045: Why Smart Women Get Workplace Conflict Wrong: When We Assume We Know Someone's Intentions

What if one of the biggest causes of workplace conflict isn't what someone did, but the story we've created about why they did it?

Sandra Wint and Annette Garsteck continue their exploration of the stories we carry, but this time, they turn their attention outward. Together, they unpack how quickly we assign meaning to other people's behavior and how those assumptions shape our relationships, leadership, workplace culture, and even our most intimate personal relationships. From bosses and coworkers to partners and family members, the stories we tell about other people's intentions often feel true, even when we have very little evidence.

Sandra and Annette explore why smart, self-aware women still fall into the trap of assuming they know what someone else is thinking, feeling, or intending. They discuss the difference between facts and the stories we attach to those facts, why our past experiences color our interpretations, and how curiosity can transform conflict into understanding. Along the way, they share personal examples, leadership insights, and practical reflections on accountability, trust, favoritism, and the assumptions that quietly damage relationships at work and at home.

The conversation concludes with two powerful frameworks for navigating difficult conversations: the BICA feedback model and the "withhold" process, offering practical tools for addressing conflict without judgment, assumption, or unnecessary harm. If you've ever found yourself convinced that you know exactly why someone behaved the way they did, this episode invites you to pause and ask a different question:

What if there's another story?

Join our newsletter community at ExposingTheHiddenReality.com for additional reflections, behind-the-scenes conversations, and resources that don't make it into the public episodes.

Connect with Exposing the Hidden Reality:
https://exposingthehiddenreality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exposingthehiddenreality
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exposingthehiddenreality
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exposingthehiddenreality

Connect with Annette Garsteck:
https://www.annettegarsteck.com

Connect with Sandra Wint:
https://www.me-her-us.com

Photography of Sandra Wint + Annette Garsteck taken by Katie Garlock, Portrations