“I hear often from leaders and executives who I’m coaching, especially through exit interviews, that one of the biggest reasons they want to leave a position is because they feel their personal values are not aligned with the organisation and their colleagues, which stems from mixed messages and poor communication in the workplace,” explains Sarah Hernon, a career expert at Right Management.

“One reason that mixed messages may be more prevalent at work right now is because we’re operating in a volatile world, with increasing uncertainty leading to people feeling more insecure,” she says. For some, working in this volatility is energising and they thrive on it. For others, it can be a source of anxiety. “It’s important to identify the working style and environment that is right for you,” she adds. “If you have been experiencing discomfort in the workplace for a long period of time and you’ve tried the empathetic approach without success, you have to ask yourself: Is this the right environment for me?’ And it’s OK to say it isn’t.”

Never know if you’re doing a good job? How to deal with mixed signals at work