Empowered Communication

In Episode 15, Meredith drops a few thoughts about the holidays and one factor in communicating from an empowered place when we are triggered. Most of us have been taught that ego is arrogance, and we should avoid it. But, really ego is what defines our preferences and who we are. Holidays can be very triggering and bring out our sensitive points, but when we can manage and care for our egos (our preferences), we can interact better with people who are different from us. When we don't care for our egos, we can become arrogant and mean as an unconscious response to protect ourselves. The message here is take care of yourself! Eat that cookie! Binge that show! Even if you are busy or stressed, lonely or triggered, do something to calm your ego and care for yourself this holiday season. Click here to access the AI generated transcript of this episode. [https://otter.ai/u/k0jQMXPoyHcyFbEpGWuSYu5-xVs?utm_source=copy_url] Do you have a story about a toxic work environment? We would love to hear it! Share your story here [https://www.erisresolution.com/story]. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations [https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations]

In Episode 14, Meredith and Megan talk about how gaslighting and brainwashing show up in the workplace, and how they can impact a work environment. Gaslighting happens when we fail to acknowledge someone else's reality, and instead reassert our version of reality or what we want reality to be. Brainwashing happens when we use coercive strategies to pressure people to share a certain reality. Both dynamics can create a toxic work environment, even when we are not intending to create that. Meredith and Megan talk about their personal experiences with gaslighting and brainwashing at work.  Click here to access the AI generated transcript of this episode. [https://otter.ai/u/Xlkbg86STiWD85znRu0sPpQLnJs?utm_source=copy_url] Do you have a story about a toxic work environment? We would love to hear it! Share your story here [https://www.erisresolution.com/story]. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations [https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations]

In Episode 13, Meredith and Megan feel attacked. Or at least they talk about the experience of feeling attacked at work. Meredith shares the concept of the emotional cage error, a thinking error that leads us to believe that if someone else acts abusively, it limits how we are allowed to feel or respond. When we feel defensive or attacked, and we act from that space, it can limit our responses and work against the outcomes we want. When we can enforce our boundaries and identify our emotional cage errors, we can refocus on creating the environment we want to experience at work.  Click here to access the AI generated transcript of this episode. [https://otter.ai/u/gZfhnYF3pjUY2uSZdT4_kjE4hYg?utm_source=copy_url] Do you have a story about a toxic work environment? We would love to hear it! Share your story here [https://www.erisresolution.com/story]. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations [https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations]

In Episode 12, Meredith and Megan explore expectations at work. We often come from family systems and educational systems that teach us to expect one thing from our lives, but then we enter a workplace that is very different than we expected. Sometimes, workplaces even advertise themselves as "happy families," and after we start working, we learn they are anything but happy. When we learn that our expectations are not in line with the reality of the workplace, how should we handle that? In some ways, the answer is that we decide whether we want the work, as it is, and whether we are willing to put on the emotional or physical protections that will keep us safe. Click here to access the AI generated transcript of this episode. [https://otter.ai/u/v_Q3jLbfnV5B-O_cNInXLd2l_jw?utm_source=copy_url] Do you have a story about a toxic work environment? We would love to hear it! Share your story here [https://www.erisresolution.com/story]. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations [https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations]

In Episode 11, Meredith and Megan discuss workplace hierarchies and who, ultimately, is responsible for the workplace culture, whether it is toxic or healthy. In many workplaces, there is a clear hierarchy, with chief officers over managers, over frontline workers. The expectation is that the person at the top of the hierarchy has more responsibility than the person who is paid the least. But, what happens when that responsibility breaks down? Often, in toxic work environments, the person at the top is not emotionally or intellectually capable of creating a healthy work environment. In that case, even though it is unfair, the person who is paid less, may want to take more responsibility rather than leave or allow a workplace culture to deteriorate. This episode includes some tools to reclaim power where the person expected to be responsible has not followed through.  Click here to access the AI generated transcript of this episode. [https://otter.ai/u/iozWPH2ZwSqFTQbxP92A_WWhauY?utm_source=copy_url] Do you have a story about a toxic work environment? We would love to hear it! Share your story here [https://www.erisresolution.com/story]. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations [https://redcircle.com/empowered-communication/donations]