The Nice Trap
“I just don’t feel joy in this job anymore.” I was sitting in a windowless conference room with my new client, Derek. It felt a bit stifling, like the heat was on too high, and Derek seemed equally confined by the office chair he’d chosen to sit in. There were two nice armchairs across the room, and I suggested we move. He agreed politely but without much enthusiasm. He had soft features and a gentle manner, and I immediately felt we’d get along. When we sat again, I waited for him to continue. I’d been told this software engineer for a major retailer had a lot of talent and that his team really loved him. Yet he was not happy at all. “I just want to get better results,” he…
