Culture Bytes: Practical Moves for a Toxic Office Makeover

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In this episode of Culture Change RX, Sue Tetzlaff discusses the critical aspects of transforming toxic workplace cultures, emphasizing the importance of local leadership, team dynamics, and individual behaviors. She outlines strategies for addressing toxic cultures, including the role of leadership in modeling positive behaviors, the shifting of team dynamics, and the necessity of addressing individual toxic behaviors. The episode culminates in a call to action for front-line leaders to take responsibility for their important role in creating a thriving workplace culture.

• Leadership is local and has a direct impact on the team culture.
• Toxic cultures can often be traced back to leadership behaviors.
• Team dynamics play a crucial role in workplace culture.
• Rituals and routines can either enhance or detract from team culture.
• The cost of keeping a toxic employee can outweigh the cost of replacing them.
• A five-point correction conversation can help address chronic, persistent toxic behaviors.
• Change requires commitment from both the leader and team members.
• Creating a thriving culture doesn't require new resources, just a commitment to change.

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

When you’re ready to take your culture to the next level, here are three ways I can help you:

1. Listen to the Culture Change RX Podcast
Every week, I share conversations with leaders who are transforming healthcare workplaces and strategies for keeping teams engaged, patients loyal, and margins healthy.

2. Subscribe to our Email Newsletter
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3. Break through to the next level of greatness in your organization with help from my team and me.
When you’re ready to be the provider and employer-of-choice, we’ll help you implement proven frameworks that strengthen culture, improve experience and ensure your organization thrives.
You can email me at [e-mail] and put “BREAKTHROUGH” in the subject line and I’ll get you all the details.