Welcome to Week Three of our Self-Discovery Series. This one might sting a little… but
remember, that’s where the real growth happens.
The Behavior That Hurts
What’s one behavior you exhibit that causes tension or distance with your friends, family, or
team?
Let me go first. For me, it’s my directness!
I’ve been told I can come across as lacking empathy… even mean. And honestly, I didn’t see it
that way at all. I grew up around a lot of men—and then entered the construction industry,
another male-dominated world. In that space, directness was the standard. It worked. It was
expected. It was respected.
But when I transitioned into the interior design world, everything changed. Most of my
employees were women, and the approach to communication shifted to something much more
emotional and intuitive. My “just say it” style wasn’t landing the same way. In fact, it hurt
people.
I had to relearn how to communicate—to recognize how my words impacted others. And I
started paying attention to personality types, understanding how others prefer to receive
information, especially in client relationships. This is still a daily practice. Reading people.
Adjusting. Softening.
Your Turn
What’s your version of this?
Take a quiet moment with your journal and ask yourself:
“What behavior of mine creates friction with the people I care about?”
Write it down. Be honest. No judgment.
Once you acknowledge it, you’ll start seeing it more clearly in real time—and that’s when
transformation begins.
Keep going, you’re doing the work that matters.