How To Communicate With Difficult Coworkers | Tim Newman Speaking With Confidence podcast

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How to Communicate with Difficult Coworkers | Tim Newman

2d ago 10:50

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Have you ever left a meeting feeling like you spent the whole time talking about yourself—or maybe stuck listening to someone else do it? On this episode of Speaking with Confidence, I’m diving into a challenge that creeps into nearly every workplace: dealing with the “me monster” and transforming conversations to actually build connection, trust, and meaningful collaboration.

I’m Tim Newman, your host, communication coach, and former college professor. This week, I’m tackling the tricky question: How do you handle difficult coworkers or even notice when you might be the “difficult one” yourself? In this episode, you won’t have to guess—I’ll show you simple ways to spot the habits that undermine teamwork and share a repeatable blueprint for having conversations that truly make a difference.

We start by recognizing an all-too-common office scenario: a team frantically working on a crashed server, while one coworker (let’s call her Sarah) dominates the conversation with off-topic stories about her weekend. While Sarah isn’t a villain—just another busy teammate slipping into autopilot—her “me monster” tendencies chip away at team cohesion and productivity. I’ll walk you through how science explains this instinct and why our brains so easily

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

An honest look at what drives the “me monster” and how to recognize it in yourself and others
Three red flags that signal you’re derailing conversations
John Maxwell’s five-step Law of Connection—how to set your agenda aside, ask great questions, lean in, recall meaningful details, and follow-up
Practical ways to apply a collaboration mindset, even with the toughest coworkers, and scripts you can start using today
Awareness of how small communication changes can build trust, psychological safety, and unlock creative solutions on any team
A micro-experiment for your next meeting to shift from “me-first” to shared success

Thanks for joining me on Speaking with Confidence. Remember, your voice has the power to change the dynamic of any team and every conversation. Keep practicing, keep connecting, and I’ll see you next time!

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Chapters

1. How to Communicate with Difficult Coworkers | Tim Newman (00:00:00)

2. Welcome & Today’s Focus (00:00:08)

3. Spotting the Me Monster (00:00:27)

4. Why Self-Talk Takes Over (00:01:30)

5. Three Signs You’re the Problem (00:03:20)

6. Maxwell’s Connection Blueprint (00:03:49)

7. Handling Resistance with Collaboration (00:06:46)

8. Assume-Ask Script in Action (00:09:06)

9. Micro Experiments & Next Steps (00:10:28)

10. Resources & Closing (00:10:28)

85 episodes

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