Do you work with a team member who always has something to say? They are always pushing the boundaries, or offering advice?

How do you deal with that person who always seems to be pushing you?

I came across an answer in Dare to Lead, by Brene Brown.: “move in — people are harder to hate close-up.” She’s right, and this simple advice is brilliant, and you don’t have to hate them for this to be true.

Moving in can mean many things. In this case, I would suggest you need to build more trust and openness with this person. Get them away from the regular work environment by buying them their favourite beverage.

Then, have a conversation and get to know them a little better. Share a bit of your story, and spend more time listening and being curious about theirs.

Through getting to know them better, you will likely find yourself trusting them more. When you can trust others more, I’m willing to bet you will soon discover how much they care about the team.

You’ve got this.