Amy Gallo

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all get along? One recent study found 94% of people report working with a toxic person in the last five years, and 87% said that team culture had suffered as a result. Leading workplace dynamics expert Amy Gallo, the author of an Amazon #1 new release, “Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)” (September 2022), has found a path to smoother teamwork that lowers stress and transforms organizations. Informed by over 14 years of research and interviews with academics, social scientists, and other experts, Gallo has identified eight common types of “difficult people,” providing actionable, practical advice for interacting with each of them. Through relatable, sometimes cringe-worthy examples, Gallo introduces audiences to principles that help them develop the skills and confidence needed to improve all their relationships. Ultimately, her frameworks for working with any type of person help to build interpersonal resilience, the ability to bounce back quickly from negative interactions, and feel less stress when you’re deep within them.

It’s uncomfortable to disagree with a colleague, and the situation can be tougher to solve when connecting in person isn’t possible. As the author of “The HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict,” Amy Gallo is an authority on resolving disagreements at work – even in hybrid or fully remote workplaces. “When we’re remote, we’re often communicating in a text-based medium, which is ripe for misunderstanding,” Gallo explains. “We tend to misattribute other people’s words and actions with our reflexive, non-conscious brain, then form a story around this judgment when we’re able to access the conscious part of our brain again.” Gallo teaches teams, leaders, and individuals how to recognize harmful “cognitive shortcuts” our brains can form when we feel threatened, then reveals tactics for relieving those negative interpretations. Her recommendations for focusing on a shared goal and for escaping email or chat conversation (even in favor of an audio call over video!) help teammates connect in a deeper, more interactive way, forming stronger bonds even at a distance. Gallo’s strategies and techniques support remote workers as they develop logical, generous interpretations of others’ behavior, preventing conflict before it starts.

No one looks forward to difficult conversations – but they should, says workplace relationships expert Amy Gallo. “Disagreements – when managed well – have lots of positive outcomes, such as better work products, opportunities to learn and grow, better relationships, and a more inclusive work environment.” Gallo, who is the author of “The HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict” (2017) and “Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)” (September 2022), has spent more than a decade studying the interactions that give many of us an uneasy feeling. Her research-backed, evidentiary framework for tense interactions, whether it’s a conversation about negative feedback or an offensive comment made by a coworker, incorporate psychological safety principles to give the toughest conversations an opportunity to resolve positively. Engaging and empathetic, Gallo equips people to deal with discomfort and have the hard conversations that are at the foundation of creating and maintaining diverse and inclusive organizations. After engaging Gallo, teams and individuals will find themselves with a deeper understanding of the interpersonal dynamics that affect collaboration and an expanded repertoire of skills to address conflicts when they arise, supporting them as they build trusting relationships.

Is there unspoken tension or gossiping on your team? Do people shut down opposing views or blame others when things go wrong? Do you find yourself wishing everyone would just get along? Research shows that teams in which people feel safe to safely disagree outperform other teams. They make better decisions. And the friction that accompanies disagreement can allow for creativity and growth. But there’s a difference between healthy conflict and griping or backstabbing, says workplace expert and bestselling author Amy Gallo. Leaders can encourage productive tension without inviting drama, and lay the groundwork for valuable disagreements. In this interactive session Gallo shares insights and advice from her latest work on how leaders and managers can create the right conditions for healthy conflict, ensure conversations remain collaborative, and repair team relationships.

As co-host of the Women at Work podcast, Gallo covers ways women are breaking down barriers and interviews thought leaders on what it takes to drive major change. Thoughtful and kind, her anti-bias strategies empower individuals and teams to consider their immediate emotional responses to bias and to activate their growth mindsets, increasing their motivation to confront discrimination they experience or observe. While bias in the workplace can be corrosive, Gallo’s techniques for recognizing exclusion, addressing defensiveness and shifting perspectives helps people re-engage with their coworkers and their work in meaningful ways, spurring innovation and collaboration across teams.