Holding a Grudge at Work? Here's What It's Really Costing You

By
Hannah Kissel
May 26, 2026
8
min
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About the episode

You're senior, successful, and capable, so why is this one coworker still living rent-free in your head? In this Hannah Hotline episode, Hannah responds to a listener navigating a persistent grudge against the colleague who covered her maternity leave. Hannah breaks down the real psychology behind why grudges stick, introduces the Grey Rock Method for disengaging from toxic dynamics, and reveals the surprising reason workplace drama keeps pulling you back in.

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Timestamps:

01:30 — Why grudges have a "payoff" and what yours might be
02:30 — Taking personal responsibility: what was your part in this?
03:15 — What to clean up and do differently next time
03:39 — The Gray Rock Method: become boring, stop providing ammo
05:00 — Why you can't let go: the creative outlet theory
06:17 — The link between workplace drama and a lack of joy in your life
06:30 — How to fill your life so the grudge loses its grip

Hi there, I'm Hannah

Executive Coach, podcaster, speaker, writer, and builder of big f*cking Dreams. My mission? To help ambitious professionals build self-acceptance, self-trust in their careers.

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