Myth: What people think – matters…
Natasha was a brilliant graduate. She had completed an IT course and had recently joined MIS desk in a firm. Being a vociferous reader, she had read many books and was very good at both – written & verbal communication.
Looking at her communication skills, she was given additional responsibility of checking quality of services rendered by the Customer Service team.
The law of human inertia made the entire CS team difficult to accept her as a part of them. “I’ve been working here for long. How can I take a feedback from someone who is new to this firm & a recent graduate with no prior experience?”
She had to sit with the CS team as her work demanded her coordination with the Team. Workwise, she didn’t face much difficulty. She had the brilliance to learn, had the support of words & phrases she had accumulated through her reading habit & had the authority to give & report a feedback.
Work wise – Everything was fine.
However, Natasha was getting pulled into stress commonly caused by colleagues who wantonly ignore a person due to their non-acceptance. If this is not set right – it can transform into a workplace loneliness & depression.
Her vocabulary was good & she could very well use it for work related issues – but, she wasn’t able to use it to impress her colleagues who thought that she used mundane & heavy language. Many times they thought she deliberately used this kind of language to show that she was a level above them.
Slowly, she started getting into this workplace loneliness depression. The CS team, in their free time used to enjoy their time. She was never invited – not even when they planned any outing or a party at weekends. This also started affecting the way she worked & her efficiency at work started to dip. She started neglecting herself – skipping lonely lunch & trying to plunge into work – inventing work which wasn’t there at all…
She wanted to quit the job & seek a new one where hopefully she’ll not be lonely. The interviews she appeared – she failed – she was desperate to switch which forced her to make errors.
Myth: What people think – matters…
One year later… She became the manager of the same CS Team: Her team wouldn’t dream of any event held without her. She was adored by her team as both a manager & as a wonderful friend…
Yes, my friend. Miracles do happen… You… Have to make them happen…
What did Natasha do to make this miracle happen??
The first thing she did was to shed her fear of sharing her predicament.
After one of my training sessions with her team she was hesitant, but still approached me & asked me if I could spare sometime for her, somewhere outside the office.
One look at her & my observation during the training told me all – she was low on her self-confidence & was lonely at workplace. I promised her sometime on the weekend at a cafe where she was comfortable.
In the cafe, I heard her out & prodded her to speak out – even the things she was hiding in her heart.
I did nothing but highlight best side of her nature and personality.
And then, it was all about how she transformed herself. The first thing she did upon my advice was – start taking care of herself – she spent almost a salary on that weekend – she visited her parlour which she hadn’t for almost a year – she visited shopping malls & changed the way she was normally dressed up – everyday, after waking up & before going to bed – she started looking at the minor – smiling at the reflection & saying “Yes!! I can do it!!”
The result, sudden change in her appearance shattered the boring image in the minds of her colleagues.
She changed her attitude to a more accommodating personality who is wise yet who is one amongst the flock.
She starred sharing her little concerns thus encouraging others to do the same.
She started participating in light hearted simple conversation & laughing out loudly at silliest of jokes by her CS team.
At the end of the year when she was promoted she looked at her reflection, smiled and said “Yes!! I Did It!!”
Who are the enemies?
The enemies are living within you… The enemies are your own inhibitions, your approach and your ego. Put them away – The World is a lovely place.
The way Natasha made changes and won, you also can make few changes and adjustments to WIN. It’s just a matter of mind-set. You can change the perceptions of people around you…
To Be Continued…..