The Invisible Forces Behind Noticeable Behavior.
In everyday work life, we often encounter behaviors that irritate us: the overly critical colleague, someone who tries to project dominance through loudness, or constant absenteeism. We quickly tend to judge these behaviors: "That's unacceptable!" or "How unprofessional!" However, behind every behavior – and our reactions to it – lie deep-seated, unconscious needs and fears. These emotional drivers influence our actions more than we realize. Yet I often hear, "Let's keep it professional!"
The Invisible Forces Behind Noticeable Behavior
No behavior is random. Particularly behaviors that stand out negatively are often expressions of deep-seated fears – such as the fear of losing control, being rejected, or showing insecurity.
A few examples from everyday work life:
Overcompensating Behavior: Avoiding delegation, excessively enforcing one’s own ideas without considering others' opinions, a compulsion to control even small details. Often an attempt to compensate for the fear of losing control in chaotic situations.
Perfectionism and Criticism: Often an expression of a strong need for recognition and the fear of showing weakness or making mistakes.
Aggressive Behavior: Aggression often masks insecurity and acts as a preventive defense against perceived attacks.
Empathy as a Key to Change
When we recognize that noticeable behavior is often rooted in unconscious fears, we can respond with more empathy and compassion. This mindset fosters a more respectful work environment and makes dealing with conflicts easier.
Conclusion: Every Behavior Has a Story
Behavior often stems from unconscious fears and needs. When we understand this, we can better lead ourselves and our teams – resulting in sustainable changes. This knowledge continually helps me in dealing with "difficult behavior" in my environment, not only in the role of trainer or coach. And: behavior that bothers us in others always has more to do with ourselves than we might realize – and certainly more than we'd like to admit 😅
#Leadership #Teamwork #SelfLeadership #LeadershipSkills
The image of an iceberg as a model of mind: 95% of who we are happens lies in our unconscious. Own drawing from one of my trainings.