Have you ever worked somewhere where you could feel the divide?
The meeting that happened before the meeting. The decision everyone else seemed to know about, but you didn't.
The manager who had a clear favourite, and the quiet understanding that you weren't it.
Nobody says it out loud. But you feel it. You start second-guessing yourself. You stop offering ideas.
You spend a little more energy than you should reading the room, and a little less on the work you're good at.
That's what divisive management does. It rarely
looks dramatic from the outside. From the inside, it can wear you down.
And here's the part that often gets missed: many managers don't realise they're doing it. They're busy, they gravitate towards the people they find easy, and no one ever trained them to notice the pattern.
If you're a manager, it's worth asking yourself honestly:
• Who do I give my time to?
• Who hears things first?
• Who might be feeling left on the outside?
If you've been on the outside, we want you to know that it isn't a reflection of your worth. It's a reflection of the environment.
Fair, consistent, inclusive leadership should be a given. It's what makes people feel safe enough to do their best work.
Have you ever experienced this, or caught yourself doing it?
