There are two kinds of people in an office: the ones who see expired yogurt and think, “Gross,” and the ones who see expired yogurt and build a perimeter.
Finley is our Safety Committee Chair, which means his brain doesn’t register “minor issue.” It registers “incident,” then starts writing the deposition in his head.
As a leader, I’m trying to hold the middle: appreciate the prevention without letting anxiety manage the building. Because sometimes the tape isn’t about dairy. It’s about control. It’s about making one small thing feel containable when everything else isn’t.
So I’m curious:
Who’s the “tape and perimeter” person where you work? (Aliases welcome)
What tiny thing became a full event?
And how do you hold your center without letting panic run the office?
Donna
Yes! Send this to me each Wednesday.
About Donna Lake
The Donna Lake Comic Strip follows a quietly fierce department head trying to lead with dignity, despite corporate curveballs, chaos-prone staff, and a workplace that keeps getting weirder.
It’s a sharp, heartfelt office comedy with a surreal streak and a deep respect for the ones who hold it all together.