The invisible labor of likability at work

We’ve all been there. You email one coworker: “I need this by Thursday.” You email another: “Hi! Just checking back in. Would you be able to have this ready for me by Thursday? Totally understand if that doesn’t work. No rush, except that, sadly, there is a rush. Thank you so much.” And then you read the second email three more times to ensure that you don’t sound impatient, demanding, passive-aggressive, or aggressive-aggressive. All that mental work is the invisible...