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In this Civility Matters episode, psychologist John O’Brien has a conversations with strategist and speaker Colt Briner about the power of purpose in shaping workplace behavior and civility. Briner, author of “The Race to Relevance” and co-creator of the “Wayfinding” system, discusses how purpose helps people navigate work and life with greater clarity and alignment. They explore how civility connects to purpose-driven leadership, why rudeness happens in organizations, and practical strategies for building more respectful workplaces. The conversation highlights that treating people well isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage grounded in purpose-centered messaging and human-centered leadership

About Colt Briner:

Colt Briner is a strategist, speaker, and creator focused on helping individuals and organizations reconnect with what makes them fully human. As the founder of an award-winning marketing agency and a senior marketing leader in healthcare, Colt has spent over two decades driving growth at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and purpose.

His work challenges conventional, performance-driven models by introducing more relational, intuitive, and holistic ways of thinking. Colt is the co-creator of Wayfinding, a reflective system designed to help people navigate life with greater clarity and alignment, and a leading voice behind the Invitation to Wholeness—an emerging body of work exploring the balance between logic and intuition, structure and flow, and the seen and unseen forces that shape our lives.

Whether working with executive teams or individuals, Colt’s approach is rooted in a simple idea: the path forward isn’t something we force, it’s something we learn to sense, trust, and follow.

Contact Colt at: https://coltbriner.com/

You can also contact him at: coltbriner@gmail.com

For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at:

www.activatesuccess.org

www.rudenessrehab.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/

https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab

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Civility Matters welcomes psychologist and emotional intelligence expert Dr. Dana Ackley for a powerful conversation on navigating our deeply divided world. Together, we explore how emotions shape our reactions, fuel toxic polarization, and can just as powerfully be harnessed to build empathy, better decisions, and braver conversations across differences.

Dr. Ackley explains emotional intelligence as the intelligent use of emotion, sharing practical tools for recognizing triggers, managing impulses, and humanizing “the other side.” This episode offers hopeful, actionable insights for anyone tired of rudeness and ready to help repair our social fabric.

Dr. Ackley's Bio:

Dr. Dana Ackley is a psychologist who is an executive coach and author of the book “The Little Book to Save Humanity” published in 2024. In addition, he has a forthcoming book to be published soon, entitled “Emotional Intelligence for a Divided World (https://theeqpress.com).
Dana is an internationally recognized expert in Emotional Intelligence. He works as an executive coach to senior leaders in a variety of industries. Much of his current work is devoted to helping society overcome toxic divisiveness.

For more information on Dr. Ackley: https://theeqpress.com/about-dr-ackley

For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at:

www.activatesuccess.org

www.rudenessrehab.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/

https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab

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Toxic Talk, Tired Teams brings together Dr. Audrey Tang and Dr. John O’Brien for a timely LinkedIn Live conversation on how negative communication patterns drain energy, erode trust, and weaken workplace culture. Drawing from psychology, leadership, and practical coaching experience, they unpack the subtle ways incivility, gossip, and emotional fatigue show up in teams—and how to restore connection, respect, and vitality.

This live session offers actionable insights for leaders and professionals seeking to build healthier, more engaged workplaces where people—and performance—can thrive.

Dr. Tang's Bio:

Dr Audrey Tang is a Leadership trainer, TEDx Performer/Speaker, Chartered Psychologist and multi-award-winning business author who focuses on practical tools for Wellbeing. With 30+ years teaching practical wellbeing tools in person and for the media, along with directing community theatre, she founded Wellbeing Media Studio broadcasting’s two shows: Mental Health Matters: Office Hours; and Mental Health Matters: After Hours globally with the e360tv Network. These and her other programs shine a spotlight on wellness and provide a visible opportunity and media support for academics and Thought Leaders.

Along with her coaching practice and mental/emotional fitness building workshops that she provides virtually and in person, she is the Founder and Chair of Trustees at CLICK Arts Foundation, a charity which gives grants to grassroots arts projects which build confidence, inclusivity and wellbeing.

She created and hosted the podcast Retrain Your Brain for Success (winner: Positive Change podcast awards); and The Wellbeing Lounge on NLiveRadio (winner of several awards). She also provided psychology contribution (on screen and off) to Channel 4's Don't Diet Lose Weight, and The Chrissy B Show.

She is a sought-after speaker, trainer coach and consultant who continues to give expert comment in the area of wellbeing to published and broadcast media.

For more about Dr. Audrey Tang: https://www.draudreyt.com/

For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at:

www.activatesuccess.org

www.rudenessrehab.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmobrienphd/

https://www.youtube.com/@RudenessRehab