When the rules are invisible, uncertainty fills the gap.
Why this matters → (30 sec read)
This week, we explored how unspoken rules shape everyday experiences at work.
We looked at how microaggressions introduce uncertainty, why intent doesn’t erase impact, how silence becomes a form of self-protection, and why uncertainty chips away at wellbeing.
What stood out is this: Microaggressions don’t just leave people angry. They often leave people unsure.
That uncertainty becomes mental and emotional work — carried quietly alongside the job itself.
For leaders → (30-second read)
The last two weeks have highlighted a critical leadership responsibility: Clarity.
When expectations, standards, and responses are informal or inconsistent, people fill in the gaps themselves.
They guess.
They self-monitor.
They stay silent.
Silence doesn’t necessarily mean things are fine, it can also mean the risk of speaking feels too high.
Making the rules visible reduces uncertainty, protects wellbeing, and creates fairer conditions for everyone.
Bringing it all together
Across the week, one pattern became impossible to ignore:
Uncertainty is exhausting.
Whether that’s guessing the rules or not knowing how actions will be interpreted, whether impact will be acknowledged, or whether speaking up will help or harm...
Microaggressions magnify this uncertainty because they regularly go unaddressed — leaving people to carry the weight of their impacts alone. Wellbeing quietly erodes.
But when expectations are clear, and responses are consistent, uncertainty loosens its grip.
Clarity isn’t about control - it’s about care.
Reflection
Where might unspoken rules be creating unnecessary uncertainty at work?
What would change if clarity were treated as a shared responsibility rather than a personal burden?
🔔 coming up on The Work Edit:
Next week, we’re moving into how culture can determine who participates.
Want to feel more confident talking about Race and other topics at work?
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Six classes held via Teams | Every Thursday | from 12 - 1:30pm | From May 7th - June 11th
When are the Classes?
Thursday 7 May, 12-1:30 - Examining Beliefs - Foundations of EDI Thursday 14 May, 12-1:30 - Today's Sex & Equality Landscape
Thursday 21 May, 12-1:30 - Flags, Pronouns & Human Rights Thursday 28 May, 12-1:30 - Talkin' 'Bout my Generation
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coming up on Cultural Calendar Club
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International women’s day
Redefining macho
Monday 9 March 2026
12:00 13:00
Not yet a member of Cultural Calendar Club? Join today or Contact Us.
Rebecca created the “Redefining MACHO” framework to encourage better male allyship and foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace. This framework consists of five simple, actionable steps that everyone can implement today to enhance DE&I within their organisations and the broader business community.
M = Meaningful Mentor
A = Amplify Awareness
C = Capture Confidence
H = Harmony with Home
O = Orchestrate Opportunities
Rebecca will discuss how this framework can unlock numerous small actions that collectively support the development of diverse teams, actively champion equity, and ensure that inclusion is experienced by all. She has conducted several “Redefining MACHO” workshops and events, gathering valuable feedback and real-life examples that provide a clear roadmap for change.
She will also share her “Work Life Harmony Handbook” and “Confidence Boosting Alphabet” to help SMASH Imposter Syndrome.