The Workplace Communication Podcast
#140 - Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss with Dr Laura Hambley Lovett
Some bosses don’t just manage - they control, manipulate, and undermine, leaving employees walking on eggshells every day. The stress, self-doubt, and exhaustion can build quietly, often making people question themselves more than the toxic dynamics around them.
Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett has spent years helping people break free from these harmful work environments. Drawing on her research and experience, she explains how to spot toxic leadership patterns, understand the impact on your well-being, and take practical steps to protect yourself, set boundaries, and plan a way forward with confidence.
On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, we’re talking with Dr Laura Hambley Lovett, Organizational Psychologist and Author of I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss, about practical strategies for navigating and escaping a toxic boss. Dr. Lovett shares how to distinguish a truly toxic leader from a merely difficult one, maintain control over your work life, and create actionable steps for recovery or exit.
Leadership tips you won’t want to miss:
🎙️ Identifying toxic versus difficult boss behaviors quickly
🎙️ Setting firm boundaries while staying effective at work
🎙️ Planning a step-by-step exit strategy to regain control
🎙️ Seeking support through mentors, colleagues, or therapy
Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an organizational psychologist and expert on workplace culture, career development, toxic leadership, and burnout. She is the author of several books, including I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss (She Writes Press; January 13, 2026).
If you’re seeking clarity, confidence, and practical ways to escape a toxic boss, this episode is for you.
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🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://lindsaylapaquette.com/podcast/
For a full written transcript of the episode, please see the show notes at the link above.
Dr Laura’s contact information:
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Lindsay’s contact information:
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