Micromanagers, Narcissists, and Bullies — and how to protect your peace without losing your edge.

Have you ever worked for someone who monitors you like a toddler near an open staircase? You don’t get bonus points for suffering quietly.

In this Loud & Lifted: Quick Lift, Betsy recaps insights from "The Management Guru" Lynda Harvey to give you a playbook for the three most draining leadership personalities. We break down exactly how to spot them and the specific, repeatable moves you can use this week to protect your confidence.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Micromanager: Distinguishing between "trust issues" vs. "power trips"—and the "Train Your Boss" method to stop the hovering before it starts.
• The Narcissist: Why you can't win by confronting them, and how to use the "Gray Rock" method to disappear from their drama radar.
• The Bully: The difference between tough leadership and abuse, and how to "document like a detective" to protect your career record.

Key Takeaway: If leadership protects the bully, that’s the culture. Learn when to stay and fight, and when to protect your next move.

Bad bosses don’t just ruin your day—they can destroy your confidence and make you question your sanity.

If you’re dealing with a toxic work environment, a micromanaging boss, or constant gaslighting, this episode is your survival guide.

We are joined by Lynda Harvey (aka the Management Guru) to break down the three most common toxic manager types: the Micromanager, the Narcissist, and the Bully. We share the exact scripts and strategies you need to "train your boss," protect your peace with the Gray Rock method, and know exactly when it’s time to exit.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 3 Toxic Archetypes: How to spot toxic boss behavior before it breaks you.
• The "Train Your Boss" Technique: Proactive steps to stop a micromanaging boss in their tracks (like calling them before they call you).
• Narcissist Neutralization: Using the "Gray Rock" theory to handle gaslighting, lack of accountability, and credit-stealing
• Document or Depart: The "detective" method for handling workplace bullying and when to go to HR (or the EEOC).

Chapters

01:04 Meet Lynda Harvey (Management Guru)

03:28 The micromanager that broke the system

6:29 Why she started training managers

8:06 The 3 toxic boss types

8:24 The real problem: managers aren’t trained

9:08 How bad managers get created

10:15 Micromanagers: control + mistrust

12:38 Two micromanagers (including the “necessary evil”)

13:51 How to manage a micromanager (observe + get ahead)

15:35 If they don’t change: your decision point

17:21 Narcissistic bosses (men + women)

18:15 Narcissist patterns: blame, gaslight, control

19:33 When you outshine them: isolation + stolen credit

23:16 Gray rock: stay boring, stay safe

24:31 Documentation that protects you

26:51 Script your responses (3 options)

28:17 Bully bosses: what counts (and why it’s messy)

30:03 Document like a detective (proof matters)

31:47 Direct conversation vs. escalation

34:07 Escalate: HR, EEOC, and exit plan

35:00 The big takeaway (and what to do next)

35:54 Managing high performers

37:31 One-size leadership doesn’t work

About the Guest:

Lynda Harvey teaches leaders and employees how to speak fluent corporate and navigate toxic work culture without losing their edge.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynda.leads/?hl=en

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lynda.leads

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndaharvey01/

Stay Connected with Loud & Lifted:

Website: https://www.loudandliftedpodcast.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudandliftedpodcast/

Sign up for email: https://loud-lifted.kit.com/402d3a8d4a

In this solo episode,we are looking back at Season 1 of Loud & Lifted and pulling out the big themes that kept showing up in every conversation with women in leadership — from founders and executives to small business owners. Think of this as your 2025 rewind: what actually matters if you want to grow your career, expand your impact, and stop playing small?

This episode walks through the patterns we saw across the season and connect the dots into a simple, usable roadmap you can take into the next year. No fluff, no clichés — just real talk, honest stories, and practical moves you can actually try this week.

We’ll dig into:

• Confidence on purpose – how the women this season built it, not “found” it
• Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone – and what it really takes to step out
• Your personal brand is already talking - you need to decide what it’s saying
• Being intentional about exposure – getting in the right rooms, with the right people
• Community, support, and sponsors – why you cannot do big things alone

If you’ve missed episodes, this is your shortcut. If you’ve listened to them all, this is your playbook for applying what you heard so you can become more visible, more confident, and more in control of your next move.