Difficult People at Work: The CBC Way to Protect Your Energy (Without Escalating Conflict)

Linda Binns

Published on: 03/09/2025

Some days it isn’t the workload that drains you—it’s the relational friction around it. A teammate talks over people. A manager drops last-minute requests. A client pushes past agreed scope. If you’re sensitive and conscientious, you feel these disruptions deeply. It’s not because you’re weak; it’s because your system processes more data, more deeply. The good news: you can protect your energy and improve outcomes—without fighting, fixing, or fawning. I teach a simple structure for moments like these: Clarify · Boundary · Consequence (CBC). It keeps you steady, specific, and kind.