The line we don’t always see (especially on April Fools’)
I’ve always had mixed feelings about April Fools’.
Lighthearted pranks can be fun—a little surprise, a shared laugh. But there’s a line there, and it can get crossed more easily than we think.
What starts as harmless can land differently for someone else. Confusing. Embarrassing. Even hurtful.
Not because anyone meant harm. Just because we didn’t fully see the other person in that moment.
And that got me thinking about how often something similar happens at work.
Not with pranks, but with the stories we tell ourselves about people.
They don’t care.
They’re not that capable.
They’re being difficult.
Those stories feel small. Almost efficient. Like we’ve figured something out.
But they can quietly create distance.
They shape how we show up, how we respond, what we assume. And over time, they can get in the way of actually knowing the person in front of us.
Not in a dramatic way. Just enough to keep us slightly off. Slightly disconnected. Slightly missing each other.
And just like with a prank, we usually don’t realize it’s happening in the moment.
This isn’t about being perfect or never making assumptions. It’s just something to notice.
Because sometimes the biggest shift in how we lead someone starts with being willing to question the story we’ve already decided is true.
Your Coach,
Stacey
