On Being Human at Work: Leading When It’s Heavy

Some days hit different. You wake up and something’s off, maybe it’s you, maybe it’s the air. The inbox feels louder, the faces in meetings blur together, and your usual spark is just… missing. We all have experienced them. Sometimes it’s work, sometimes it’s life, sometimes it’s both tangled up together. What matters isn’t pretending you’re fine, it’s learning how to move through it without dropping what makes you, you.

Ryan shares, ‘Err on the side of vulnerability, and be cautious about who you share with.’ Vulnerability is powerful when it’s placed well. It’s not about oversharing. It’s about being real in a way that builds trust. Tansley reflects on relationships holistically. If you’re sharing something hard, is it to connect or to unload? Is this a moment to speak, or a moment to listen? Building that instinct is quiet work, the kind that sharpens with experience and a few wrong turns.

Relationships are 50-50. They can only hold weight if both people are steady enough to carry their side. Sometimes your 50 looks like speaking up. Other times, it’s asking for space or simply taking a walk. Movement helps. So does sunlight early in the day.