Human resources specialist Kimberly Williams is extremely dedicated to building safe, inclusive cultures and she joins me to explore the challenges of dealing with toxic CEOs and workplaces, generously sharing her own experiences of speaking truth to power.
Kimberly arrived at HR via an unconventional route: first as a history professor and then a diplomat in the US Foreign Service before falling ‘head over heels in love’ with HR and all the messy people stuff it brings. We discuss the many ways a toxic workplace can show itself, the difficult power dynamics that impact managers, and the role of HR in shaping corporate culture. It’s a remarkable, candid conversation full of practical actions we can take to protect ourselves, our teams and our company cultures.
Leadership language matters - from hard conversations to detailed notes
Why you should listen: How to challenge leadership complacency
Hard but necessary leadership confrontation
We explore speaking truth to power
Leadership actions in a time of conflict
Courageous leadership conversations and their ripple effect
Navigating leadership power dynamics
Take action
Watch your words - this can diffuse a toxic situation
Tip of the week is from People Stuff, of course, and it comes from the Q&A section of the book specifically about managing up and the tip is to assess a difficult situation and try to identify what is triggering the survival behaviours you are seeing?
About Kim Williams
Instrumental in fostering Walker Advertising’s inclusive and award-winning culture, Vice President Kim Williams is responsible for all aspects of people operations. Recognized for her integrity and interpersonal skills, Kim has also been acknowledged for her creative approaches to recruitment and retention. She has an unparalleled reputation for navigating turbulence and change as well as nurturing positive relationships with colleagues at all levels of an organisation. She began her HR career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State where she tackled complex personnel challenges, negotiated at the United Nations in Vienna, and received awards for her precedent-setting work in diversity and inclusion. With a passion for community service, Kim lives Walker’s unique core values that holds social responsibility and innovation as foundations for growth.
Key moments
Planet Human: Marc Andreessen's Techno Optimist Manifesto and the advent of techno-topia city projects.
Planet Zoë: Back from Canada and happy to complete the last edits of Olympus Bound, the sequel to the Olympus Project.
Toxic Workplaces and How to Identify Them (00:07:18)
Guest Kimberly Williams discusses how toxic workplaces can manifest through both overt and subtle behaviours.
Causes of Toxic Workplaces (00:08:07)
The lack of difficult conversations and fear of retribution prevent managers from addressing issues, leading to the deterioration of the organisational environment.
Dealing with Toxic Workplaces as an Individual (00:11:05)
Kim advises individuals to take detailed notes to document their experiences and protect themselves when navigating a toxic workplace.
Document everything (00:12:14)
Putting complaints in writing, citing company policies, can be a powerful way to address toxic behaviour and secure one's position.
The toxic workplace and dealing with toxic CEOs (00:31:19)
Discussion about toxic workplaces, the harm caused by toxic CEOs, and the approach to addressing the issue.
Misconceptions about HR (00:32:26)
Exploration of the types of issues HR deals with, including the majority being people struggling with lack of self-awareness, and common misconceptions about HR.
The role of HR in managing culture (00:36:21)
Discussion about HR's role in contributing to and influencing organisational culture, creating psychological safety, and providing insights to executives.
HR's struggles and toxic workplaces (00:43:43)
Conversation about the struggles HR professionals face and the reputation of HR, as well as the signs of a toxic workplace.
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About your host, Canberra leadership expert Zoë Routh:
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to navigate future horizons.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture sessions with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a near future science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing Big Ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run six marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.