Understanding irritating behaviour

Download infographic

Ever been irritated by a colleague's behaviour?

🟣 Interrupting in meetings

🔵 Always saying yes

🟡 Avoiding difficult conversations

🟠 Turning their camera off

🔴 Resisting feedback

It's easy to get stuck on what we see. But behaviour is just the tip of the iceberg.

It's always just an attempt to meet underlying human needs.

🌱 Interrupting might come from a need to contribute or to feel seen.

🌱 Always saying yes could be about wanting inclusion and belonging.

🌱 Avoiding conversations might point to a need for emotional safety.

🌱 Turning the camera off may be about ease or autonomy.

🌱 Resisting feedback? That might reflect a need for understanding or knowing that “I’m good enough.”

We don't have to like the behaviour, or agree with it.

But when we get curious about what might be driving it, we open up a much broader toolkit for responding - with clarity, compassion, and effectiveness.

Which of these is hardest for you to stay curious about?

What might you add to the list?