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Lesson 2: Archetypes of Difficult People (The Egoists) | Amy Gallo

Posted

October 13, 2025

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Philosopher Richard Rose once said, “The ego is the single biggest obstruction to the achievement of anything.” Yet at work, where we’re trying to accomplish so much, egos are everywhere. Workplace expert Amy Gallo has pinpointed archetypes of people whose egos make it challenging to get along and get things done and argues the key to working with them is often helping them feel more secure and expanding their view beyond themselves.

In this video lesson, Gallo explores ego-based archetypes and offers wisdom on how to navigate working with them so you can achieve great things together.

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About Amy Gallo:

Amy Gallo is an expert in conflict, communication, and workplace dynamics. She combines the latest management research with practical advice to deliver evidence-based ideas on how to improve relationships and excel at work.

She is the author of two books: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict. She has written hundreds of articles for Harvard Business Review, where she is a contributing editor. Her writing has been collected in numerous books including ones on feedback, emotional intelligence, and managing others.

For the past four years, Gallo has co-hosted HBR’s popular Women at Work podcast, which examines the struggles and successes of women in the workplace.

Gallo is on the 2023 Thinkers50 Radar List and was named a 2022 LinkedIn Top Voice in Gender Equity. In addition, the Harvard Business Review Guide video series, which Gallo stars in, was honored by the Webby Awards in 2023.

Gallo has delivered keynotes and workshops at hundreds of companies and conferences. Plus, she is frequently sought out by media outlets for her perspective on workplace dynamics, conflict, and difficult conversations. Her advice has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, Marketplace, and The Austin American-Statesman, as well as on WNYC, the BBC, and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

She has taught at Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of both Brown and Yale University.

Guests & Subjects Covered

Lesson 2Philosopher Richard RoseAmy GalloGo DeeperBig Think BecomeBig Think Member GetSubstack ExploreGet Big Think

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Lesson 2: Archetypes of Difficult People (The Egoists) | Amy Gallo · Big Think · Sentinel