A Career Coach's Unconventional Advice: Be 'Professionally Mean' to Succeed at Work

Em Rezkalla, a career coach, captured massive attention with a TikTok suggesting the adoption of 'professional meanness' at work viewed by over 2.8 million people.

In her January recording, she expressed with affection, "I'm advising you to adopt a more assertive workplace demeanor this year. Being overly accommodating and eager to please in 2024 isn't working in your favor. Being 'mean' here translates to being firm, straightforward, and confidently assertive."

Rezkalla illustrated this by advising individuals to directly address colleagues if they want to foster better performance or efficiency. She urged telling coworkers to cease actions that may hinder your productivity or complicate your work life.

Speaking to Business Insider, Rezkalla clarified that the criteria many use to label someone as 'mean'—particularly when it comes to women—often misrepresent what is essentially confidence and directness.

Her concept of 'professional meanness' evolved from previous experiences of being overly compliant, which taught her painfully that such behavior isn't the route to flourishing careers.

Shifting Away from Pleasing Everyone

Rezkalla encouraged practicing dialogues aimed at establishing firm boundaries within the workplace. First, use a colleague you trust and gradually apply it to more hierarchically superior situations.

Address any discomfort a colleague might show by stimulating discussion, asking them to clarify their discontent.

Rezkalla stressed that taking an inquisitive approach—querying their specific grievances—can reveal whether their discontent is personal preference-based.

Navigating Assertiveness For Women

Women might self-interrogate when adopting a bolder stance, which highlights the importance of tracing any issues back to their origins.

She recommended questions like, "Is there a recurring behavior in me that troubles you?" or "Do you think I'm being overly dominant in meetings?"

Emphasizing a people-centric approach is crucial, she advised treating it as an interpersonal dialogue rather than an ego confrontation.

Reactions to 'Professional Meanness'

Some users applauded Rezkalla's insights, noting that embracing a more assertive identity led to increased promotion opportunities. However, dissenting voices suggest that such behavior might jeopardize one's career.

Rezkalla admitted her suggestions are subjective and won't suit everyone, though she advises staying emotionally attuned.

"It's important to maintain your essence while enhancing your receptivity to fresh strategies—this should come without personal compromise," Rezkalla remarked.

Despite considering a legal career, Rezkalla studied political science and passed the LSAT but opted for a master's in public and international affairs. Her career then shifted to roles in various sectors, including consulting and policy development for the Canadian government, before she embraced career coaching four years ago.