Q: I work in a high-stress, high-stakes setting, and lately I find myself fighting an "us vs. them" mentality. It's not coming from other teams I work with — it's inside myself. How do I overcome this so that we can continue to progress?
Amber, 38, sales director
A: The first step is to recognize the issue, so well done! You can cross that off your list.
This isn't trivial, by the way.
It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that others are causing your feelings. This deflects responsibility and exacerbates the issue, as you then amplify your own feelings with blame for others.
At the same time, there's work to do to understand the triggers that raise these feelings and ways to address them.
First, reflect on differences of opinion that you have had with others.
Think broadly, considering examples at work, home, and other aspects of your life.