We didn’t invent the burnout badge; we inherited it.

You weren’t born thinking praise is weakness, that overwork equals loyalty, or that silence is professionalism. Those are scripts passed down from generations before us, reinforced at home, echoed in the workplace, and rewarded until they become ingrained as “normal.” Consider this: the behaviors we now label as bad at work, such as ghosting, gatekeeping, and burnout-bragging, aren’t the root problem. They’re symptoms of generational defaults we’ve never paused to question.

Across coaching sessions with Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, I hear the same things: frustration, misunderstanding, and misaligned expectations. But beneath the surface? A surprisingly shared desire: to be seen, respected, and led with purpose. It’s not that we want different things. It’s that we’ve been shaped by different scripts.

Try This:
Pick one “bad behavior” you’ve either witnessed or participated in at work: staying quiet, withholding support, over-functioning, or ghosting. Ask yourself: What belief was I operating from? Who taught me that? Is it still serving me, or am I ready to rewrite it?

One Recommendation:
🔗 Read: Unfollowing the Script: Why Gen X Must Lead The Generational Rewrite

After four years of blogging, this is the one I am most proud of writing. I would love for you to click the link, read the information, and then reply to this email with your thoughts. I have been working on the ideas around this blog for months.

We don't spend enough time understanding how each generation was shaped and how to lead beyond default behaviors. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness, unlearning, and writing something better. In a world that is moving so fast, if we don't start building consciousness around our behaviors, we will be left behind.

Closing Thought:

We all have a go-to bad behavior. Perhaps you avoid difficult conversations, downplay your successes, or micromanage out of fear. You didn't invent it; you absorbed it. But now it's yours to own.

This week, name the behavior you've normalized. Then take one conscious step to interrupt it:

🤔Say the hard thing.

🤔Share the credit.

🤔Ask the question. 

Real leadership is not about getting it right; it's about choosing to lead with intention, especially when the script tells you not to.