Yeah that "too much pressure and everything goes bad" part is SO real. My old team hit that wall hard last year. What finally helped was setting way more frequent, super casual check-ins instead of big stressful deadline meetings. Like just quick chats to ask what's blocking people, no judgment. Also we started breaking big goals into tiny "fermentation stages" where each small win could bubble on its own without someone squeezing the jar.

I started locking my box, that fixed it quick.

When criticism of the character feels personal, switch to discussing the author's intent instead.

You really haven't seen a crane at a house site? They used one on my street to drop a new roof truss package because the truck couldn't get close. It was like watching a slow-motion video game move. Probably cost more than my car, but hey, no back injuries.

Wait, you said plastic eyes can feel judging and now I can't unsee it. That's actually way creepier than just a giant dinosaur! How does something with painted-on eyeballs manage to look so disappointed in my life choices? I'd have to ask them to turn it, because every time I burnt my toast I'd feel like it was silently judging my cooking skills too. Some neighbor things you just can't ignore.