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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
How to Work with Complicated People summary
Ryan Leak
Strategies for Effective Collaboration with (Nearly) Anyone
15 mins
Brief summary
How to Work with Complicated People offers strategies to effectively navigate challenging interpersonal dynamics in the workplace. Ryan Leak provides practical tools for improving communication, fostering collaboration, and enhancing team productivity amidst difficult relationships.
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How to Work with Complicated People
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A hard truth
Think about the last time someone really got under your skin at work. Chances are, a specific face or name immediately pops into your mind – maybe it’s the colleague whose negativity drags everyone down, the manager who refuses to see another point of view, or the executive whose cryptic communication leaves you guessing. Nearly half of Americans say they deal with complicated people daily, and most face them at least weekly. But here’s the twist: it’s not just them – it’s all of us.
We’re quick to label others as “complicated” when they seem stubborn, manipulative, or lazy. It’s much harder to admit that we show some of these same traits ourselves. The truth is, we’re all somebody’s “complicated person.” There’s likely someone in your workplace who finds you just as baffling or frustrating as you find them.
Owning this reality isn’t just humbling – it’s empowering. When we acknowledge our own quirks and blind spots, we build empathy, patience, and a greater capacity to collaborate. Instead of demanding others change to suit us, we create room for shared growth. Of course, this isn’t about tolerating bad behavior – something we’ll explore later – but about adjusting the lens through which we view each other.
At the heart of this shift is the story we tell ourselves. We’re usually the hero of our own story, while others are cast as bit players or villains. But they’re doing the exact same thing with us. Recognizing that our internal narrative might be even a little off opens the door to a more generous interpretation. Suddenly, flaws can start to look like different strengths. What if, instead of seeing a “difficult” coworker, you saw someone who’s simply “different”? Maybe their stubbornness is just fierce passion. Maybe their criticism, though uncomfortable, holds a valuable insight. Changing your story won’t erase complicated people’s complications, but it will make working with them much more manageable – and maybe even rewarding.
We’re all complex, messy humans navigating this complex, messy world together. When we embrace that truth and offer each other a little more grace, collaboration not only feels more possible but a whole lot more human, too.
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What is How to Work with Complicated People about?
How to Work with Complicated People (2025) provides practical strategies for effectively collaborating with almost any difficult individual, by emphasizing empathy, clear communication, and personal accountability. Through actionable advice, it equips readers to transform relational conflicts into opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Who should read How to Work with Complicated People?
- Anyone struggling with an interpersonal conflict
- Team leaders and managers
- Human resources workers
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