EP 89: How to Work With Difficult People (Without Losing Your Mind)

We all have them. The colleague who drives you absolutely crazy. The leader who says something that leaves you speechless. The person you genuinely cannot figure out. In this episode, I get into one of the most requested topics I've had — how to work with difficult people without losing your mind or your professionalism. Because not everyone who feels difficult actually is difficult. Sometimes it's a personality clash, sometimes it's a values difference, and sometimes yes — it really is just them. I break down the three categories every difficult situation falls into, why understanding someone's motivation changes everything, and the exact phrases I use when someone says something completely out of line. This one is practical, honest and full of things you can use immediately. Key Topics The difference between a personality clash, workplace friction and genuinely dysfunctional behaviour and why each one needs a different response Why understanding what motivates someone changes how you work with them completely The question every team should ask before starting a project together and almost never does What to say in the moment when someone says something wildly out of line When to document behaviour, when to escalate it and when to make a decision about your environment How to have the awkward but necessary conversation about working better together Coming back to self awareness before deciding someone else is the problem Keywords: Difficult people, workplace conflict, communication, leadership, boundaries, self awareness, team culture, performance, mental health, wellbeing