The workplace will always remind me of the recess game of jump rope. The version where someone was on either end- sometimes with two ropes- and you had to jump in without jumping on the rope and fall into the rhythm of the people turning the rope. I can still feel the slaps of plastic rope on my ankles. I have worked my way up to COO or Director level multiple times in my life. After layoffs or other life circumstances I have braced to jump back into the swinging ropes. As women, we have to code switch so often- we can't come off as too bossy or aggressive. We want to be taken seriously but in a friendly way. When joining a new team there is this petrifying fear to come off too strong or not enough of a team player- leading to loads of random punctuation and even emojis. I loved both the military and lifeguarding for the short, direct communication focused on eliminating confusion and saving lives. We have that in the kitchen too- "heard" is a beautiful phrase. But our overreliance on email communication in today's workplace can be a minefield. Many of us began our various careers being told to "sink or swim." I cannot count the amount of times I have had to prove myself and how I was strong enough or deserved a position. It is really hard not to have that earned strength reflected in my communication. How sweet would it be if we could communicate without the constant anxiety of how we are perceived? The Female Quotient Grace Segers
Can anyone else relate? 😅 Grace Segers via X
