What happens when an employee who once brought energy, ideas, and initiative to the team starts pulling back?
Sometimes what looks like employee disengagement may have started with an everyday interaction. A comment from a leader can unintentionally cause someone to question whether their ideas are valued, whether they should speak up, or whether there is room for them to grow.
In this episode of The Dr. Ginny Show, Dr. Ginny Baro talks with Bridget Smith, author of Why Did You Say That? Five Things That Managers Say That Stifle Creativity, about leadership communication mistakes that can quietly affect confidence, creativity, and employee engagement.
Drawing on more than 30 years in corporate America, Bridget shares five common phrases leaders use, often with no ill intent, and what employees may hear when those words land differently than expected.
For senior leaders, the conversation goes beyond choosing better words. It raises a larger question: What are people learning about their value, ideas, and potential from the way they are being led?
Listeners will learn:
How everyday leadership communication can cause talented employees to pull back or stop speaking up
What leaders can say instead when they need to challenge an idea, redirect someone, or encourage a different approach
How to create an environment where employees feel valued, contribute their ideas, and continue growing
As organizations navigate AI, transformation, and constant disruption, leaders need people willing to think differently, contribute their judgment, and challenge old ways of working. Continuous Elevation™ requires leaders to examine not only what needs to change in the business, but also how their own leadership behaviors may need to evolve.
About Bridget Smith
Bridget Smith brings more than 30 years of corporate experience across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and governance. She is a regional sales manager in biotech and the author of Why Did You Say That? Five Things That Managers Say That Stifle Creativity. Her work examines how everyday leadership language can affect the people we lead and how greater awareness can help leaders create environments where people feel seen, valued, heard, and able to contribute.
Connect with Bridget:
📩bridgett1881@gmail.com
🌐LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgettsmith2911
ABOUT THE DR. GINNY SHOW
The Dr. Ginny Show explores how senior leaders and executives continuously elevate themselves, their teams, and their organizations in a world of constant change and disruption.
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