
About this episode
In this episode, Helen and Sarah borrow brilliance from the psychology of attachment styles and explore what this concept can teach us about working relationships. Sparked by a Harvard Business Review article on managing insecure leaders, they unpack the four main attachment styles and what they might look like in the workplace: secure, anxious, avoidant-dismissive, and fearful-avoidant.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain working relationships feel easy while others feel surprisingly tricky, this episode will give you a useful lens for understanding behaviour and adapting in ways that help you work better together.
Episode 543
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(00:00) Attachment styles at work
(01:14) The four attachment styles explained
(09:13) Helen and Sarah reflect on their own styles
(22:20) How secure styles show up at work
(25:06) Managing anxious behaviours
(29:01) Avoidant-dismissive patterns and how to adapt
(34:18) Avoidant-fearful behaviours and building trust
📚 Resources Mentioned
How to Manage an Insecure Leader (Harvard Business Review) https://hbr.org/2026/03/how-to-manage-an-insecure-leader
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