From Dysfunction to Dialogue: How Honest Conversations Can Save Your Workplace

Turning Conflict into Connection for Lasting Success

Most workplace dysfunction stems from one thing: the conversations we avoid. In 'Good People, Bad Managers,' Samuel A. Culbert shows that cycles of groupthink, defensiveness, and disengagement can only be broken by honest dialogue.

When managers and employees sit down as equals, sharing their struggles and hopes, old scripts begin to unravel. One honest conversation can spark a ripple of change. Examples abound of companies that replaced annual reviews with regular feedback sessions, resulting in higher engagement and lower turnover.



Fostering real dialogue requires courage. Set ground rules for candor, reward those who speak up, and make space for dissent. Over time, trust grows, and the culture shifts from compliance to collaboration.

Lasting change begins with a single conversation. If you want your workplace to thrive, start talking—and keep listening.