Toxic liars - a lethal combination

Once again, I find myself writing about toxic characters in the professional environment.

They come in many shades, with many forms of toxic behaviour. One trait I’ve been observing more closely of late is lying — and not the occasional, defensive lie, but habitual, blatant lying of the highest order.

Some of these people have the audacity to lie straight to your face.

Earlier, every such interaction would leave me irritated and agitated. Even now, I do feel irate — but over the last couple of months, I’ve tried something different. Instead of reacting immediately, I allow them space to explain themselves again and again.

What usually follows is predictable: more lies, layered carefully to cover earlier ones.

Ironically, this seems to irritate them far more than it irritates me.

When I say I want to remain polite and calm, I realise how difficult it actually is — every single time. Calmness here is not natural; it is practiced.

As an afterthought, I try to see this differently. Maybe these people are unknowingly training me — strengthening my ability to handle nonsense without losing my balance. Otherwise, I might have mistaken comfort or partial wins as achievement, while still standing at the edge of the issue.

Choosing positivity may sound simplistic, but it helps — in more ways than one.