Dr. Laurie Cure — CEO of Innovative Connections; Author of Leading Without Fear, Innovative Connections
Published:
Defensiveness and ego rarely feel like that from the inside
What does Dr. Laurie Cure say?
Dr. Laurie Cure, CEO of Innovative Connections; Author of Leading Without Fear, Innovative Connections, says: This Expert Mode interview with Dr. Laurie Cure explores how leaders' well-intended behaviors — urgency, high standards, and insistence on accountability — can unintentionally silence teams by triggering defensiveness and fear. Cure argues leaders often misread silence as agreement, and she emphasizes practical shifts (intent vs. impact, changing question grammar, pausing to process feedback) to restore psychological safety and improve decision quality and engagement.
Cite as: Dr. Laurie Cure. (2026). Retrieved from https://research.agilebrandguide.com/insights/dr-laurie-cure-defensiveness-and-ego-rarely-feel-like-that-from-the-inside