Dealing with workplace drama!

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Posted 3 days ago      Author: 3 Pie Squared Marketing Team

Dealing with Workplace Drama in Your ABA Practice

Workplace drama can feel like a small fire—but left unchecked, it can burn down your culture, morale, and team cohesion. If you're an ABA business owner or clinical director trying to build a supportive and sustainable workplace, this episode of 3 Pie Squared – ABA Business Leaders is for you.

April and Stephen dive deep into what “drama” actually means within the context of ABA practice management, the hidden reasons it persists, and how you can proactively address it. Whether it's favoritism, unclear communication, or unmanaged burnout, you’ll learn how to shift from reacting to repairing and preventing.

Why Drama Happens in ABA Workplaces

  • Miscommunication or non-communication
  • Unclear expectations or inconsistent leadership
  • Staff burnout and role overload
  • Favoritism and perception of inequity
  • Conflicts between personality types and values
  • Lack of proper conflict resolution training

April and Stephen reflect on their own experience leading a large ABA company and share how they maintained a low-drama, high-collaboration environment by intentionally shaping workplace culture.

Signs You Have a Toxic Work Environment

  • Increased callouts or avoidance behavior
  • Drops in productivity or morale
  • Cliques or gossip spirals
  • Supervisors taking on emotional burdens without support
  • Feedback loops breaking down

They also challenge business leaders to ask, “Am I the problem?”—because unresolved leadership issues can spread dysfunction from the top down.

How to Prevent and Address Workplace Drama

  • Establish clear communication and expectations
  • Train on soft skills like conflict resolution and emotional regulation
  • Create safe spaces for feedback (without retaliation)
  • Implement systems like the CCC worksheet for regular check-ins
  • Promote a values-based culture from hiring to supervision

Most importantly, April and Stephen emphasize that resolving workplace drama is not about being perfect—it’s about being consistent, values-driven, and open to improvement.

You Don’t Have to Tackle Workplace Drama Alone

Culture problems are often leadership problems. But they’re also solvable. If you’re navigating drama, burnout, or communication breakdowns in your team, this episode gives you the real talk and guidance to take action now.


Sponsored by Margin Keepers

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Additional Resources for ABA Business Owners

🎯 Starting a practice, not sure where to start? Want to make sure you have everything needed for your established practice?
Download our free ABA Business Start-Up List here

👥 Ready to level up your leadership?
Explore the 3 Pie Squared ABA Business Leaders Membership and gain access to exclusive tools and support.
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