Odd name for a course

Recently, a Facebook ad caught my eye—not because of a flashy image, but due to its provocative, clickbait-style title. The ad promoted a course on “handling unproductive team members.” While boosting team performance is always a worthy goal, the tone of the course’s title immediately raised a red flag for me. Why start with a negative label?

Let’s break this down through the lens of servant leadership, a model built on positive, people-first principles. According to MindTools, the key traits of a servant leader include:

Notice what’s missing? There’s nothing about shaming, labelling, or disparaging others. Imagine if those negative course titles or labels were used in a professional environment. HR would be on the phone in no time.

Low productivity may be rooted in personal struggles, such as a family illness. Labelling someone as a “problem” ignores their humanity and shuts down opportunities for real support.

Would you want help from someone who’s already branded you negatively? And how long have these issues been festering if it has reached the point where a course is needed? True awareness means addressing concerns early and with compassion—not waiting until frustration boils over.

Agile teams thrive on open dialogue and creative problem-solving, rather than relying on quick fixes or negative mindsets. Every team member’s situation is unique, and effective solutions require understanding, not blanket judgments.

A forward-thinking team looks for root causes, not just symptoms. Stewardship means helping one another grow and improve, rather than singling out or shaming individuals.

If the goal is genuine growth, negativity has no place. People leave organizations due to toxic cultures, not just because of a single bad day. Glassdoor and countless studies confirm this: leadership and culture drive retention.

I haven’t taken the course in question, nor do I know anyone who has. But in a world already brimming with negativity, we don’t need more of it, especially in our learning and development spaces. I’ll admit, I’ve used provocative blog titles to spark curiosity and start conversations (like my post “Agile is Not Legitimate," a title designed to challenge assumptions, not attack individuals). The difference is in intent: thoughtful debate versus negative framing.

It’s time to shift our approach. Let’s craft course titles, blogs, and books that spark valuable conversations without triggering an initial negative reaction. That first impression matters—and if it’s negative, it can shape the entire narrative, no matter what follows.

If you’re ready to build a culture of growth, trust, and positive leadership—let’s connect. Book a call at jberriault@berriaultandassociates.com, and let’s create learning experiences that inspire, not discourage.