It’s spooky season, but what really sends chills down my spine isn’t ghosts or ghouls, it’s workplace behaviors that break trust.

When you say one thing and do another

You tell me you’re putting my name in for a promotion, but the paperwork gathers dust. You promise to fix my territory in March…and it’s now October. Words without follow-through? Terrifying.

When you don’t support me in meetings

You say you believe in me, yet interrupt or contradict me in front of others. Nothing’s scarier than feeling invisible in a room full of people.

When you take credit for my work

Acknowledging contributions builds trust; taking credit for them makes it vanish — like a ghost at midnight.

When you ghost my emails

I send a question and hear… crickets. I know you’re busy; I’m busy too. But I can’t move forward without your feedback. Even a quick, “Got it — will reply Friday,” keeps the work alive.

When you avoid hard conversations

Silence may feel safe, but it breeds confusion and mistrust. Clear, kind communication is far less frightening.

Trust isn’t built with big gestures, it’s built in the everyday moments: showing up, following through, and giving credit where it’s due.

This Halloween, skip the masks and show up with integrity and courage. That’s what makes work spook-tacular for everyone.

What behaviors do you find most frightening at work?