Frenemies at Work: The Hidden Threat You’re Ignoring

Negotiate Anything

American Negotiation Institute

Education, Careers, Business

4.8 • 659 Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

They smile, they compliment, they even laugh at your jokes—but something always feels off. In this episode, Kwame Christian sits down with NYU psychology professor and best-selling author Tessa West to uncover the real danger of workplace frenemies. From subtle mixed signals to the science of stress, you’ll learn how these ambiguous relationships drain your confidence, distort your judgment, and quietly sabotage your career. You’ll also discover: – Why consistency matters more than kindness – The behavioral cues that reveal discomfort and distrust – How to collect real data on your workplace relationships – What to do when a "nice" colleague is actually your biggest obstacle If you've ever walked away from a conversation feeling confused, second-guessed your instincts, or felt tension with someone who's "never done anything wrong"—this episode is for you. Connect with Tessa ⁠Buy now the book: JOB THERAPY FINDING WORK THAT WORKS FOR YOU⁠ ⁠Follow Tessa on LinkedIn ⁠ ⁠https://www.tessawestauthor.com/⁠ ⁠Buy Now the book: JERKS AT WORK Contact ANI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Request A Customized Workshop For Your Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠negotiateanything.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!

Transcript

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0:00.0	AI moves fast and the path forward isn't always clear.
0:04.1	Cisco gives you the infrastructure, security, and insights to save the course.
0:08.9	Cisco, making AI work for you, visit Cisco.com slash AI.
0:14.9	From LinkedIn News, I'm Jesse Hempel, host of the Hello Monday podcast.
0:20.2	Start your week with the Hello Monday podcast.
0:23.2	We'll navigate career pivots.
0:25.2	We'll learn where happiness fits in.
0:27.0	Listen to Hello Monday with me, Jesse Hempel on the LinkedIn Podcast Network,
0:31.6	or wherever you get your podcasts.
0:36.5	Hey, I'm Kwame Christian, and you are about to step into the world of Negotiate Anything,
0:41.7	the number one negotiation podcast in the world where we teach you how to make difficult conversations
0:46.9	easier while getting more of what you want in the process. Each episode is packed with
0:51.9	practical tips and strategies from the experts.
0:54.9	We delve into negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership skills that are crucial in both business and in life.
1:02.0	Whether you're closing a deal, managing a team, or navigating personal relationships,
1:06.8	negotiate anything provides you with the tools you need to succeed.
1:10.8	Our conversations are real, relatable, and most importantly, rooted in practicality.
1:16.3	So if you're ready to transform your conversations and elevate your negotiation skills,
1:21.4	join me on Negotiate Anything.
1:23.5	Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you love to listen. Let's make every
1:29.2	conversation a winning negotiation. Tessa, thanks for joining us today. Thank you for having me on.
1:37.9	Yes, it is our pleasure. So how would you get us started by telling us a little bit about yourself and what you do?
	...

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