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Ever had a manager who responds to every problem with "Just think positive!" or "Don't worry about it"? What might seem like cheerful leadership can actually be toxic positivity in disguise—and it's causing real damage in workplaces everywhere.

In this eye-opening episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma dive deep into a listener's struggle with a company leader who consistently shuts down discussions about workplace issues.

While well-intentioned, this avoidance of negativity leaves team members feeling dismissed and problems festering below the surface.

We unpack why this approach is actually dangerous—setting bad precedents, eroding trust, and preventing both individual growth and organisational improvement.

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

Ready to transform your leadership transition? Listen now for practical strategies to shift perceptions, build authentic authority, and create a team dynamic based on mutual respect rather than intimidation

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to the Human-Savvy Podcast Episodes >>>>

Do YOU have any questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or professional in need of advice on interpersonal dynamics, team leadership, or other related areas? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)

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What happens when the leader of a healthcare team begins to crumble under the weight of self-doubt? A nursing manager with ten staff members has written to us with a heart-wrenching confession: despite giving their all, they feel they're constantly letting down their team. Every facial expression, every sigh from staff feels like judgment—even though no one has actually said anything negative.

This powerful episode explores the dangerous territory of assumption-based leadership, where we project our worst fears onto our team's neutral reactions. Dr Liv and Dr Emma dive deep into the concept of Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)—those insidious mental shortcuts that convince us everyone is judging us, when often we're really just judging ourselves.

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to recognise to signs of burnout
• About a different phenomenon - boreout
• How to recognise and approach the Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)

Ready to transform your leadership transition? Listen now for practical strategies to shift perceptions, build authentic authority, and create a team dynamic based on mutual respect rather than intimidation

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to the Human-Savvy Podcast Episodes >>>>

Do YOU have a questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or a professional in need for some interpersonal/team dynamics/leadership advice? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)

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Our special guest today is Dr. Belinda Hopper.

She shares her leadership journey as the founding director of Animalius Veterinary Hospital in Western Australia, revealing how leadership requires balancing thriving and surviving while creating a workplace where staff can breathe, be seen, and feel valued.

The Human-Savvy Team is deeply grateful for Belinda's openness, vulnerability, and energising spirit. She's a true role model of supportive and emotionally intelligent (human-savvy!) leadership.

Enjoy this conversation!

Click here to learn more about Belinda and Animalius >>>

Click here to find leadership resources connected to the Human-Savvy Podcast Episodes >>>>

Do you know a super supportive leader in your industry who deserves a shout-out? Tell us about them!

Please send us an email at info@behumansavvy.com with the title "A great leader", and we promise to reach out to this person and, if they would like that, interview them!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

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Stepping from "one of the team" into a leadership position presents a unique challenge that can leave even the most competent professionals feeling frustrated and confused.

In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma explore this delicate transition through the experience of a newly promoted leader who finds himself trapped in an awkward middle ground – his colleagues who once treated him "like a little brother" now ignore his directives while simultaneously treating him as their conduit to upper management..

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to prepare for the conversation between you and your teammates where you establish the new way of working together: from preparing your leadership vision beforehand to creating space for team input, establishing mutual expectations, and inviting accountability.
• The "give and take" framework that transforms leadership from a hierarchical position to a reciprocal relationship.
• How to maintain positive connections while establishing necessary boundaries.

Ready to transform your leadership transition? Listen now for practical strategies to shift perceptions, build authentic authority, and create a team dynamic based on mutual respect rather than intimidation

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to the Human-Savvy Podcast Episodes >>>>

Do YOU have a questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or a professional in need for some interpersonal/team dynamics/leadership advice? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)

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Few leadership challenges are as demanding as balancing compassion for a struggling team member with the protection of overall team morale.

This nuanced challenge takes centre stage as Dr Liv and Dr Emma explore the case of a practice owner grappling with how to support an experienced doctor who's returned from a two-year hiatus with shattered confidence.

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

In this episode, you will learn:

• about the impact of one person's self-criticism and self-doubt on the whole team
• a strategic approach to managing such situations
• what leaders should do before they can effectively help others navigate complex feelings

Whether you're currently facing a similar situation or simply want to develop more sophisticated leadership capabilities, this discussion offers practical wisdom for handling those moments when being both compassionate and protective feels like walking a tightrope.

