Speaking With Confidence

How to Communicate with Difficult Coworkers | Tim Newman


Listen Later

Send us a text

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!

    Support the show

    Want to be a guest on Speaking With Confidence? Send Tim Newman a message on PodMatch
    Speaking With Confidence
    Formula for Public Speaking
    Facebook

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Speaking With ConfidenceBy Tim Newman

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    56 ratings


    More shows like Speaking With Confidence

    View all
    The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    229,674 Listeners

    Planet Money by NPR

    Planet Money

    30,609 Listeners

    The Mindset Mentor by Rob Dial

    The Mindset Mentor

    13,600 Listeners

    The Daily by The New York Times

    The Daily

    113,121 Listeners

    Up First from NPR by NPR

    Up First from NPR

    56,944 Listeners

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

    8,876 Listeners

    The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

    The Indicator from Planet Money

    9,556 Listeners

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

    97 Listeners

    Life Kit by NPR

    Life Kit

    4,807 Listeners

    Morning Brew Daily by Morning Brew

    Morning Brew Daily

    3,051 Listeners

    Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson: communication coaching for humble leaders by Cat Matson

    Speaking with Confidence with Cat Matson: communication coaching for humble leaders

    1 Listeners

    The Colin Cowherd Podcast by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

    The Colin Cowherd Podcast

    1,162 Listeners

    The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

    The Mel Robbins Podcast

    20,222 Listeners

    She Speaks To Inspire: Public Speaking Growth For Introverted Women by Julia Kraft

    She Speaks To Inspire: Public Speaking Growth For Introverted Women

    23 Listeners

    The Jefferson Fisher Podcast by Civility Media

    The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

    8,482 Listeners