How does it feel to work with somebody you'd rather avoid? Let's admit it: We all experience a fair share of difficult people at work. And many times, we just have to be around them whether we like it or not. However, there are a few things, that we can do to lessen their impact on us.

Today's workplace expert unpacks everything we need to know about working with difficult people.

Amy Gallo is the author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People), the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, as well as hundreds of articles for Harvard Business Review. She is also the co-host of HBR’s popular Women at Work podcast, which examines the struggles and successes of women in the workplace.

In this episode, Amy shares the eight types of difficult people we usually encounter at work and how to deal with them effectively. We also talk about the challenges of written communication, checking our own behavior, and so much more.

Join the conversation now!

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Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (02:27) 8 kinds of difficult co-workers most people work with
• (05:45) Personality clash vs. productive conflict
• (07:32) How to deal with problematic behavior at work
• (14:36) The manager’s role in solving work conflict
• (16:23) Is confronting a colleague with their bad behaviors a good strategy?
• (20:10) How to appropriately respond to difficult written communications
• (29:16) A great manager Amy has worked for
• (31:03) Keep up with Amy
• (32:32) [Extended Episode Only] The role of biases in judging someone’s behavior
• (36:11) [Extended Episode Only] How managers should intervene when team members have issues working together

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

Keep up with Amy Gallo

- Follow Amy on LinkedIn here

- Listen to her podcast here

- Grab a copy of her book here

- Check out her other works here

Book Giveaway: 2 Signed Copies of “Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)”

Amy is giving away 2 copies of her book, Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) to members of Podcast+. In this book, Amy identifies eight familiar types of difficult coworkers and provides strategies tailored to dealing constructively with each one. She also shares principles that will help you turn things around, no matter who you're at odds with. You must enter the drawing by Wednesday, May 1.

To get guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

One of the most crucial yet often overlooked tasks for managers is hiring. While it may seem straightforward, hiring is an intricate process filled with challenges that can shake even the most seasoned manager.

In today’s competitive job market, where job postings can receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications, distinguishing top candidates from the rest requires more than just reviewing resumes.

Thankfully, our guest will fill us in on what to do (and not do) to make your hiring process successful.

Today’s guest is Vicky Brown. After two decades of leadership roles in the corporate world, Vicky founded her own HR consultancy, Idomeneo Enterprises, in 2001. Her Leaders Journey Experience is an education program specifically designed to equip entrepreneurs and business professionals with the tools, guidance, and confidence to navigate the sometimes complex world of HR.

Vicky shares invaluable insights on the ins and outs of a hiring process. She shares tips and tricks on writing effective job descriptions, evaluating a resume, what questions to ask during the interview to uncover deeper insights into a candidate, the recommended interview format and processes, and more.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (02:05) Why hiring feels increasingly difficult
• (04:40) How to write effective job descriptions
• (09:13) Interviewing techniques to uncover deeper insights into candidates
• (22:29) Recommended number of interviews and interview format
• (25:57) How to read and evaluate resumes
• (28:18) A great manager Vicky has worked for
• (31:16) Is there anything a candidate should or shouldn’t ask in an interview?
• (33:36) Keep up with Vicky
• (34:25) [Extended Episode Only] What should you do when you’re undecided about a candidate?
• (39:08) [Extended Episode Only] The truth about reference checks

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

- Join the Skills Accelerator Program here - use code CELEBRATE300 for 30% off when you join before May 1, 2024

To get guest bonuses and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!

Do you feel overwhelmed with your role as a manager? What exactly is your job?

Managers are key to organizational success. They act as a vital link between leaders' strategic vision and individual contributors' execution.

This means we need to guarantee clarity during handoffs and cultivate a culture of accountability within our teams. Feel like a tall order? It doesn't need to be.

Today’s guest is Matt Ley. Matt is the author of Manage Your Gaps: Reclaiming The Awesomeness of Management. His work focuses on helping organizations and individuals get management right.

Matt discusses the unique roles and responsibilities that managers play using his EP!C Framework. He also shares some practical tips on how to be a great manager, overcome the most challenging responsibility of a manager, strategically leverage individual contributors on a team, and much more.

Join the conversation now!

Get FREE mini-episode guides with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.

Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:38) What does it mean to be a manager?
• (04:00) The EP!C framework for management success
• (12:32) The most challenging responsibility of a manager
• (17:09) What happens when there’s a lack of clarity around processes and expectations during handoff
• (23:32) The importance of an optimized handoff process
• (27:43) Tips for managers on how to be great with their roles
• (30:00) A great manager Matt has worked for
• (31:35) Keep up with Matt
• (32:29) [Extended Episode Only] How managers can help their team members evolve
• (39:23) [Extended Episode Only] Advice on how to better leverage your team’s rising stars and rock stars

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

- Join the Skills Accelerator Program here - use code CELEBRATE300 for 30% off when you join before May 1, 2024

Keep up with Matt Ley

- Follow Matt on LinkedIn here

- Visit his website for more information here

50-Page Workbook for EP!C Management Program

Matt is providing the workbook that accompanies his 12-week EP!C Management Training Program. At 50 pages, the goal of this workbook is to help you understand how to set up your environment, measure performance to drive success, understand your identity, and get clear on the role of communication.

To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

Follow The Modern Manager on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss an episode!