Gino DeMaio, Ph.D.

Gino DeMaio, Ph.D.

1 bookBusiness & EntrepreneurshipSelf-HelpManagement & Leadership

Gino DeMaio, Ph.D., is a Chief Executive Officer in the nonprofit sector, an executive coach, mentor, leadership scholar, and organizational consultant who builds high-performing leaders and stronger organizational cultures through executive education and hands-on consulting. His practice draws on counseling psychology and organizational behavior, applying frameworks such as EQ-i 2.0 (emotional intelligence), DISC, Situational Leadership, and The Leadership Challenge®. He holds a Ph.D., completed an executive leadership program at Harvard Business School, and is accredited by the ICF and IAPC&M. His honors include Executive Director of the Year, the Distinguished Community Service Award, and the U.S. Department of Defense's Employer Patriot Award. A committed advocate of servant leadership, Gino holds a simple conviction: leadership is defined by the development and empowerment of others.

Book

Leading in the Shadow: Navigating Team Resistance, Toxicity, and Accountability as a New Manager

Leading in the Shadow: Navigating Team Resistance, Toxicity, and Accountability as a New Manager

Practical Strategies to Rebuild Trust, Overcome Resistance, and Establish Clear Accountability

  • Business & Entrepreneurship
  • Self-Help

Stepping into a new leadership role is challenging enough—but inheriting a team still fiercely loyal to your predecessor can feel impossible. When you introduce standard accountability, you are met with covert defiance, passive-aggressive comparisons, and toxic pushback. You want to lead with empathy, but your authority is constantly tested. How do you establish essential standards without alienating your staff or being branded the villain? In Leading in the Shadow, Dr. Gino DeMaio provides a field-tested, actionable roadmap for new managers facing entrenched team resistance. You will discover how to neutralize workplace incivility, dismantle unspoken legacy contracts, and set firm professional boundaries with calm authority. Through proven conversation frameworks, conflict resolution strategies, and objective metrics, you will learn to separate genuine transition grief from active sabotage. You do not have to choose between being liked and holding your team accountable. Packed with real-world case studies and practical scripts, this indispensable guide empowers you to transform a hostile work environment into a cohesive, high-performing powerhouse.

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