Today on Productive Joy, Dr. Christie interviews Teri Chilcoat—an HR expert, author, and “Clarity creator”—about surviving a toxic workplace by focusing on self-awareness, self-control, and self-care. Teri emphasizes that even when you can’t quit, you always have options, including building skills, pursuing hobbies, or creating a practical roadmap from a calm, rational mindset. 

Her book, Surviving the Toxic Workplace, centers on personal accountability, reclaiming power, and choosing how to react when leaders lack self-awareness, while also explaining how managers can improve through EQ, communication, and training. She shares how gossip worsened her situation and how gratitude and perspective shifts can change workplace Stress. Teri defines productive joy as helping others reach “aha” moments and offers her book via Amazon and a free two-chapter sample by texting POWER to 33777.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Meet Teri Chilcote

00:42 You Always Have Options

01:41 Roadmap Out of Stuck

02:52 Why the Book Focuses on Self

05:54 Managers and Self Awareness

07:58 Leading Up to Toxic Leaders

12:09 Gratitude and Taking Back Power

14:48 Defining Productive Joy

16:54 Puzzle Mindset and Book Resources

18:35 HR Myths and Real Role

22:14 Rapid Fire and Final Takeaway

25:07 Put It Into Action 

#LeadershipDevelopment
#LeadershipSkills
#PeopleFirstLeadership
#EffectiveLeadership
#LeadershipMindset
#ManagerTraining
#LeadershipCoaching

#WorkplaceCulture
#HealthyWorkplace
#ToxicWorkplace
#EmployeeExperience
#PositiveWorkCulture
#WorkplaceWellbeing
#PsychologicalSafety

#CareerGrowth
#CareerDevelopment
#ProfessionalDevelopment
#CareerCoaching
#PersonalGrowth
#WorkplaceSuccess

#SelfAwareness
#EmotionalIntelligence
#SelfLeadership
#GrowthMindset
#MindsetShift
#SelfEmpowerment
#PersonalDevelopment

#HumanResources
#HRLeadership
#EmployeeEngagement
#FutureOfWork

#ProductiveJoy
#PurposeDrivenLeadership

Workplace Culture, Career Growth & Professional Development, Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence, HR & Employee Engagement, Productive Joy & Purpose

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Christie McMullen CEO/Host

Dr. Christie McMullen is a best-selling author and 25-year educator turned entrepreneur who can help you make work fun! She has worked with thousands of adults in multiple industries at organizations like Aetna, ReMax, Solaris, and RISE to improve human interactions.

With a masters and doctorate in Educational Leadership and two and a half decades of practical experience she is able to connect with CEOs, directors, educators, salespeople, and everyone in between.

As a coach, networking specialist, and keynote speaker she can help any human overcome mediocrity to experience extraordinary interactions with others. She can help you AIM, Analyze your current interactions, Improve on those interactions, and Move towards extraordinary relationships.

No one wakes up in the morning and says, "I want to be terrible at my job today." but quite often they are because they don't have the right tools in their toolbelt to be extraordinary. Christie can help