Do you find yourself struggling as the resident workplace people-pleaser? Then you’ve landed in the right spot.

What is people-pleasing—putting other people’s needs ahead of your own. And don’t get me wrong. It’s admirable to be a pleasant co-worker or a leader who lends support, but putting other people first all the time can often hurt your well-being.

At its core, people-pleasing is a sign you have a strong desire for approval and have low regard for yourself because you’re thinking and acting in ways that compromise yourself. Of course, you are kind, compassionate, and want to help others, but the truth is that people-pleasing is a self-soothing behavior. It’s more about avoiding criticism, conflict, judgment, disapproval, rejection, and more than it is about wanting to be genuinely helpful. The insecurity that results may drive you to conform to other people’s opinions and expectations—even when you don’t want to—and can make it hard for you to say “no” when you should.

Here are a few common signs that you’re a people-pleaser:

Resigning from your role as a workplace people-pleaser can take time, but it is possible. Here are some initial steps to think........

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