The Story Your Brain Is Telling You at Work

A lot of the pressure people feel at work doesn’t come from the work itself. It comes from the story our brain creates about what’s happening around us.

A short Slack reply, a quiet meeting moment, or a quick hallway interaction can suddenly feel loaded with meaning. But often those interpretations aren’t based on what’s happening now — they’re echoes from past experiences the brain is trying to protect us from repeating.

In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin explores how these mental stories shape participation at work and how learning to question them can create more clarity, confidence, and steadiness.

You’ll hear:

Why hesitation in meetings is often the brain managing social risk

How past experiences create “meeting echoes” that influence behavior years later

Examples of how we misinterpret everyday work interactions — from Slack messages to quick leadership conversations

Small ways to participate more comfortably, including micro-connecting in meeting chat

How AI can help you pressure-test ideas and prepare for conversations

Reflection:
What story might your brain be telling you about a recent interaction at work — and what other explanation could also be true?

Unlearning Work is about seeing the patterns shaping your work so you can choose how you show up instead of reacting automatically.

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