Keeping It (Virtually) Real
Whether a lock down or a sick child. Trying to work from home with little ones is hard core. I’ve spent 20+ years working in business, HR and leadership roles but a toddler can bring my work day to its knees.
So while others post their screen shots of their seemingly productive Zoom meetings, I will post this. The reality of being on a call and helpless that your toddler is proceeding to destroy your office.
Not easy when you know you had specifically ordered grouped and categorised your books like I’d been a librarian in a former life. I used to say I had OCD like tendencies but I’m more informed now and know it’s more a form of perfectionism. My need to have situations and objects exactly right. That is, straight lines, order and NOT having books strewn all over the floor.
But you ignore the toddler tornado and you stay focused in work mode. You strategically mute, multitask and pretend that everything is under control.
Do you know what?
It’s not.
Life is not under control for me today.
Work schedules blown. Office destroyed. Clients inconvenienced. An overwhelming guilt at having to reschedule and re-negotiate deadlines. Because that’s business right? Get the job done and pretend you’re not human.
Well, that’s what it used to be.
But that’s not what I’m about. It’s not what Reimagine HR is about. We are about people, being human, and keeping it real. Being authentic and leading by example.
It is one of the positives that has come out of COVID and our increasingly virtual work landscape. Glimpses of home life and a greater appreciation of the "whole person" who is turning up at the office.
So, enjoy this glimpse from when the tornado first arrived. I couldn’t bring myself to photograph what it looked like by the end of my call. When the bookcase was empty. But hey, it’s an opportunity to re-organise and reconnect with some books I haven’t looked at in a while. Maybe take the time to chat to other HR game changers about them.
It’s not all about perfectionism, I’m also very much glass have full when I see the potential in all situations and people!
So, let’s go with that…..
#reimaginehr #beinghuman #humanresources
Employee Experience & Workplace Culture Coach | Advocate for Women, Children & Education
3 年I love it… COVID has brought about so many positives and shifts in attitude (as well the obvious pain and inconvenience, of course) on the way we work, the way we view work/life balance. What I have embraced most is seeing the whole-self of my team members, colleagues and leaders through the video calls… and to know and remember there are many sides of us beyond the work persona. In Myanmar, where it is the norm for extended families to live together, and often in smaller dwellings, there’s usually someone walking pass, or cooking or hanging up laundry while the person is on a video call. Or, even in larger dwelling, there’s the joy of fur kid barking away, or some other incident, like putting on the blender or vacuum cleaner (yes, me, guilty as charged for turning on Thermomix while SO was on a call). And I belive it really helps the employees to see the blunders and imperfections of the leaders’ WFH lives… to know that we are the same, in the same boat, on the same level playing field as humans.
Great reminder of life chaos Trina thank you :) I hope the clean up unearthed a gem or 2