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to the Human-Savvy Podcast Episodes >>>>

Do YOU have a questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or a professional in need for some interpersonal/team dynamics/leadership advice? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)

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Have you ever wondered why one team struggles to keep their members while others thrive under very similar workplace conditions? This episode tackles a common leadership challenge: high turnover and disengagement.

In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma dive deep into the "Triple S Approach" – a powerful framework for understanding workplace satisfaction through three essential dimensions: Safe, Seen, and Stimulated.

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

In this episode, you will learn:

• that the most revealing insights often emerge from the gap between how leaders perceive a situation versus how team members experience
• how to perform a systematic investigation process in which you can gather perspectives without bias, identify recurring themes among people's perspectives, and create action plans that address root causes rather than symptoms
• practical questions to ask in surveys and one-on-one conversations that reveal what's really happening beneath the surface.

Whether you're managing a struggling team or simply want to enhance workplace satisfaction, this episode provides concrete strategies backed by emotional intelligence research. Join us to discover how skilled leaders can transform team dynamics by asking better questions and seeing employees as whole humans rather than just their output or mistakes.

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to this episode >>>>

1. FREE RESOURCE: The “Triple S” of employee retention
2. THE ADVANCED LEADERSHIP RESOURCE -> TEAM CULTURE
   & WELLBEING SURVEY

Do YOU have a questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or a professional in need for some interpersonal/team dynamics/leadership advice? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)

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Ever notice how one person's complaint can spread through your team like wildfire? You're not alone. Workplace venting is a natural human behaviour that serves important psychological functions, but when left unchecked, it can create an avalanche of negativity that drains everyone's energy.

This episode provides a practical framework for transforming these potentially toxic interactions into productive problem-solving sessions.

In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma explore the science behind why we vent – from seeking emotional release to building connection with others – and reveal how leaders can respond effectively without becoming emotional sponges.

The centrepiece of our discussion is the "3-minute De-monstering Method," a structured approach that gives people space to express their feelings while guiding them toward solutions. You'll learn exactly what to say when someone appears in your doorway ready to unload their frustrations, how to validate emotions without amplifying negativity, and specific questions that activate the logical brain after emotional venting.

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

In this episode, you will discover how to:

• Manage venting and complaining in the team while making everyone feel heard
• Protect your own energy as a leader

Whether you're a team leader drowning in complaints or someone who wants to vent more productively, these evidence-based techniques will transform how you approach difficult workplace conversations.

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to this episode >>>>

THE ADVANCED LEADERSHIP RESOURCE -> How to turn venting into "healthy debrief"

Do YOU have a questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or a professional in need for some interpersonal/team dynamics/leadership advice? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)

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We've all been there – returning from an inspiring conference bubbling with ideas, only to face blank stares and polite nods from our teams. One listener shares their frustration after introducing concepts like autonomy and micro job crafting to teammates who seemed completely uninterested. What causes this disconnect between our enthusiasm and our team's reception?

In this episode, Dr Liv and Dr Emma discuss the leadership must-haves of building trust in a team and motivating people to try new things.

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Liv Oginska >>> )

(click here to contact / learn more about Dr Emma McConnell >>> )

In this episode, you will discover:

• the must-haves of building trust with your team
• the must-haves of igniting intrinsic motivation in people

Whether you're struggling with team buy-in or preparing to introduce your next big idea, this episode provides the frameworks and practical steps to move from frustration to successful implementation.

Click here to find more leadership resources connected to this episode >>>>

1. FREE LEADERSHIP GUIDE - BUILDING TRUST
2. THE ADVANCED RESOURCE -> How to motivate and positively influence people

Do YOU have a questions for Human-Savvy?

Are you a leader or a professional in need for some interpersonal/team dynamics/leadership advice? We are here to help you!

Please send your letter to info@behumansavvy.com with the title "Dear Human-Savvy..." and we promise to fully anonymise it and record an episode entirely devoted to tackling your challenge!

Also, we deeply value your feedback. Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to info@behumansavvy.com or follow and message Dr Liv on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-liv-oginska-53b345200

Find your FREE RESOURCES here >>> (click)