Fitting Out - Reclaiming Unprofessionalism (with Myriam Hadnes)

 In this deeply reflective conversation, Myriam Hadnes, facilitator, podcaster, and founder of Workshops Work, joins Chedva to explore the intersection of facilitation, belonging, and authenticity. Growing up with an Israeli father and German mother in Germany, then living across continents, Myriam embodies the intercultural perspective she brings to her work. They discuss how facilitators often begin as children trying to make everyone feel included, the tension between belonging and authenticity, and why corporate "professionalism" might be the cage we need to break free from. Myriam shares her journey from discovering she's a facilitator while reading Priya Parker's book to writing her own choose-your-own-adventure book about unprofessionalism—because sometimes the most professional thing you can do is be human.

Key Topics:

• Facilitators as the observing, sensitive children who make everyone get along
• The physical reaction to exclusion and the urge to include everyone
• Creating psychological safety in multicultural corporate teams
• The tension between belonging and authenticity (Gabor Maté)
• Why "going through the motions" of emotions can heal
• Remote work and the lost art of kitchen gossip
• Unprofessionalism as reclaiming our humanity at work
• The difference between fixing ourselves and accepting ourselves
• How modeling comfort gives others permission to be authentic
• Why corporate professionalism no longer fits our times

Notable Quotes:

• "I think we very early unconsciously start facilitating our families. We are often the children... observing, very sensitive to what's going on, very sensitive to what's not outspoken."
• "I have this inner urge to include everyone, to listen to people, to not teach them and tell them, but help them develop their own thinking."
• "What they very quickly realize is what they need is a little bit more compassion to themselves and to each other."
• "The most disarming moment is to feel seen. Not the superficial kind of hello and tap on the shoulder... but really feeling seen and heard."
• "If we can see it, we can do it."
• "We've forgotten that the world of work is not about being professional. It's about being human."
• "If we continuously feel like we're not good enough... we'll start pretending just to cover it up... And then we'll end up as imposters pretending that we are someone who we're not."

Myriam's Powerful Question: "What would you do if you were not afraid?"

Resources Mentioned:

• Workshops.work - Myriam's boutique agency
• "The Art of Gathering" by Priya Parker
• Gabor Maté's work on belonging vs. authenticity
• The Curiosity Lab - Concentrated strategy container
• Chedva's newsletter - Weekly musings and questions