with SHRM’s #CivilityAtWork initiative, the conversation is gaining real traction. But here’s the question: do you truly understand what civility means in the workplace?...

Is your workforce survey measuring the right things?

by Catherine Mattice | July 30, 2025 | Civil & Healthy Workplaces | 0 Comments

Many HR leaders rely on employee surveys to gauge the health of the workplace culture, but not all surveys are created equal. Whether you're using an engagement survey, a Great Place to Work® survey, or another tool, the question is: Are you gathering the right data?...