# How to Manage an Employee Who Undermines Your Authority

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-manager-s-hour-with-fexingo-people-management-team-building-and-leadership-skills-7871622/how-to-manage-an-employee-who-undermines-your-authority
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-manager-s-hour-with-fexingo-people-management-team-building-and-leadership-skills-7871622/how-to-manage-an-employee-who-undermines-your-authority.md
Podcast: [The Manager's Hour with Fexingo: People Management, Team Building, and Leadership Skills](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-manager-s-hour-with-fexingo-people-management-team-building-and-leadership-skills-7871622)
Published: 2026-07-03T04:37:17+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-managers-hour/episode-0090.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-managers-hour/episode-0090.mp3
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Duration seconds: 649

## Resource

In this episode of The Manager's Hour, Lucas and Luna tackle a delicate leadership challenge: what to do when a team member openly questions or undermines your authority in front of others. Using the real-world case of a mid-level manager at a regional bank whose senior analyst repeatedly challenged policy decisions in team meetings, they break down the psychology behind the behavior—from test-the-boundaries tactics to passive-aggressive resistance. Lucas shares a three-step framework: private recalibration, public re-anchoring, and consequence clarity. Luna offers a counterpoint on when the employee might have a valid point being poorly expressed. They also discuss how to distinguish between healthy pushback and insubordination, and when it's time to escalate. If you've ever felt your authority quietly eroding at work, this episode gives you practical language to restore it without becoming the boss nobody wants to challenge at all. #UnderminingAuthority #ManagingUp #LeadershipSkills #PeopleManagement #TeamDynamics #WorkplaceConflict #ManagerChallenges #RespectAtWork #DifficultEmployees #Coaching #ConsequenceManagement #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #TheManagersHour #CareerGrowth #Insubordination #Authority #Leadership Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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