Sine Cura
How Gen Z's blank stare became workplace rebellion
The working world is performative at best. At worst, it's performative positivity. And people gladly call it professionalism.
Don't get me wrong: sometimes this performance comes from good intentions. We want healthy, supportive environments where people feel encouraged. But it can turn toxic too, when the act becomes more important than the truth.
When I started my career in 2007, I quickly learned the most important rule: always smile in meetings. Not real smiles—just quick, polite ones that appeared and disappeared like pop-up ads. When your manager spoke, you nodded. When a coworker shared an idea (even a bad one), you smiled. It wasn't about whether you agreed. It was about keeping things smooth.
Your actual feelings didn't matter. Maybe you were confused. Maybe you thought the idea was terrible. Maybe you were exhausted. None of that showed on your face. You put on the same supportive expression as everyone else, li…
