Month: February 2018

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

So I realized I don’t think I mentioned here that ~2 weeks ago my boss told me he is leaving for a new opportunity elsewhere. It took all my self-control to not be like GOOD RIDDANCE. That’s half true, he is a very nice man, but he never made any real effort to understand or support my work. He didn’t intentionally harm me, but there were so many opportunities where he could have offered help or suggestions when I was a 1 person office and he never did. Clearly he’s been “done” for some time and that shows up in his lack of interest in investing in me or my work. 

With that being said the whole University and my division are going through strategic planning processes. I am no stranger to these and have been a part of them at previous institutions. I know this is a time to give ideas and be heard. With this has also been re-org talk which in the case of my work makes SO MUCH SENSE. I’ve been thinking about where in the org chart I am, and where my team belongs. 

Late last week I heard an interim person was going to be tapped when my boss leaves which is normal (spoiler alert it’s not me, nor would I expect/want it). However yesterday I’m in a meeting and my VP (aka my boss’s boss calls me). I was near her office so when I got out of my meeting I popped by and we were able to chat. She told me about who she named as interim and how they are going to lead that team, however, she said that she’d like ME to report to her in the interim because: 1. I don’t make sense on the team I’m on and 2. she wants to get a deeper understanding of my work and the needs of my area to be best supported. 

DUDE! I feel great. She NOTICES ME and VALUES ME! I am excited to see how I can leverage this opportunity and see where it takes me!

Self Care Win

As you may recall, I’ve been seeing a therapist/counselor through my work’s employee assistance program since July. I’ve generally seen her monthly. When I first saw her I was pretty much at rock bottom, but through ACA, making time to put myself first, and not taking work “failures” too personally, I’ve come back to life, I think even better than before. 

We had to reschedule our January meeting due to snow, so we met yesterday. I gave her so many wonderful updates regarding my fitness/health, self care, work balance, work success, ACA community, etc. She gave me lots of kudos for the work I’ve done and how it’s so evident even physically in the changes I’ve made. I don’t feel hopeless or too stressed. I feel lighter is SO many ways. She was impressed and you know I’m impressed with myself too.

I’ve learned to find my (re)find my voice these past 6 months.There are A LOT of changes at work – my boss is leaving (yay), plus we are going through an organizational restructure along with strategic planning in my division and at the whole institution. 

So, for the time being, I’m not setting up another appointment with her. I really only have 6 meetings with her a year (which I used), but I know if I need her I can go back. Plus I know others are struggling and I don’t want to hog a precious resource. If I need to find an outside counselor I will, but between ACA, my journaling, and my strong support network I feel good.