Managing Difficult People

Adam Holbrook
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Careers

Managing Difficult People is a leadership podcast that helps managers, executives, and team leaders handle conflict, improve communication, and build stronger workplace relationships. You can’t change difficult people—but you can change how you lead, influence, and respond to them. Each episode delivers practical strategies to reduce workplace tension, build trust, strengthen culture, and turn challenging personalities into opportunities for better leadership. Learn how to manage reactive communication, set boundaries, resolve conflict, and lead teams with clarity, confidence, and connection.

  1. 3d ago

    Homeless, Not Hopeless: A Family's Fight for a Better Life

    What if losing your home didn't mean losing your hope? In this powerful episode of Managing Difficult People, host Adam Holbrook sits down with Gordon, Shanay, and Dale, a family experiencing homelessness near Atlantic City, New Jersey. Through an emotional and honest conversation, they share how devastating loss, financial struggles, and health challenges changed their lives, leaving them sleeping in their car while fighting to rebuild their future. Together, they explore the hidden realities of homelessness, the impact of judgment and discrimination, mental health struggles, and the extraordinary strength found in faith, family, and human connection. Because behind every struggle is a human story, and sometimes a little compassion can change someone's life. Listen, share their story, and discover how even the smallest act of kindness can make a meaningful difference. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  2. Oct 7

    How Lisa Axios Rebuilt Her Life From the Ground Up

    What does it take to walk away from a life that looks successful on the outside but is painful and frightening behind closed doors? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with Lisa Axios, who shares her remarkable journey from an abusive marriage to becoming an award-winning luxury realtor, entrepreneur, executive coach, and speaker. In 2010, Lisa left her home with five children and one credit card, determined that this time she would not go back.  Lisa opens up about the fear of starting over, raising five children, rebuilding financially, returning to work after more than 20 years, and eventually pursuing real estate. Her path was anything but perfect. She failed her real estate exam four times before passing on her fifth attempt, entered the industry with little technology experience, and showed properties from an old minivan whose window wouldn’t even roll down. But Lisa kept moving. She followed the systems, embraced rejection, stepped outside her comfort zone, and learned that transformation happens through action, not simply intention. Today, Lisa is building businesses, coaching and empowering others, speaking about leadership and personal development, and creating a legacy for her family. Her story is a powerful reminder that where you begin again does not determine where you can ultimately go Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  3. Sep 30

    Connecting Beyond Our Scars

    When you’ve been hurt, disappointed, or overwhelmed, pulling away from people can feel safer. But what if the connection you’re avoiding is exactly what you need most? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook explores why people isolate after painful relationships, difficult seasons, burnout, and disappointment, and how reconnecting with others can help us move forward. Adam shares lessons from his own relationships and businesses, including a powerful realization: connection isn’t about making yourself the center of the conversation. It’s about making the other person feel seen and heard. When he began building genuine relationships with employees and customers, loyalty, referrals, and engagement began to change. You’ll also learn practical ways to become a better connector, from asking better questions and listening instead of waiting to speak, to replacing “should” with “could,” rebuilding trust slowly, and allowing people to see the real you. Because leadership is influence, and influence begins with connection. The more deeply you learn to connect with people, the more effectively you can lead, support, and positively impact them. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  4. Sep 23

    When God Says Not Yet: Learning to Trust the Wait with Pastor Kyle Prichard

    What do you do when you’ve prayed, worked hard, and done everything you know to do, but the answer still seems to be “not yet”? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook sits down with Pastor Kyle Prichard to explore what trusting God’s timing actually looks like when the waiting affects your career, finances, mental well-being, dreams, and sense of purpose.  Through Scripture and deeply personal stories, Kyle and Adam discuss the difference between waiting and complacency, surrendering control without giving up, recognizing when God may be preparing you for what comes next, and learning to seek God’s direction instead of forcing your own timeline.  If you’ve ever wondered whether you should keep going, change direction, or simply trust the wait, this conversation offers a faith-centered perspective on finding purpose and peace when God’s timing doesn’t match your own. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  5. Sep 16

