

706: Tessa West | How to Deal with Jerks at Work
Aug 2, 2022
Tessa West, a social psychology professor at NYU and author of "Jerks at Work", dives into the seven types of workplace jerks, including the micromanager and the gaslighter. She emphasizes the importance of conflict management skills for navigating toxic dynamics. The discussion reveals that these jerks often harm themselves too. Tessa shares tips on handling credit theft and ensuring your contributions are recognized. Furthermore, she highlights the need for building social connections to combat workplace challenges and avoid becoming a jerk yourself.
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Experience and Conflict
- Older employees often lack conflict management skills, hindering their ability to deal with difficult colleagues.
- Younger generations may have higher expectations for workplace well-being and conflict resolution.
Jerks Have Skills
- Jerks at work often possess valuable skills, contributing to their position and influence.
- Their behavior may stem from environmental factors or learned patterns, rather than malicious intent.
We Can All Be Jerks
- Everyone has the potential to exhibit jerk-like behavior at times, even unintentionally.
- Being a "jerk" is subjective and depends on individual perceptions and interpretations of behavior.