Bait Is Meant to Be Taken

You’re not weak for falling into a trap. That’s what traps are for.

Bait doesn’t appear by accident. It’s placed, polished, and positioned to be irresistible. The internet thrives on this. So does the boardroom.

That sudden stretch assignment? Bait. The vague “we’ll circle back” after you volunteered? Bait. The flattery before the extra workload? You guessed it—bait.

Bait or Opportunity

In corporate life, bait comes dressed in opportunity. Sometimes it is. Often it isn’t. You aren’t to blame for taking it. In fact, the system depends on it. It rewards those who lean in, step up, and say yes before asking why.

But here’s where things shift: if you always take the bait, you start to serve someone else’s game plan. Not because you lack agency, but because you haven’t paused to ask—what game am I playing?

Biting once isn’t the problem. The problem is biting without thinking. You owe it to yourself to look beyond the offer. Who benefits? What’s the real cost? And is this hook worth your energy?

Testing attention, not loyalty

Bait is always there. Online. In meetings. In carefully worded emails. It’s a test of attention, not loyalty. The question is whether you’re reacting or choosing.

Step back. Set your own strategy. You don’t have to play the role you’re handed. You can write your own. Be curious. Be cautious. Be clever enough to spot the bait—and confident enough to pass on it when it’s not yours to bite.