This week's professional risk - inspired by Mariam Halfhide

Telling someone honestly how their behaviour affected you, instead of hiding behind professionalism, blame or silence.

This episode invites you to reflect on:

• Why do we suppress a difficult emotion although we know that it makes it even stronger?
• Why feedback falls flat when we can't name what a behaviour actually did to us.
• Why the leaders people trust most build the conditions for others to grow, rather than solving every problem for them.

Most of us were trained how to behave professionally. Almost none of us were trained in how to handle frustration, disappointment, or hurt. So we hold it in, stay composed, and let it surface later as a clipped reply, a quiet withdrawal, or blame aimed at someone who never heard from us the true impact of their behaviour. The more "professional" we try to look, the harder an honest conversation becomes.

Mariam Halfhide does the opposite, on purpose. When something gets to her, she doesn't swallow it, and she doesn't fire back — she steps away, settles herself, then goes to the person and tells them plainly how their behaviour landed on her, without assuming they meant harm. She's found that these conversations end with more trust than they started. Across feedback, leadership, altered states and emotional regulation, she keeps returning to one question: how do you become more honest without becoming less trustworthy?

Would you dare?

The next time someone's behaviour unsettles you, could you tell them how it landed on you — as a person, not a process — instead of letting it leak out as a rant or complaint?

About the guest

Mariam Halfhide works at the intersection of AI strategy and human connection. Having lived and worked across many cultures, she brings a sharp perspective on adaptation, belonging, and the courage it takes to choose a workplace where more of yourself is welcome.

Links to learn more about Mariam Halfhide:

LinkedIn

Watch on YouTube: The Projection Exercise

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