You need to stop fretting about your obnoxious team members. You know the ones… Here are the two steps you need to take to stop fretting and step up.

You have that team meeting coming up and you worry that obnoxious team member will challenge you. That associate with the know-it-all demeanour.

If not in the open, at least behind your back, and at minimum in his mind. You can already see that smirk on his face. You know it will be like that…

How do I know?

Well, I used to be in your shoes—precisely the same. I liked to play mind games too.

Let’s take that bull by its horns.

Do your prep work

You worry about the team meeting. Being in this situation, so get ready. You need to start thinking it through:

1.  Get the facts

2. Get clear on what would make it better.

Let’s start with #1…

Ask yourself one essential question: “How do I know?”

I bet you assume a lot; you think you know what will happen because you’re insecure and feel like an imposter.

But what are the facts?

After some digging, more likely than not, you will conclude you don’t know for certain what will happen. So…

Make the situation better

Granted, there will be idiot team members in your life. And yes, they might challenge you. It’s not a perfect world out there.

But you can get some clarity.

Ask yourself another question:

“What would make the situation better for me?”

Jot down a few bullets. And be specific.

To make this exercise easier, here’s my little hack to help you get a better handle on it:

Ask yourself

• On a 1-10 scale, worst to great, where do you stand with your associate, and where would you like to be?
• What would you need to do to improve the situation by one increment, say 3 to a 4? And how would you know that you achieved it?

Again, be honest. Be specific.

And now you have your answers, that’s where the rubber hits the road!

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