210. How to Manage Difficult Personalities with Hywel Berry

What if the very people you think are holding your team back—the cynics, challengers, and so-called problem children—are actually the key to unlocking your team’s potential? In this episode Jackie Koch sits down with dynamic keynote speaker and corporate trainer Hywel Berry to explore how to harness dissent and resistance for team growth and innovation.

Hywel shares insights from his 15+ years of experience working with global brands like Nike, Deloitte, and Coca-Cola. Together, Jackie and Hywel unpack the myths about leadership styles, the value of diverse perspectives, and how to manage resistance effectively during times of change. You’ll learn practical strategies to identify productive pushback, foster psychological safety, and turn conflict into collaboration.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• [00:00:00] Intro: Why dissent is key to team success

• [00:02:15] Common myths about leadership and management

• [00:10:30] Recognizing the difference between negativity and valuable feedback

• [00:20:45] How to manage resistance during change

• [00:32:10] Creating a safe space for disagreement and innovation

• [00:42:50] Tools for leaders to navigate emotional change curves

• [00:54:00] Final thoughts: How leaders can support personal and team growth

Key Takeaways:

Valuable dissent: Embrace the cynics on your team—they might see risks and opportunities others overlook.

Psychological safety: Leaders should thank team members for dissenting and create an environment where all perspectives are valued.

Handling change: Minimize resistance by understanding its root causes, fostering open communication, and managing emotional transitions effectively.

Diverse hiring: Avoid the “like-me bias” by hiring people with different skills, backgrounds, and perspectives to drive innovation.

Resources and Links:

• Learn more about Hywel Berry and his training programs at Alicorn Learning.

• Connect with Hywel on LinkedIn: Hywel Berry.

• Recommended reading: Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono.

Connect with Jackie:

• LinkedIn: Jackie Koch

• Website: People Principles

Join the Conversation:

What challenges have you faced in managing dissent on your team? Share your thoughts and connect with us on social media! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review World’s Greatest Boss to stay updated on upcoming episodes.