What's the best way to set boundaries with colleagues who don't seem to recognise when they've crossed a line?

Liyana Soh, head of marketing at Jobstreet by Seek, on navigating the silent cost of being too polite at work.

- 

We don't get to choose our desk neighbours, but we do feel the effects of working beside someone who treats the office like their personal confessional. What starts as idle chatter can quickly become a daily disruption to your focus.

In today's open offices and hybrid setups, boundaries can blur. And in a culture where we're taught to “be nice”, many people – especially women - feel guilty about speaking up. But over time, these small acts of overstepping chip away at your well-being, and you may not even realise how drained you've become.

THE COST OF BEING TOO POLITE

Singaporeans are no strangers to “paiseh” culture. We're brought up to be agreeable, to avoid conflict, and to say yes even when we don't really mean it. In the workplace, that often means letting things slide, whether it's chatty colleagues, emotional oversharing or constant interruptions.