#9: How to Stop Taking Things Personally at Work

How much time and energy do you spend worrying about what others think?

Have you ever received a comment, a look, or feedback that sent you into a spiral—even when it wasn’t about you?

In today’s episode, Karen Gombault unpacks why taking things personally is one of the biggest barriers to confident leadership.

She shares a pivotal career moment that reshaped her perspective, explains why detaching from external reactions is a game changer, and offers two powerful strategies to help you stop personalizing situations. When you stop making everything about you, you free yourself to lead with confidence, resilience, and intention.

5 Key Takeaways

• Taking things personally is a sign of self-doubt. When you interpret external events as a reflection of your worth, it creates unnecessary stress and insecurity.
• Most reactions aren’t about you. People’s feedback, moods, or offhand comments usually stem from their own perspective, stress, or struggles—not your competence.

• Detaching from feedback helps you lead effectively. When you stop personalizing situations, you stay calm, respond objectively, and make better decisions.

• Confidence comes from staying in your own lane. Leaders who focus on their mission rather than external validation convey resilience and command respect.

• Use mental strategies to create distance. Visualizing "water on a duck's back" or imagining a protective force field helps deflect negativity and maintain composure in high-stakes situations.

"Stop letting other people's moods, opinions, offhand comments dictate how you feel about yourself. It's not about ignoring feedback or being indifferent. It's about owning your power and deciding how to respond objectively and not emotionally."

Not taking things personally is one of the most powerful shifts you can make in your leadership. It allows you to navigate challenges with confidence, foster healthier professional relationships, and free yourself from unnecessary stress. The next time you find yourself spiraling over feedback, an email, or a meeting, ask yourself: Is this really about me, or am I making it about me? When you stop personalizing everything, you unlock a new level of leadership.