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213 - Preparing In Advance For Tough Interactions
Cindy Esliger tackles the reality of why avoiding difficult workplace interactions often makes things worse. She describes the familiar experience of conversations that make our stomachs drop, and our minds go blank, especially when dealing with colleagues who undermine or take credit for our work. Cindy explains that workplace bullying often shows up in subtle ways like interruptions, exclusion, and microaggressions, and it tends to continue when it is not addressed. She emphasizes that learning to confront these behaviors calmly and strategically, rather than ignoring them, is what shifts how others perceive and treat us.
She walks through the true cost of staying silent, from burnout and loss of credibility to becoming seen as someone who can be pushed around. Cindy outlines seven common behaviors that make these situations worse: 1. Apologizing excessively, 2. Overexplaining decisions, 3. Accepting microaggressive compliments, 4. Letting dismissive behavior slide, 5. Failing to document patterns of exclusion or bias, 6. Isolating instead of building alliances, and 7. Matching unprofessional behavior. Instead of suppressing emotions or ignoring the problem, she encourages a more strategic approach that focuses on choosing when to speak up and documenting patterns so that responses are intentional rather than reactive.
Cindy shares her framework for emotional rehearsal, a practical way to prepare for tough conversations in advance. She breaks it into four steps: 1. Recognize our triggers, 2. Examine the thought patterns underneath triggers, 3. Practice the conversation in advance, and 4. Use a mindfulness framework in the actual moment. Cindy reinforces that discomfort is not a sign that something is wrong, but a sign of growth. By preparing ahead of time, professionals can respond instead of react and build real confidence through action. The goal is not to control others, but to take ownership of our responses, boundaries, and professional presence.
Resources discussed in this episode:
—
Contact Cindy Esliger
Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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By Cindy EsligerCindy Esliger tackles the reality of why avoiding difficult workplace interactions often makes things worse. She describes the familiar experience of conversations that make our stomachs drop, and our minds go blank, especially when dealing with colleagues who undermine or take credit for our work. Cindy explains that workplace bullying often shows up in subtle ways like interruptions, exclusion, and microaggressions, and it tends to continue when it is not addressed. She emphasizes that learning to confront these behaviors calmly and strategically, rather than ignoring them, is what shifts how others perceive and treat us.
She walks through the true cost of staying silent, from burnout and loss of credibility to becoming seen as someone who can be pushed around. Cindy outlines seven common behaviors that make these situations worse: 1. Apologizing excessively, 2. Overexplaining decisions, 3. Accepting microaggressive compliments, 4. Letting dismissive behavior slide, 5. Failing to document patterns of exclusion or bias, 6. Isolating instead of building alliances, and 7. Matching unprofessional behavior. Instead of suppressing emotions or ignoring the problem, she encourages a more strategic approach that focuses on choosing when to speak up and documenting patterns so that responses are intentional rather than reactive.
Cindy shares her framework for emotional rehearsal, a practical way to prepare for tough conversations in advance. She breaks it into four steps: 1. Recognize our triggers, 2. Examine the thought patterns underneath triggers, 3. Practice the conversation in advance, and 4. Use a mindfulness framework in the actual moment. Cindy reinforces that discomfort is not a sign that something is wrong, but a sign of growth. By preparing ahead of time, professionals can respond instead of react and build real confidence through action. The goal is not to control others, but to take ownership of our responses, boundaries, and professional presence.
Resources discussed in this episode:
—
Contact Cindy Esliger
Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.