Have you ever noticed some people seem impossible to give honest feedback to? That is not an accident.

Red Arrow Behaviors (RABs) are the tiny, often unconscious things we do that signal to others: do not tell me the truth.

Common examples include:

• Going quiet when something goes wrong
• Picking a fight before someone can challenge you
• Looking upset or hostile before anyone has spoken
• Saying "I am exhausted" right before asking for feedback

These behaviors feel protective, but they actually cut you off from the honest conversations that help you grow.

When you go quiet, the other person shuts down too. When you pick a fight, you create distance. And in that closed-off state, real creative thinking becomes almost impossible.

You might manage basic tasks, but leadership and innovation? Nearly impossible.

The first step is simply noticing when you are doing it.