Oh hey,
How are you doing? I hope your week has been kind!
This week I’m diving into the weird, and frankly, sometimes downright toxic traits we all see in the workplace - whether it’s that micromanaging boss, the passive-aggressive colleague, or the team member who disappears every time a deadline is due (we’ve all met one, right?).
But here’s the twist: instead of just calling them out, I want to dig deeper and get curious about what’s really going on beneath the surface. Why do they act this way? What’s driving them to behave in ways that make us want to tear our hair out? Because here’s the thing - I truly believe that if we can understand people better, we can connect with them more (and, hey, maybe even turn some of those daily frustrations into breakthroughs).
Let me give you an example. I once had this colleague who always interrupted me during meetings. You know the type - you’re halfway through making a point, totally on a roll, and they just barge in with their two cents like it’s a race to see who can speak first. It used to drive me mad! I felt so dismissed and unimportant, like they didn’t care at all about what I was saying.
But one day, instead of quietly fuming, I got curious and started paying attention to what was really going on. Our brains can be such terrors for making assumptions but, what I actually noticed was that they weren’t just interrupting me - they were interrupting everyone. And when they spoke, it always sounded a bit rushed, almost nervous. That’s when it hit me: they weren’t trying to undermine anyone - they were just really anxious about speaking and jumped in because they didn't feel particularly confident about how, when or where to land their points.
Once I realised that, I approached them differently. I’d specifically ask their opinions on things or, if they did talk over me, would say something like, “Hold that thought; I want to hear what you have to say!” The interruptions started fading, and our dynamic changed completely.
I really believe that the presenting challenge is rarely what's really going on. So, think about your own stories, frustrations, and WTF moments. Got a boss who’s a control freak? A colleague who gossips non-stop? An employee who’s always in a mood? By digging deeper, we can start peeling back the layers and make some real magic happen.
I want to hear from you too, so spill the tea! What’s the most confusing or irritating behaviour you’re dealing with right now? Let’s figure it out together!
As ever, have a really lovely week.
Cate x
Oh hey,
How are you doing? I hope your week has been kind!
This week I’m diving into the weird, and frankly, sometimes downright toxic traits we all see in the workplace - whether it’s that micromanaging boss, the passive-aggressive colleague, or the team member who disappears every time a deadline is due (we’ve all met one, right?).
But here’s the twist: instead of just calling them out, I want to dig deeper and get curious about what’s really going on beneath the surface. Why do they act this way? What’s driving them to behave in ways that make us want to tear our hair out? Because here’s the thing - I truly believe that if we can understand people better, we can connect with them more (and, hey, maybe even turn some of those daily frustrations into breakthroughs).
Let me give you an example. I once had this colleague who always interrupted me during meetings. You know the type - you’re halfway through making a point, totally on a roll, and they just barge in with their two cents like it’s a race to see who can speak first. It used to drive me mad! I felt so dismissed and unimportant, like they didn’t care at all about what I was saying.
But one day, instead of quietly fuming, I got curious and started paying attention to what was really going on. Our brains can be such terrors for making assumptions but, what I actually noticed was that they weren’t just interrupting me - they were interrupting everyone. And when they spoke, it always sounded a bit rushed, almost nervous. That’s when it hit me: they weren’t trying to undermine anyone - they were just really anxious about speaking and jumped in because they didn't feel particularly confident about how, when or where to land their points.
Once I realised that, I approached them differently. I’d specifically ask their opinions on things or, if they did talk over me, would say something like, “Hold that thought; I want to hear what you have to say!” The interruptions started fading, and our dynamic changed completely.
I really believe that the presenting challenge is rarely what's really going on. So, think about your own stories, frustrations, and WTF moments. Got a boss who’s a control freak? A colleague who gossips non-stop? An employee who’s always in a mood? By digging deeper, we can start peeling back the layers and make some real magic happen.
I want to hear from you too, so spill the tea! What’s the most confusing or irritating behaviour you’re dealing with right now? Let’s figure it out together!
As ever, have a really lovely week.
Cate x
