EP 94: Q&A with Renee: Setting Boundaries and Navigating Generational Differences in the Workplace

In this episode, Dr. Renee Thompson tackles common leadership challenges, including setting boundaries, managing emotions, and bridging generational gaps in the workplace. Discover practical strategies to enhance team morale and foster a respectful work environment. Renee shares insights on how to communicate effectively with your team, handle inappropriate emotions, and appreciate the unique strengths of different generations.

Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to management, these tips will help you create a more harmonious and productive workplace.

About Dr. Renee Thompson:

Dr. Renee Thompson is a sought-after speaker, author, consultant, and leading authority on creating healthy workforces by eliminating bullying and incivility. With more than 31 years as a clinical nurse, nurse educator, quality manager, and nurse executive, Dr. Thompson is a leading authority on workplace bullying and incivility and spends the majority of her time working with healthcare leaders who want to cultivate a healthy workforce.

Renee is the CEO and Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute and has been repeatedly published, interviewed, and awarded for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare. In 2020, the Joint Commission invited Renee to become a member of their Workplace Violence Technical Advisory Panel. She has been published in numerous nursing journals and is a frequently invited guest on radio, podcasts, webinars, and online social media platforms.

In 2016, Renee received the Nursing Excellence Award as a nurse entrepreneur to honor her work to eliminate workplace bullying. She received the first Outstanding Nursing Alumni for Excellence in Leadership Award and Distinguished Alumni recognition from her alma mater and was a finalist in the Healthcare Heroes Awards as a Healthcare Provider. Her blog has won numerous awards as a Top Nursing Blog “must-read” by the online nursing community, and her anti-bullying videos are viewed by healthcare organizations around the world. Renee is one of only 30 nurses in the world who have achieved the prestigious certified speaking professional designation.

In 2018, she was recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top Ten Voices in Healthcare for her contribution to the global online healthcare community. In 2022, she was identified as one of the top 5 Nurse Influencers on LinkedIn. Also, in 2022, Renee was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing for her work to eradicate disruptive behaviors in healthcare.

Renee has a Master’s degree in Nursing Education and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburgh.

Things You’ll Learn

• Why setting clear boundaries as a leader is critical for both your well-being and team morale
• Practical steps to reduce your availability without negatively impacting your team
• How to clearly communicate new expectations about availability and response times
• Strategies to stay consistent and maintain credibility when enforcing boundaries
• How to handle “door knocking” interruptions using visual cues and policies
• Why open-door policies may actually hurt your productivity and focus
• How to manage team members who express inappropriate emotions (like nervous laughter or excessive crying)
• Coaching strategies to help team members learn to manage their emotions professionally
• How to bridge generational divides between seasoned and newer nurses
• How setting standards during interviews can improve new staff performance and retention