Dealing with Difficult People Masterclass

You can feel calm and in control while interacting with that one frustrating colleague.

This is 100% possible for you.

It doesn’t require getting a new boss, quitting your job, or going to HR.

🗓️ July 22, 2026

7 am PT / 8 am MT / 9 am CT / 10 am ET

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Other People Don’t Have to Ruin Your Day

If you are struggling with this, you are not alone . Whether your boss’s moods are erratic or your coworker is hypercritical, it can start to feel like they take over your whole workday. You may only interact with them 5-10% of the time, but they end up taking 95% of your mental and emotional energy.

You don’t have to wake up dreading seeing them in the office or on Zoom. You can stop coming home to vent about them to your partner or friends. It’s possible to feel grounded, confident, and in control of your interactions with them.

Trying to get them to change doesn’t work.

When we try to get someone else to change, whether by asking them to or going above them to their boss or HR, we just end up more frustrated. Because we cannot force someone else to be different, when we try to and it doesn’t work, we feel start to feel like no one listens to us or cares about how we feel.

Trying to grin and bear it doesn’t work.

While we put on a good face at work, underneath it we are dreading our day, replaying frustrating interactions in our head, and focusing all our energy on someone else. As a result, we end up releasing all our pent up emotions at the end of the day but venting and unloading on our spouse.

What does work?

Being able to feel both calm and in control no matter what someone else says or does.

“I have a set of tools that has massively opened up my ability to stop dwelling on things.”

- Michelle Barbieri, Government Supervisor

The process is simpler than you think.

No matter how long you have been struggling with your boss or coworker, things can get better.

And faster than you think.

I’ve helped women just like you change their relationships at work so they are more fulfilling and productive. All it requires is learning three skills.

These skills are simple and anyone can learn them.

Once you know the three skills, you can reduce the intensity of any frustration, anger, or resentment you feel so you don’t get overwhelmed by your emotions.

You’ll also be able to start focusing your energy on what you can control and learn how to let go of what you can’t.

As a result, you’ll be in charge of how you feel, not someone else.

“The biggest shift has been letting go of finger-pointing and blaming others, which was draining my energy. Now, when challenges come up, I feel attacked professionally or questioned while doing my job, instead of reacting, I’m able to stay focused, calm, and be kind rather than matching their energy.”- Gina G.

The result?

✔ You feel confident handling your boss’s moods, not having to predict their reactions.

✔ You’re able to quickly deescalate a meeting before tensions rise.

✔ Your colleague’s offhand comments roll off your back without you ruminating about them.

✔ You don’t get stuck in frustration about your coworker’s lack of effort and focus on getting projects done.

✔ You come home each day feeling good about your job without needing to vent to your partner.

This is 100% possible for you.

What you’ll learn in this masterclass will help you in any team or office dynamic.

Register today

I know what it is like to get an email and instantly feel your stomach drop. I know what it is like to walk into a meeting already bracing yourself. I know what it is like to replay what someone said, think of what you wish you had said, and carry that frustration around for hours.

And I know how exhausting it is when one difficult person starts impacting how you feel about the job you really love, or your confidence, and even your ability to relax when the workday is over.

But here’s what I have learned personally, and what I have coached so many women through: peace does not come from finally getting them to change. Peace comes from learning how to stop handing them so much power over your emotions, your energy, and your experience at work.

I’ve been right where you are.

Join Me for This Powerful Masterclass

July 22, 2026 at 7 am PT / 8 am MT / 9 am CT / 10 am ET

In this 60-minute masterclass, you’ll walk away knowing the three simple skills you can use to create better relationships at work. I’ll take you through the two-step approach you’ll use these skills with and share how it will not only improve your experience at work, but your home life too. I’ll be live to answer any questions you have about your specific situation, unique challenges you face, or anything else.

Then I’ll share how you can get more support from me to help you put these changes into practice. By the end of the call, you’ll have a clear plan for reducing your frustration and stress and creating more calm and confidence in your relationships!

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What We Will Cover During This Hour

  • Feeling Calm

    We’ll talk about the emotions we feel when working with someone challenging and how to change them. So you can go from feeling frustration, anger, or resentment to feeling calm, grounded, and confident.

  • Creating Control

    When we shift our focus from what someone else is dong to what we can do, that’s when we create change. We’ll talk the specific steps you can take to feel more in control of your situation, no matter what someone else says or does.

  • Getting Support

    You’ll learn how to get ongoing support and guidance so you can feel confident making these changes. No matter who you work with or the challenges you face, you can implement these simple steps to get back to enjoying your work again.

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Meet Your Coach Marissa McKool, MPH

With over 15 years leading workforce development in public health — including with CDC, UC Berkeley, ASTHO, AMCHP, and multiple health departments — I’ve helped women just like you improve their working relationships so they can feel more fulfilled and productive.

I created this masterclass because I know how stressful it can be when one person starts affecting your peace, your focus, and your energy at work. I can help you feel calmer, more grounded, and more in control no matter who you are working with.

This masterclass gives you an inside look at the tools and strategies I offer in my coaching program that help women feel more in control at work, show up confidently in their interactions, and look forward to their day again.

You want to sign up for this masterclass if:

✓ You’re a woman between the ages of 30–55 working full-time in public health.

✓ You want to feel calm and in control around a challenging boss, colleague, coworker, or community member.

✓ You desire to stay focused on your work, rather than replaying conversations with others in your mind.

✓ You want to feel confident speaking up in challenging conversations without shutting down or spiraling.

✓ You’re excited to get support to improve your relationships at work.

“Marissa has truly transformed my perspective. I feel calmer, more resilient, and better equipped to handle any challenges that come my way.”

- Associate Professor

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Dealing with Difficult People Masterclass

July 22, 2026

7 am PT / 8 am MT / 9 am CT / 10 am ET

Register Here!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This masterclass is for women in public health who are dealing with a difficult person at work and want a better way to handle it. That difficult person might be your boss, a coworker, a colleague, a community member, or someone else you have to interact with regularly. If want to feel calm and in control no matter what other people at work say or do, this masterclass is for you.

  • The masterclass will take place live on July 22, 2026 at 7 am PT / 8 am MT / 9 am CT / 10 am ET. A reply will also be available.

  • The masterclass is virtual and will be offered on Zoom.

  • The masterclass is one-hour.

  • Yes. A replay will be available to everyone who registers, and you will have access to it until Sunday July 26, 2026

  • If you can, yes. This masterclass will be most helpful if you come thinking about one specific person you want to stop feeling so frustrated by. That way, you can understand how to apply the process to your situation and how it will help you have a better working relationship.

  • Yes. If the challenging person at your job is someone you directly supervise or manage, this will absolutely help. It’s also helpful if you lead someone through a dotted-line reporting relationship, even if you aren’t their direct supervisor.

  • Nope! I won't be asking you to share who the difficult person is at your job. The great thing is that we'll be focusing on you—what you can change and control—because that's where you have the most power. In fact, you don't even have to talk about the frustrating person to benefit from this masterclass.

  • If you believe you are in a physically or emotionally abusive situation, this workshop is not the right fit and I would recommend working with a therapist. This masterclass is designed for situations where the other person is difficult, reactive, rude, critical, or hard to work with. It will help you navigate challenging behavior more effectively, but it is not a substitute for support around abuse.

To keep this workshop low-cost and accessible, we will not be offering any refunds.