Five good things
Last year, I was having all sorts of challenges at work. As a result of a restructure, I ended up with a manager who had great difficulty translating his ideas and thoughts into relationships with people. His views, his ideas, his way of doing things, his personality, his ego had to be navigated carefully. Suffice
Time vs. money
While my daughter was young, I worked part-time. I was also living on government support to supplement my income; I was as poor as the proverbial church mouse, but happy. I had time to be creative, to cook, to read, to study, to write. I lived a very simple life and I enjoyed it immensely.
Why I quit teaching
At 29, I decided to become a teacher. I was pregnant with my daughter and needed to do something practical with my Arts degree (silly me for thinking that a tertiary education would open doors! I was even sillier for thinking doors would open for someone with an ordinary Arts degree!). I had always enjoyed
On the benefits of intolerance
On matters of style, swim with the current; on matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson I was told last week (by one of my colleagues) that I needed to be more tolerant. When she said this, I didn’t really pay much attention to it, and it was only when the words
New Year, new job
I love starting a new job. Everything is fresh. New people to play with, a new location to explore, new tasks and activities to get done. New skills to learn. It makes my brain zing with anticipation and excitement. I embrace mobility. I am essentially a Generation Y in a Generation X body (although some
On cover-ups, hiding and protectionism
I had a conversation with a colleague at work today about the leadership and management in my current workplace. To cut a long story short, she admitted that she “hid” the inadequacies of her manager from others in the workplace. She did this because she was concerned about the perceptions others had of him, and
My dissatisfaction with work
I went to university at age 26 because I thought having tertiary qualifications would mean that I would have better career opportunities. After all, that’s what all the rhetoric said, right? Before that I was worked in banks and took temp jobs to pay the bills. So I graduated from university, clutching my trusty Arts
My changed view of change (part 2)
A psychological contract represents the mutual beliefs, perceptions, and informal obligations between an employer and an employee. It sets the dynamics for the relationship and defines the detailed practicality of the work to be done. – Wikipedia In my last post I explored how I am usually pro-change in my approach to work, and how,
My changed view of change (part 1)
I have always been someone who is comfortable with change. Generally, while others are protesting and digging their heels in (and I’m talking about work here), I’m the one rolling with the punches and just getting on with. I believe it’s a hangover from my dysfunctional childhood, where every time my mother married and divorced