Workplace Therapy with Dr. Abby Medcalf

31. Stop Waiting for Your Boss to Notice You

You can’t control your boss. You can’t change their personality, override their decisions, or make them manage you the way you wish they would. But you can absolutely influence how the relationship works, how much visibility you get, how well your needs are understood, and how much your contributions actually register. That’s what managing up is. It’s not manipulation. It’s not going around your boss or undermining their authority. It’s the deliberate, strategic work of building a relationship with the person above you so you can do your best work and they can do theirs. Today, I’m walking you through exactly how to do it. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/managing-up-at-work [https://abbymedcalf.com/managing-up-at-work] Grab the free Managing Up Starter Kit, your guide to understanding your boss’s working style and communicating in ways that actually land: https://abbymedcalf.com/managing-up-kit [https://abbymedcalf.com/managing-up-kit] Join my online community, One Love Collective, on Substack: https://abbymedcalf.com/substack [https://abbymedcalf.com/substack].  You'll get... ✨ Early drops + ad-free podcast episodes ✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations ✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby _________  Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!  https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/  [https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/%C2%A0] 👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries] 👉 Pick up The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier to use as a companion to the book or as a standalone masterclass: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook] 👉 Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book  [https://abbymedcalf.com/book%C2%A0] ____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives [https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives/] where you’ll find past episodes. Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop/] A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop] Say hello on social: Substack: https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving [https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving/] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving [https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd]  YouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube [https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

30. Office Gossip and Rumor Mills: How to Stay Out of It Without Becoming Invisible

Someone pulls you aside after a meeting. They lean in. They've got something to tell you about a colleague, a decision that's coming, a rumor making the rounds. And you feel it, that pull. The slight quickening. The part of you that wants to know. Office gossip is one of those workplace dynamics that almost everyone participates in to some degree and almost no one feels good about. Today I'm going to tell you what's actually going on when gossip circulates, why it's so hard to stay out of it, what it costs you when you don't, and how to navigate it in a way that keeps you connected without compromising your integrity or your reputation. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/office-gossip-rumor-mills-at-work Download the Gossip-Free Playbook, your one-page guide to staying connected and informed at work without the reputation cost: https://abbymedcalf.com/gossip-free-playbook [https://abbymedcalf.com/gossip-free-playbook] Join my online community, One Love Collective, on Substack: https://abbymedcalf.com/substack [https://abbymedcalf.com/substack]. You'll get... ✨ Early drops + ad-free podcast episodes ✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations ✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby _________  Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!  https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/  [https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/%C2%A0] 👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries] 👉 Pick up The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier to use as a companion to the book or as a standalone masterclass: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook] 👉 Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book  [https://abbymedcalf.com/book%C2%A0] ____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives [https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives/] where you’ll find past episodes. Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop/] A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop] Say hello on social: Substack: https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving [https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving/] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving [https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd]  YouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube [https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

29. Conflict With a Coworker? Here's How to Actually Fix It

Conflict with your boss has a clear power structure. Conflict with someone you manage has a clear direction of authority. But conflict with a peer? That's the one nobody really teaches you how to handle, because it sits in the most ambiguous territory at work, two people at roughly the same level, no one with formal authority over the other, and a problem that isn't going away. Today I'm going to show you why peer conflict is uniquely hard to navigate, what's actually driving it most of the time, and a four-step approach for resolving it without blowing up the relationship, going over someone's head unnecessarily, or letting it fester into something that affects your whole team. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/peer-conflict-at-work [https://abbymedcalf.com/peer-conflict-at-work] Download the Peer Conflict Prep Sheet, your guide to preparing for the conversation before you walk in: https://abbymedcalf.com/peer-conflict-sheet [https://abbymedcalf.com/peer-conflict-sheet] Join my online community, One Love Collective, on Substack: https://abbymedcalf.com/substack [https://abbymedcalf.com/substack]. You'll get... ✨ Early drops + ad-free podcast episodes ✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations ✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby _________  Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!  https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/  [https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/%C2%A0] 👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries] 👉 Pick up The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier to use as a companion to the book or as a standalone masterclass: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook] 👉 Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book  [https://abbymedcalf.com/book%C2%A0] ____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives [https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives/] where you’ll find past episodes. Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop/] A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop] Say hello on social: Substack: https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving [https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving/] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving [https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd]  YouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube [https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

28. Passive-Aggressive Coworkers: How to Handle the Person Who Never Says What They Mean

They said, "Fine." But it wasn't fine. You can tell by the way they said it, the email they copied three people on for no apparent reason, the "just checking in" that was actually a pointed reminder, the compliment that somehow left you feeling worse than an insult would have. Passive-aggressive behavior at work is one of the most maddening dynamics to deal with because it's designed to be deniable. There's nothing you can point to directly, and yet the message is loud and clear. Today I'm going to tell you what's actually driving this behavior, why it gets under your skin the way it does, and exactly how to respond without getting pulled into their game. Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/passive-aggressive-coworkers [https://abbymedcalf.com/passive-aggressive-coworkers]   Download The Passive-Aggressive Response Guide: https://abbymedcalf.com/passive-aggressive-guide [https://abbymedcalf.com/passive-aggressive-guide] Join my online community, One Love Collective, on Substack: https://abbymedcalf.com/substack [https://abbymedcalf.com/substack]. You'll get... ✨ Early drops + ad-free podcast episodes ✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations ✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby _________  Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!  https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/  [https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/%C2%A0] 👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries] 👉 Pick up The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier to use as a companion to the book or as a standalone masterclass: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook] 👉 Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book  [https://abbymedcalf.com/book%C2%A0] ____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives [https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives/] where you’ll find past episodes. Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop/] A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop] Say hello on social: Substack: https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving [https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving/] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving [https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd]  YouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube [https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

27. Can't Say No at Work? Here's How to Start (Without the Fallout)

Last episode, I told you why you can't stop people-pleasing at work. Today, I'm giving you what to actually say because knowing the pattern isn't enough. When your boss drops something on your desk at 4pm Friday, or a colleague asks you to cover for them again, or you're sitting in a meeting watching a bad decision get made and nobody's pushing back, you need words. Ones that don't blow up the relationship, don't make you sound difficult, and don't send you home replaying the conversation for three hours. That's what today is. Six situations where people-pleasing shows up most at work, and the exact language to handle each one without losing yourself or burning a bridge. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/saying-no-at-work-people-pleasers-guide [https://abbymedcalf.com/saying-no-at-work-people-pleasers-guide] Grab the No Without the Drama Script Card: https://abbymedcalf.com/no-script-card [https://abbymedcalf.com/no-script-card] Join my online community, One Love Collective, on Substack: https://abbymedcalf.com/substack [https://abbymedcalf.com/substack] You'll get... ✨ Early drops + ad-free podcast episodes ✨ Worksheets, journal prompts, downloads, and guided visualizations ✨ Community chats and live Q&A calls with Abby _________  Subscribe to the Love Letter and get my little messages each week!  https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/  [https://abbymedcalf.com/loveletter-opt-in/%C2%A0] 👉 Pick up a copy of my new book, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries] 👉 Pick up The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier to use as a companion to the book or as a standalone masterclass: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook [https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbook] 👉 Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book  [https://abbymedcalf.com/book%C2%A0] ____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives [https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives/] where you’ll find past episodes. Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop/] A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop [https://abbymedcalf.com/shop] Say hello on social: Substack: https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://substack.com/@abbymedcalfphd] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving [https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthriving/] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving [https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthriving] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd [https://www.tiktok.com/@abbymedcalfphd]  YouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube [https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]