December is “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager. Throughout this month, I will be sharing updates from individuals whose letters were previously answered.
This week, there will be more posts than usual, so be sure to check back throughout the day.
In 2018, I wrote in to share that I had slept through a whole day of work in my third month at my last job. Since then, I have been a faithful reader of AAM, much to the entertainment of my mother.
My last update was in June of this year, and unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worse since then. I took on a new, challenging pseudo-leadership role which came with an overwhelming workload. This led to a severe illness episode, a realization that I wasn’t taking care of myself, and a struggle with concepts of success and productivity being tied to work.
Thankfully, my manager in this role has been compassionate, and I now have a unique work arrangement that allows for flexible, asynchronous work. This has led to a significant reduction in my workload, but my team’s metrics have remained excellent, and they are thriving in their personal lives as well.
Living with chronic illness has challenged my sense of identity, and I have struggled with feelings of shame and a sense of stagnation in my personal life. However, I have found support from my colleagues, although I have encountered challenges with the HR department.
My original diagnosis was incorrect, and I am currently working with multiple specialists to understand my medical condition. Throughout this journey, I have learned important lessons:
- Empathy in the workplace is essential and has long-term benefits.
- Flexibility when possible can make a significant difference.
- Effective communication is crucial in all aspects of life.
- Avoid toxic individuals and seek out kind-hearted, compassionate people.
Before taking on my current role, I aimed to work with individuals who are genuine and prioritize what truly matters. It has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, along with being a regular reader of AAM.
