Summary
In this episode of Ask Christa!, Christa Dhimo addresses how to handle a manager who plays favorites, creating a toxic team environment. Learn strategies to navigate favoritism, maintain professionalism, and foster a fair workplace. Key topics include the effects of favoritism on team morale, strategies for addressing favoritism, legal and policy resources for fairness, and the importance of a team culture.

Key Takeaways
• Favoritism demotivates teams and damages credibility.
• Document observable behaviors and their impacts.
• Stay above negativity and focus on constructive solutions.
• Use resources like HR policies and external reports for support.
• Recognize favoritism early and document behaviors

Additional Resources
Bennett, M. (2026, March 17). 20 Signs of Favoritism at Work and What You Can Do About It. N/A. https://www.niagarainstitute.com/blog/signs-of-favoritism-at-work

Gallup, Inc. (2023, March 29). WorkHuman-Gallup Research Hub. Gallup.com. https://www.gallup.com/analytics/472658/workplace-recognition-research.aspx

Ivy Exec. (2022, July 21). https://ivyexec.com/career-advice/2022/five-non-confrontational-ways-for-dealing-with-favoritism-at-work/

Video Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Listener Question
02:11 Playing Favorites is a Terrible Idea (Always)
04:32 Managing a Playing-Favorites Manager
07:16 Additional Resources
08:28 Wrap Up & Submitting Your Question
08:54 Booking Information

Keywords
favoritism, workplace management, team dynamics, HR policies, leadership, employee motivation
---------------------
Ask Christa! Business Questions, Straight Answers, Real Impact

© 2025 - Present Christa Dhimo in partnership with Impono Partners (formerly Impono LLC) and 21st Century Strategies. Ask Christa! has a pending Trademark. All Rights Reserved.

I record and produce my podcasts using Riverside and their music library for subscribers.

Links:
Ask Christa!: https://www.askchrista.com/
The “More Answers…” newsletter https://www.askchrista.com/newsletter/
Contact & Booking: https://christadhimo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christadhimo/

Disclaimer
The Ask Christa! show is designed to provide accurate, reliable, and practical insights into common business challenges and workplace issues. Dr. Christa Dhimo stands by the information she shares and the resources she provides; however, every situation is unique. Listeners are encouraged to use this podcast as a helpful resource while seeking additional professional advice when needed.

As such, the content of this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for guidance from qualified professionals who can consider your specific circumstances. Ask Christa! and its host disclaim liability for actions taken solely on the basis of the information provided here, especially if taken out of context.