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Good Morning Everyone,
Before we jump into our Wednesday edition of the newsletter here is some great information from our sponsor Pacaso:
The key to a $1.3T opportunity
A new trend in real estate is making the most expensive properties obtainable. It’s called co-ownership, and it’s revolutionizing the $1.3T vacation home market.
The company leading the trend? Pacaso. Created by the founder of Zillow, Pacaso turns underutilized luxury properties into fully-managed assets and makes them accessible to the broadest possible market.
The result? More than $1b in transactions, 2,000+ happy homeowners, and over $110m in gross profits for Pacaso.
With rapid international growth and 41% gross profit growth last year, Pacaso is ready for what’s next. They even recently reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.
But the real opportunity is now, before public markets. Until 5/29, you can join leading investors like SoftBank and Maveron for just $2.80/share.
This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
Now, Lets jump into todays newsletter on how to navigate office tension:
Passive-aggressive behavior in the workplace can be as draining as it is common. These subtle hostilities—backhanded compliments, deliberately missed deadlines, or the silent treatment—create a toxic undercurrent that affects productivity and wellbeing. Research suggests that nearly 75% of employees have experienced some form of passive aggression at work, yet many struggle to address it effectively. Before responding, it's crucial to recognize the telltale signs:
Sarcastic or dismissive remarks disguised as jokes
Procrastination or "forgetting" tasks that impact your work
Subtle sabotage or withholding important information
Non-verbal cues like eye-rolling or exaggerated sighs
The silent treatment or minimal communication
Taking credit for others' work while deflecting blame for mistakes
Consistently making excuses rather than acknowledging issues
RESPOND WITH STRATEGIC CALM
When faced with passive aggression, your immediate reaction may be to respond in kind or confront the person directly. However, research shows that strategic, measured responses yield better outcomes than emotional reactions. The key is maintaining professional composure while addressing the underlying issues through thoughtful action:
Document patterns of behavior with specific examples and dates
Practice the "name it to tame it" technique by calmly describing the behavior you observe
Use "I" statements to express impact without accusation ("I noticed the report was submitted late, which affected my deadline")
Ask clarifying questions that gently expose the contradiction ("You mentioned you're fine, but you haven't responded to my last three emails")
Set clear, direct expectations and boundaries for future interactions
Avoid digital communications for sensitive conversations—tone gets lost in text
Give the benefit of doubt once, but establish consequences for repeated behavior
Focus on specific behaviors rather than making character judgments
Resist the urge to vent about the person to other colleagues
BUILD LASTING PROFESSIONAL RESILIENCE
Beyond managing individual incidents, developing long-term strategies for dealing with passive-aggressive colleagues creates a foundation for professional wellbeing. The most successful professionals don't just react to difficult situations—they cultivate environments and mindsets that minimize their impact. Consider these approaches for building your resilience against workplace tension:
Develop a strong support network outside the immediate work environment
Practice emotional detachment techniques to prevent taking the behavior personally
Strengthen relationships with other colleagues to create a positive counterbalance
Consider whether you might inadvertently trigger the behavior and adjust accordingly
Establish regular check-ins with passive-aggressive colleagues to reduce opportunities for misunderstanding
Learn to recognize your own emotional responses and develop personal cooling-off strategies
Focus energy on high-performers and positive relationships rather than problematic ones
Suggest team communication workshops or training as a non-threatening improvement strategy
Know when to involve management or HR if behavior crosses into harassment territory
By implementing these strategies with consistency and patience, you'll not only effectively manage passive-aggressive colleagues but also protect your professional reputation and psychological wellbeing in the process. Remember that changing entrenched behaviors takes time—focus on progress rather than perfection.
As always have a great day and see you tomorrow!
The Casual Workweek