    How to Forgive Someone Who Isn’t Sorry

    How do you forgive someone who hurt you, especially when they’re not sorry? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook takes forgiveness beyond the advice to simply “let it go” and shares four practical strategies for releasing resentment and moving forward. Adam explores why you may need to stop waiting for an apology, how “blame hoarding” keeps old wounds alive, why forgiveness doesn’t require giving someone unlimited access to your life, and how healthy boundaries can help you protect your peace without building walls around yourself. He also explains why delaying your emotional reaction can be one of the most powerful tools in difficult relationships, sharing a personal story about how controlling his response during a high-stakes business negotiation ultimately helped save a seven-figure deal. Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending nothing happened. It doesn’t mean surrendering your boundaries. And it doesn’t require the other person to change first. Sometimes forgiveness is about releasing their hold on your life so you can finally move forward. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  6. Sep 9

    Mindset Matters

    Who are you becoming, and are your thoughts and actions aligned with that person? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook explores why mindset matters when you’re pursuing something bigger for your life. He shares how to stop comparing your journey to others, strengthen your belief in yourself, and begin acting like your future self today. Adam also breaks down a practical four-step approach using identity, consistent action, preparation for setbacks, and a clear vision to help you keep moving forward when doubt, criticism, and frustration show up. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  7. Sep 2

    Allow Consequences: Let People Own Their Choices

    Are you helping someone, or are you accidentally keeping them from learning how to help themselves? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook tackles what he calls the “savior mask”, our instinct to step in, fix problems, offer advice, make excuses, and protect people from the consequences of their own decisions. While it may come from a place of compassion, constantly rescuing someone can create dependency and prevent real growth.  Adam shares personal stories that forced him to reconsider what helping actually looks like. He explains why replacing “you should” with “you could” can transform advice from a command into a choice, and why asking the right questions can be more powerful than simply giving someone the answer.  He also explores the importance of clear expectations and consequences. When someone misses a deadline, repeatedly wastes your time, or creates a problem, you don't always have to step in and make everything okay. Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is allow them to experience the outcome of their choices.  Most importantly, Adam explains why boundaries aren't about shutting people out. They're about deciding what you will and won't take responsibility for while protecting your own time, energy, and well-being. You can still care about someone without carrying the consequences that belong to them.  The takeaway: Stop confusing rescuing with helping. Give people room to solve problems, experience consequences, and grow, while giving yourself permission to stop carrying what was never yours to carry. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

  8. Aug 26

    Stop Working More and Start Prioritizing What Works | The 80/20 Rule

    Are you working harder than ever but still feeling like you’re falling behind? In this episode of Managing Difficult People, Adam Holbrook tackles one of the biggest mistakes he sees leaders make: failing to prioritize what they do and who they spend their time with. He shares lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, including how working 90 to 110 hours a week left him exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly putting out fires instead of truly leading.  Adam breaks down the 80/20 rule, explaining why 80% of your results can come from 20% of your activities. He challenges leaders to stop asking how they can do more and start asking a better question: What actually works?  He also explains why multitasking is a myth, how constant task switching drains your time and energy, and why focused time blocks can help you protect your most productive hours for the work that matters most.  The lesson: Great leadership isn’t about doing everything. It’s about knowing what matters most, empowering the right people, eliminating distractions, and intentionally investing your time where it creates the greatest impact. Stronger leadership starts with better communication. Learn how to manage conflict, set boundaries, and lead with confidence. Listen now: https://managingdifficultpeoplepodcast.com/

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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Managing Difficult People is a leadership podcast that helps managers, executives, and team leaders handle conflict, improve communication, and build stronger workplace relationships. You can’t change difficult people—but you can change how you lead, influence, and respond to them. Each episode delivers practical strategies to reduce workplace tension, build trust, strengthen culture, and turn challenging personalities into opportunities for better leadership. Learn how to manage reactive communication, set boundaries, resolve conflict, and lead teams with clarity, confidence, and connection.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Holbrook
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Managing Difficult People
  • Show Website
    Managing Difficult People

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