330 How to Stop a Hidden Cancer Eating Away at Your Team's Productivity, Morale, and Your Leadership Career

What’s the hidden habit that silently sabotages your team’s productivity—and are you accidentally feeding it?

If you’ve ever sensed tension in the room, watched projects slow down for no clear reason, or noticed morale slipping even though no one is talking about the real issue, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. You’ll discover how conflict avoidance—what the host calls “Diaper Genie syndrome”—quietly derails the team’s productivity and holds you back from the influence, clarity, and results you’re striving for.

• Understand exactly how conflict avoidance erodes trust, clarity, and your team’s productivity—and learn the early signs so you can stop it before it compounds.

• Get practical phrases and simple conversation openers that help you address tension directly and respectfully.

• Walk away with four small weekly experiments that make it easier to break the habit of avoidance and lead with more confidence and impact.

Play the episode now to learn the mindset shifts and everyday techniques that can immediately boost your team’s productivity and your influence as a leader.

Check out:

01:57 — The Origin of “Diaper Genie Syndrome”

This is where David explains the metaphor in a way that instantly clicks. You’ll hear why conflict avoidance feels tidy on the surface but turns into a long, plastic-wrapped chain of unresolved issues that quietly drags down your team’s productivity.

04:19 — The Hidden Consequences of Avoidance

A powerful breakdown of how avoiding tough conversations erodes trust, fuels resentment, and creates sideways conflict. If you want to understand why your team’s productivity stalls despite “everyone getting along,” this section is a must-listen.

09:54 — Four Mini Experiments to Break the Habit

This is the most actionable part of the episode. David shares simple weekly habits—like “say the thing once a week” and “invite the unsaid”—that help you shift from avoidance to clarity and boost your team’s productivity in real, practical ways.

Leadership Without Using Your Soul podcast offers insightful discussions on leadership and management, focusing on essential communication skills, productivity, teamwork, delegation, and feedback to help leaders navigate various leadership styles, management styles, conflict resolution, time management, and active listening while addressing challenges like overwhelm, burnout, work-life balance, and problem-solving in both online and in-person teams, all aimed at cultivating human-centered leadership qualities that promote growth and success.

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