What Designers are Telling Me
Grace Holm
Designer's Career Coach | I help designers get unstuck in their careers and create more freedom, income and impact in their jobs | 1:1 Coaching | Small Group Cohorts
“32D?” I heard the man ask the woman sitting down.
I’m right behind her in 33D settling into my own seat when the woman retorts after seeing his ticket, “It’s still an aisle seat. I just switched from one aisle seat to another.”
So. This woman is intentionally in the wrong seat and instead of apologizing and kindly asking to swap, argues as though she is the one being wronged. Like somehow she is entitled to his seat that’s not on her ticket?
The man is unflustered by her attitude and replies in a calm and even empathetic tone, “I understand. Normally I would be okay with swapping except that I have 2 children with me.”
My eyes follow his hand to the little boy holding it and his wife and daughter behind him, patiently waiting for the situation to settle.
The woman finally gets up huffing and puffing as she grabs her belongings all the while muttering her annoyance “under her breath.”
The mom and I make eye contact and widen our eyes as we share a knowing look that says, “Yeah you’re not crazy. I’m seeing what you’re seeing.”
That’s like me and you right now.
I’m that stranger on the plane you made eye contact with amidst the weird crap going on. The one that shares a knowing look with you because I see you. I get what you’re seeing and experiencing at work.
It’s tough trying to make it in your career when it seems like no one else cares for you to make it. Even when you have your 1-on-1 check-ins that are designed to increase communication and are supposed to be for your growth but somehow you still end up feeling unseen and unheard.
It’s frustrating.
And you’re not alone.
Aside from feeling undervalued and overworked, the 2nd biggest challenge designers tell me is communication at work.
So I’m thinking, let’s tackle that then. Let’s have another workshop with communication in the workplace being the topic.
You in? Comment here or send me a DM and let me know what on-going communication situations have been frustrating so I can prepare what you need in the next workshop.
Yeah that’s right, I’m asking you to vent to me about that one passenger named work.
Your favorite stranger to make eye contact with,
Grace
PS- Want more focused help with your specific situation? Send me a message or you can even give me a call here.