I am not the fart guy

The year was 2011 and I'm on my way to a client meeting with my colleague Peter. Those outside of recruitment may not know that recruiters can't go to client meetings alone, they must go in pairs. If they don't, they loose their VIP membership status at Ryan's bar.

Peter and I are on level 4 and 2 people from another company get in the lift on level 2, I pay no attention to them.

As we return from the client meeting and get in the lift on the ground floor, the same 2 people get in the lift with us. I'm chatting away and all of a sudden Peter stops and addresses the other two people in the lift:

"Excuse me, I heard what you said and I am not the fart guy. That smell was in the lift when we got in. Now I wouldn't normally say anything but seeing as though you were so rude to say that so that I could hear it, I had to say something"

I was so confused! I hadn't heard any of their chat & to be honest I didn't even realise they were the same people until the situation was clearer to me later.

We get out of the lift and I'm still in shock, looking at everyone with my mouth open and waiting for the lift door to close so the millisecond after I can ask Peter what happened.

Imagine being at work and having to tell some strangers that you didn't do the fart they are blaming on you. Like 4 primary school kids dressed as adults playing business people.

In hindsight, one of the funniest things I've witnessed but to the two people in the lift with Peter and I, at a bare minimum just wait until we aren't all in the same lift to have a giggle, ok?

What is causing your scaries?

It's Sunday and you're trying to wind down and the Sunday scary transition begins. The transition from the ending of the weekend and the anticipation of the work week ahead is beginning. But for you, what specifically is causing your mind to race and stomach to churn?

I've had conversations with friends and people I've managed about this, trying to drill into what or who is causing that dread. Because if you are able to be specific about what or who is giving you this feeling, you can then start to work towards solutions.

Regardless of what is identified, the next step was almost always "talk to your manager about it". Feeling overworked? Talk to them and see if they can agree to delegate some responsibilities or prioritise tasks so everything doesn't feel like it is due yesterday.

Someone at work making life hard for you? Are you sure your manager knows about it?

I think if the conversation is approached in the right way, resolution can come. For example:

"I really love the job and company but at the moment I'm feeling overwhelmed by the amount of projects I have that are all being chased up for updates and delivery, is there something we can do so I can be more effective and deliver fewer projects, better?"

But some people will struggle to take the emotion out of it and approach the conversation more like:

"You are overworking me and it's not fair, if you don't fix it I will leave"

Now if you feel like you can talk to your manager or they are the person that is giving you the scaries, I guess you have two options; 1. have the chat and see what happens or 2. start looking for something else.

If you don't have the chat, nothing changes. If you do, you'll either have improvement and maybe reduce or eliminate your SS's or you end up at option 2 anyway. In my experience, the anxiety leading up to the "confrontation" is almost always worse than the confrontation itself. And the longer you let it stew, the worse it gets.

I've always believed that if you communicate a problem in the right way, you can almost always find a solution but I know a lot of people hate the though of that initial confrontation.

What is positive duty in the workplace?

White Ribbon Australia are running a free seminar this week on positive duty, to promote diversity, inclusion, and respect in the workplace. Along with practical ways to stamp out sexual harassment and what your duty as an employer might be to promote respect.

Book your spot here

If any NFPs want to promote events or initiative's in this newsletter please message me.