I try to be kind, upbeat, etc in my interactions with other people, especially at work. I want to treat others well, work together peacefully, and leave the project happy. I’ve noticed that some people (particularly more curmudgeonly folks) seem to read that attitude as naïveté, and feel like they can walk all over me or treat me like I don’t know what I’m talking about. Why is that?
“Do not mistake my kindness as weakness”
Some of it is setting boundaries. If you don’t stop certain behavior at the start, it just builds up, unintentionally aslo.
For example if your name is Robert, and you prefer Robert, correcting someone who called you “Bob” is the first action, otherwise they will keep doing it not knowing any better. Because if you wait til you’re upset with it, they’re going to take it as hostility because “you never said anything before” and you’re probably pissed when you do correct them.