Linda Thompson's Key Ideas from Creating a Drama-free Workplace
by Anna Maravelas

Proactively mitigate unnecessary drama by setting clear mutual expectations, providing regular positive and constructive feedback, questioning assumptions rather than jumping to conclusions, and communicating directly to prevent distortions.

Maintain open, mature dialogue.

• Constructively deal with difficult coworkers and behaviors through compassionate candor, not avoidance or fueling negativity.
• Lead with empathy, but also courage.
• Understand the context and motivations driving behaviors, and find common ground.

Clearly set and enforce healthy boundaries around how team members engage with and treat each other, aligned with company values.

Don't accept abusive, manipulative or intimidating conduct. Walk away if boundaries are violated.

Enforce consistently, not punitively.

• Proactively encourage open sharing of dissenting opinions, disagreements, and honest concerns to prevent hidden resentments.
• Make it psychologically safe to voice issues early before they silently escalate into drama.
• Value transparency, diversity of thought, and addressing issues.

• Manage your own reactions first before addressing drama.
• Diffuse situations proactively through self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, conflict wisdom and nonviolent communication.
• Model desired change.