How to get along with difficult people
Hello Monday is LinkedIn News’ weekly career podcast hosted by me, Jessi Hempel . You’ll hear from thoughtful experts, authors and business leaders about the changing nature of work—and how that work is changing us. Each week, this newsletter shares learnings and practices connected to the conversations.?Subscribe to the show's newsletter?here . This week I spoke with Amy Gallo about how to get along with difficult people.
There's always a Sam
Several years ago, I had a horrible time with a colleague. We will call him Sam, because that is not his name. Sam was so hard to work with. He didn’t return emails, and dropped the ball on commitments. He took credit for other peoples’ work. I loved my job and it would have been wonderful…were it not for Sam.?
Around that time, I started working with a job coach, and the first thing I brought up was Sam. I really wanted her to help me solve the problem of Sam. But when I walked her through my litany of issues, she just said: "There is always a Sam."
That phrase has become a mantra to me. Because it’s true, anywhere I’ve ever worked. There’s always a Sam.?
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Amy Gallo is an expert in conflict, communication, and workplace dynamics. She hosts HBR’s hit podcast, Women at Work. She’s got a new book called Getting Along: How to work with anyone (Even difficult people) .?In this episode, she will help us all understand how to get along with our Sams—and everyone else we work with, too. And Amy will help us understand that sometimes we are difficult, too. (Because yes, it's possible that I have, at times, been someone else's Sam). In the years that I've spoken to people about how work works, I've become convinced that the single largest challenge we have in achieving our goals for our career is managing interpersonal relationships. This is even more true as we figure out how to navigate office culture in new ways, and build trust that has perhaps taken a hit during Covid. And as the economy remains uncertain, it's critical to double down on these relationships—to study how they work, and to take care of them.
"Don't believe that relationships happen to you. You are an active participant in them."
—Amy Gallo
Helping Entrepreneurs to Own Their Stories and Transform them into Marketing Assets for Business Success. | Founder of AClasses Media | Host of The Obehi Podcast | Author of The Storytelling Mastery
2 年I agree with you
Empowering high-achieving career professionals find career fulfillment and ?? your job | Burnout Life & Career Coach | Culture Engagement Whisperer ??? | Founder of Healthinology.com
2 年Great topic! one way in dealing with difficult people is to truly understand them, and then appeal to their needs and wants. Keep your own baggage at the door. Separate facts from your beliefs. This goes with both work and for their life too. Also we don't need to people-please everyone. There's always a "Sam" at work (and even in life). It happens. You don't have to give up your power to this person.
Electrical Instrumentation Controls Automation Engineer
2 年How do you (the readers) act or conduct yourselves when you are considered a subject matter expert at many things but can sometimes come across as being arrogant or condescending when your passion for the job causing it.