224: Dealing with team members that bug us

You know the feeling.
Their name pops up on your calendar and your stomach drops just a little.

They are not low performers. They are actually delivering.
But something about the dynamic makes leading them harder than it needs to be.

In this episode of Real Talk: Leading Small Teams, we break down three common archetypes that trigger leaders and how to handle each one without avoiding hard conversations.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “Praise-Seeking Polly” may not actually feel recognized, even when you think you are praising them
• What “Mindy the Mope” might be signaling about role fit and strengths alignment
• Why “Defensive Dan” reacts to feedback and how to lower defensiveness without walking on eggshells
• How to anchor feedback in shared expectations so high performers stay coachable

If you have someone on your team who makes you want to cancel your one-on-ones but is technically doing a good job, this episode will help you shift from frustration to strategy.

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