Crystal's Notes 10 May

When I encounter petty or toxic people, I don’t engage. I don’t explain, defend, or perform. And that drives them absolutely wild, because what they want most is attention.

When people throw dirt at you, you don’t need to catch it. Let it fall to the ground. Don’t even look at it. Keep your energy field clean and surround yourself with supportive people. Be the professional, even if the people around you are acting like clowns.

That said, developing empathy can help. Sometimes, people get under our skin simply because their values or way they interpret the world are different. Tools like the Enneagram or learning about our different communication styles can help us understand the “why” behind the behaviour, and working through that discomfort is essential for building high-performing, cognitively diverse teams.

Holding Your Ground in the Ring

What should you do when a colleague talks over you, dismisses your ideas, or hijacks the meeting?

It might be tempting to shrink, apologise, or get emotional. Don’t. Instead, stay calm, clear, and unapologetic. Lower your voice instead of raising it. Look them in the eye. You don’t need to be loud to be powerful.

You can also try these assertive phrases:

• “Please don’t interrupt me; I’d like to finish my point.”
  

• “That felt dismissive. Let’s keep this professional.”
  

And if things escalate, document everything. Loop in HR or a senior you trust. Don’t navigate this alone. Form allies and protect your peace.

If this is something you’re working on, I teach assertive communication, executive presence, and how to navigate power dynamics in more depth at my upcoming workshops.

Remember, you don’t have to match the energy of difficult and hostile people. You only have to master your own. At Deep Human Club and our upcoming workshops, we teach the tools to help you lead with confidence and presence, even when the circus comes to town.

Much love

Crystal