The genie never goes back in the bottle
Baking, gardening, and writing, what more could a girl want? Maybe a haircut and a new handbag although if I’m not going out, I can manage without the bag. But David, life isn’t the same without you and your scissors. This time last year I was encouraging you all to be positive, inspirational and influential and just twelve months later, my message is very similar.
In between endless news broadcasts, YouTube videos and podcasts, people are reconsidering their futures. For some that may mean rearranging herbs and spices one more time, while for others it’s deciding which flour-free cake to bake next or whether to grow tomatoes on the window ledge. It’s far too early to tell how many of us will need to reinvent ourselves, although it’s never too early to make plans. Maybe home-schooling or recent video experiences are already taking you in a new direction? Perhaps you are destined for the care sector or thinking about how your skillset will translate to NHS roles.
Last week I shared some guiding principles encouraging positivity and new ways of thinking about yourself against the backdrop of employment uncertainty. Now I’m urging you to think a little differently about how you describe the impact of recent events (and how they’ve affected you) on your social channels. In the spirit of positivity and impression management, one laid-back (by his own admission) HRD frequently advised animated directors to grab a cuppa and chat. Then as the irritations began to subside, he’d advise a cooling-off period before hasty resignation. In other words, sleep on it first.
I’ve noticed a few posts recently which describe how the writer is really feeling about their (ex)employer, although leave the reader with a negative impression. When you’ve already earned a reputation for positivity and a can-do approach to your work, try to remember to follow this through in what you post. Remember to celebrate what you’ve done and try not to agonise over disappointments. I realise that there’s a certain satisfaction from telling it how it is, although the genie never goes back in the bottle.
Be kind to yourself and give yourself the best possible chance of future success. Stand out from the crowd because of your passion and the successful contribution you will make. Focus on the business which you want to join, rather than the one which didn’t deliver on its promise. And finally, if you are not feeling the love today perhaps it’s time to Salsa in the sunshine, rather than update your profile.
