it was a bad day at work (well, week)👎

S T O R Y

I wonder if you’ve ever had an unexpectedly bad day/ week at work? One where things just didn’t pan out as you expected them to? I did, just recently.

So, the week had already had a pretty mixed start - the event I was involved with at the start of the week had been characterised by poor communication amongst other things. I’d picked myself up from that, because the actual event itself had been so positive. Later in the week, I’d driven two hours away to my next event, expecting the usual kind of atmosphere and interaction with the group that I regularly experience in my work, but that was not what played out. 

I won't go into all the details here but essentially the group didn’t enjoy my work. One particular individual led the charge, and set the tone for an antagonistic session. They chose to disengage, to ignore me in the breaks, and chose to not even look at me during feedback. There was an uncomfortable power dynamic that left me somewhat high and dry.

I could feel a prickling of tears and also a sense of frustration, even anger. I couldn’t understand what was happening, or why the chair of the session wasn’t intervening. 

I had a choice. I could reciprocate with the same kind of behaviour, or I could choose differently. I remembered something that I regularly say to my boys. Something that I aspire to live by.

When they go low, we go high.

I pulled myself together. I reminded myself of my strengths. This is how it went:

Communication - I can communicate and will do so to the best of my ability 

 Belief - Bringing my best and providing excellent content is a value of mine I won’t stray from

 Empathy - you are feeling all the feelings right now, but now is not the time.

 Woo - You want everyone to like you, because you tend to like everyone, but that’s not working for you today. Let. It. Go.

Developer - give them your feedback. Show them what their strengths could look like

I finished the session. I left pretty quickly. I took the journey to sit quietly and process how I felt, with a few tears and a large caramel iced frappe for comfort. 

L E A R N I N G

Here’s the learning for me and you.

 On the bad days: 

Bring your best anyway. Lean into the strengths that will help you, quieten the strengths that won’t. Reflect on what you can take away from the experience. The only thing fully in your control is YOU. Choose to do the harder but better thing.I hope this gives you a bit of comfort that difficult days happen to us all, they are out of our control. Who we are, how we choose to respond, that is all we have. Here’s to choosing to ‘go high’ regardless. 

A C T I O N 

Do you know your strengths? If you don’t can I encourage you to make that investment in yourself? You can find out more here to find out your personal and unique strengths!

Love Hannah x