How to deal with a toxic coworker

Simon Sinek and Leila Hormozi both make the same core point: with a difficult or toxic colleague, the thing you can actually control is your own response, not their behavior 1 2. Simon Sinek's take is that instead of reacting with anger, you pause, observe, and replace the impulse with empathy, humor, or simple indifference, which keeps your composure and your sense of control intact 1.

If the person keeps undermining you, for example by cutting you off in meetings, there are a few ways to handle it:

• Mel Robbins suggests leaning on a trusted work ally who can step in and redirect the conversation so you get to finish your point 3.
• Ask for a calm, composed one-on-one to give direct, constructive feedback.
• Leila Hormozi notes that if the person will not change and the environment stays toxic, you cannot force them, so the most effective move is often to change your own situation by leaving 2.