Reading the room (and yourself)

Early in their career, they thought they were just observing meetings.
Who talks most. Who interrupts. Who gets credited.

It felt easy to spot “that person”  – the one who dominates, judges, or shuts others down.

But here’s the Cappuccino Club twist:
The room often knows something you don’t – including about you.

Research shows people rarely give honest negative feedback, even when invited. So the loud interrupter? They may have no idea. The overly critical colleague? Completely oblivious.

And here’s the uncomfortable bit for any young entrant:
You don’t know how you’re coming across either.

In meetings, it’s not always about big mistakes. It’s often the small things:

• The slightly dismissive tone
• The eye-roll (even on Teams)
• The quick judgement of someone else’s idea

Ironically, these are the behaviours people remember most.

So instead of just assessing others, flip the lens:

• How often do I interrupt?
• Do I build on ideas or judge them?
• Would someone describe me as easy to work with?

Because the truth is simple:
What feels ambiguous to you… is often obvious to everyone else.

Great careers aren’t built by reading people alone.
They’re built by learning how you’re being read too.