381. The Biggest Mistake We Make About People

You judge people based on the absence of a behavior, not on the presence of a character flaw.
When someone doesn't demonstrate what you're looking for, you create a story about who they are instead of considering they might not know how to show it the way you expect.
You often stand in the middle between two people who like each other but can't figure out how to express it — and you do nothing about it.
The "personality clash" or "different styles" narrative you've built might be completely false.
People aren't the problem; your failure to bridge the gap is the problem.

Stop translating the absence of a behavior into a character flaw (person who doesn't speak up isn't necessarily cold; they might just not know how).
Identify one team dynamic you've labeled as "just different personalities" — ask yourself if one person has a capability that isn't being expressed in a language the other person recognizes.
You already know what one person needs and what the other person can offer — the only missing piece is your action.
Instead of managing around incompatible people, teach someone how to express what they already have.
Be the person in the middle who bridges gaps instead of the person who reinforces distance.

Think of the team members you believe "don't click" — is it actually that they're incompatible, or is it that they haven't learned each other's language?
What would change if you stopped accepting the distance and actively helped them connect?