"The myth of the professional robot"

There’s an idea we rarely say out loud, but it’s everywhere:

But here’s the problem: teams aren’t machines.
And people aren’t robots.

We don’t stop being human just because we logged in.

We still interpret tone. We still react to social cues.
We still carry memories of who made us feel seen and who made us feel small.

Feedback doesn’t land in a vacuum.
It lands in a context one shaped by trust, power, safety, and status.

You can write the clearest comment in the world…
but if someone’s already anxious about how they’re seen on the team, it might still feel like a hit.

This doesn’t mean we tiptoe.
It means we lead with awareness.

As Brené Brown puts it:

Because professionalism isn’t about being emotionally neutral.
It’s about being emotionally responsible.

Until next time,
Dermot
​The Messy Middle

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