Services for employees

Dealing with challenging,
high conflict, insensitive
personalities at work

Workplace incivility is rampant and on the rise. The accumulation of thoughtless actions that leave employees feeling disrespected – intentionally ignored, undermined by colleagues, or publicly belittled by an insensitive manager can create lasting psychological damage that should worry every organisation (Porath, 2016). Aleksandra works with employees who are experiencing workplace difficulties secondary to challenging personalities (e.g., working with challenging/high conflict/insensitive colleagues, employees, or managers). She offers several approaches and formats for consultation depending on the unique needs and preferences of clients and uses a strength-based, constructive and collaborative approach in her work.

Consultations include devising a range of specific strategies, based on current psychological knowledge, theory and research for addressing the issues of difficult relationship dynamics with challenging/high conflict/insensitive colleagues and managers within the workplace context. Aleksandra also provides psychoeducation on the impact of these personalities on professional relationships, organisational functioning and organisational wellbeing.

Research / Scholarly / Creative Works

Gosteva, A., & Zhuravsky, L. (2020). Building psychologically healthy workplaces: Practical strategies for promoting civility and fostering employee wellbeing. [Workshop for the New Zealand Psychological Society Conference]. New Zealand.

Gosteva, A., & Zhuravsky, L. (2019, August, 28). Motivational interviewing in health care: Strategies for evoking and strengthening employee’s motivation toward change. [Conference workshop for the New Zealand Psychological Society]. Rotorua, New Zealand.

Gosteva, A., & Zhuravsky, L. (2019, November, 29). Leading through complexity: Motivational interviewing for evoking and strengthening employee’s motivation toward change in healthcare organisations. [Conference workshop for the New Zealand Psychological Society]. Auckland, New Zealand.

Sutton, G., & Gosteva, A. (2019, September, 19). Narcissism in the workplace. [Presentation for the New Zealand Institute of Organisational Psychology]. Christchurch, New Zealand.