Taking things personally in the workplace can be deeply detrimental to both your performance and your professional relationships. While it’s natural to feel emotional or affected by what others say or do, internalizing every piece of feedback, criticism, or perceived slight can lead to burnout, frustration, and a sense of isolation. It can make you appear defensive, overly sensitive, or lacking in confidence — characteristics that may hinder your growth and prevent you from taking on leadership opportunities. At its core, taking things personally means assuming that everything negative is somehow a direct attack on your character or capabilities, even when that’s not the case.