A share about my day... and how it matters for ACE!
It's been a while since I blogged and certainly a while since I did it regularly and with abandon (e.g. not checking it loads and still not pressing the publish button). And yet, in a few weeks time I'll be on the CIPD ACE #blogsquad again. Woo hoo!
I know it can be liberating to just go for it but rather than go in cold, I plan to warm myself up with a few random posts over the coming weeks. And here's the first of them.
So, a few things about my day...
- Morning:
It started with me feeling pretty fragile and useless to be frank. Parenting makes me go into my TA child too often, and sometimes life just feels hard.
- Mid morning:
I stood on my values and that of my organisation and tackled some behaviour that had unsettled me. More of the hard stuff I had to, rather than wanted to do - It would have been easier to let it go but where's the integrity and stretch in that!
- Mid day:
I had my feelings and competence validated as an experienced colleague on the front line echoed my observations and suggested actions I'd already scheduled to tackle some workplace issues. Her views and mine was shared by others too, when one person had got me me thinking I'd missed the plot!
- Early afternoon:
I was helpful - I'd given my brain (complex advice) and my body (covering reception) and neither by halves but in embracing and giving my all in the moment! I was thanked, and I am thankful about my developing trusted relationships with new colleagues.
- Late afternoon:
I had the moment I hope for everyday but don't get that often - my 'I'm making a real difference' moment - A solution I offered and organised for a colleague had resulted in her really smiling for the first time in a long time. You know the one, the one where the light goes back on in their eyes. Gone was the low, anxious, frustrated flight risk, scratching for solutions to confidence, lightness, energy, self belief, results and pride.
Early evening:
I watched a smart, passionate colleague share her expertise, expertly, to a room of peers and take the tough questions on like a boss. Answering, stretching and making people think and reflect. Just as I expect to happen at a little event in Manchester soon!
(Picture may be added, permission to be sought)
And then to travelling home as I reflected on the day past.
So what's all this got to do with ACE you might ask.
Well, it's to do with what you can expect...
I'll be open and honest, I'll be sharing my opinion and my feels, I'll be listening hard and considering the evidence, seeking the positive (grateful for the experience), and I'll not shy away from the challenge.
Finally I hope that, like today, things (my blogging I mean) get better as I blog my way through ACE to the point where something I offer makes a real difference to someone, perhaps someone who's not experiencing the event first hand or perhaps in a face-to-face moment.
I hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am.
Denise.
Off to try parenting again!
