DeepSummary
Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pachinens, former senior executives, host the "Surfing Corporate" podcast, providing insights and advice on navigating corporate life with humor and relatability. In this episode, they discuss the topic of "frenemies" at work - individuals who pretend to be friends but are actually rivals or adversaries. They highlight how interactions with frenemies can heighten stress responses and negatively impact mental and physical health.
The hosts delve into strategies for identifying and dealing with frenemies. They suggest objectively evaluating the frenemy's personality and motivations, considering where your goals and working relationships intersect or clash. Having direct but empathetic conversations to clarify boundaries and expectations is also recommended, while protecting oneself by building strong relationships with other colleagues.
The episode emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in handling frenemy situations. It encourages listeners to examine their own contributions to the dynamic, separate facts from assumptions, and maintain integrity by keeping emotional reactions in check. The hosts share personal anecdotes and advice, reinforcing the idea that taking proactive steps can potentially transform negative relationships into positive ones.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Interactions with 'frenemies' - colleagues who pretend to be friends but are actually rivals or adversaries - can heighten stress responses and negatively impact mental and physical health.
- To identify and manage frenemy relationships, objectively evaluate their personality, motivations, and the intersection of your goals and working relationships.
- Consider having direct but empathetic conversations to clarify boundaries and expectations with frenemies, while protecting yourself by building strong relationships with other colleagues.
- Practice self-awareness and emotional intelligence by examining your own contributions to the frenemy dynamic, separating facts from assumptions, and maintaining integrity by keeping emotional reactions in check.
- Take proactive steps, such as open conversations or setting boundaries, to potentially transform negative frenemy relationships into positive ones.
- Maintain a sense of humor and relatability when navigating challenging corporate dynamics and relationships.
- Build strong relationships with colleagues and superiors to ensure they hear your perspective, not just the frenemy's perspective.
- Evaluate the frenemy's personality across intellect, emotionality, sociability, drive, and diligence to better understand their behavior and motivations.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “You want to ensure that they get that information from you, and they're not just being fed info and perspective from your frenemy.“ by Aileen Merciel
- “Own your role in this frenemy situation. It's really important that you consider your own contribution to that frenemy dynamic rather than just blaming the other person.“ by Glenda Pachinens
- “So if you're stuck in a rut in your professional life, maybe somebody put your picture in the freezer and froze you.“ by Aileen Merciel
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Episode Information
Surfing Corporate
Surfing Corporate
4/24/24
Frenemies are slithery and dangerous corporate species that can be found in all types of workplaces, in every industry, country, continent, or planet. Frenemies are people who pretend to be your friend, but they’re also in some ways an enemy or rival. They can be charming and very likable one minute, and then stab you in the back with a recently sharpened machete the next (ouch).
A recent study found that interactions with frenemies can heighten our stress responses MORE than aversive relationships. And over the long term, that seems to provoke worse cardiovascular health. So the sooner you learn tools to deal with frenemies, the better.
EPISODE SOURCES
How to Navigate Your Relationship With a Workplace Frenemy
“Why workplace frenemies are our most stressful colleagues”
How to get along with your work frenemy and protect yourself
CREDITS
Hosts: Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins
Intern: Stephany Gil de Sucher
Original theme song by Chaliwa Music
Library Music: Blue Dot Sessions
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