Christmas Episode 2025: Help Annette Ban the Word 'Problematic' | Better at Work 2025 Wrap-Up

Our final episode of 2025! Cathal and Annette wrap up the year with takeaways from last week's Smart Conflict episode - plus Annette has a hilarious problem: she can't stop saying the word "problematic."

In this Christmas special, we review key lessons from Alice Driscoll and Louise van Haast's brilliant conversation, thank our amazing community, and ask for your help with Annette's vocabulary crisis.

IN THIS EPISODE:

- Christmas catch-up with Cathal and Annette

- Why last week's Smart Conflict episode is perfect for family gatherings

- Annette's 3 takeaways from Smart Conflict

- The 5 R's framework: Reflection, Regulation, Readiness, Response, Repair

- Singles tennis to doubles tennis: Shifting from adversarial to collaborative

- Annette's "problematic" word problem - we need your help!

- Why "problematic" has become problematic

- Thank yous to the team: Phoebe, Harrison, Grace

- Thank yous to listeners: Angela Collins, David Monroe, Linda Menos, Jesse

- Preview: Russell Beck on World of Work to 2030 (first episode back January)

- Christmas wishes and 2026 excitement

ANNETTE'S 3 SMART CONFLICT TAKEAWAYS:

1. The 5 R's Framework - Reflection, Regulation, Readiness, Response, Repair. If you're short on time, focus on REPAIR.

2. Singles Tennis to Doubles Tennis - Move from adversarial (me vs you) to collaborative (us vs the problem together).

3. The Decision Tree - Should I have this hard conversation? The book has a decision tree that helps you work through it.

THE "PROBLEMATIC" CHALLENGE:

Annette has banned herself from using the word "problematic" after realizing she says it constantly. She needs a replacement word that isn't "aligned" (already banned), isn't too rude, and works professionally.

Help Annette! What should she say instead?

RESOURCES:

Smart Conflict Book: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work

Authors: Alice Driscoll and Louise van Haast

Last Week's Episode: Smart Conflict with Alice and Louise

Website: betteratwork.net

Instagram: @betteratwork

ABOUT BETTER AT WORK:

Making your work life better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday.

We're back in January 2026 with Russell Beck discussing the World of Work to 2030.

Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net

Thank you for an incredible 2025! See you in January 2026.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Cathal, Annette, and the Better at Work team!