12 May 2026
Today, I found myself thinking about the “Doctrine of the Mean” from Confucius. It came to mind because I realised how much it applies to communication at work.
There are times when we want to say no, but we don’t. Instead, we end up spending extra time in unexpected conversations, answering questions we hadn’t planned for. It’s not wrong to say no in these situations, but often, I hesitate because I don’t want the other person to feel bad.
Today at work, I faced exactly this kind of situation. I tried to approach it in a “Doctrine of the Mean” way—finding a balance. I gently declined, but also offered an alternative suggestion, hoping to keep the interaction respectful and considerate.
It felt like a small moment, but also a reminder: sometimes, the middle path is not about avoiding a decision, but about choosing how to express it.
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