The Dark Side of Work

Earlier this week, I sat with the fashion crowd at FashMash listening to Clare Farrell, one of the leading names behind Extinction Rebellion.

She emphasized the industry's dark side and the need for (and importance of) ethical fashion brands, and she urged us to stop shopping.

It’s the one thing we can single-handedly do to make a difference.

I'm all about personal impact, which got me thinking about how we approach dark situations at work. Some of us may have experienced bullying, bad leadership and management, gender pay gaps or office politics in the corporate workplace. Even redundancy can leave you feeling worse for wear.

Maybe you know someone struggling now, or maybe it’s you?

It's hard to come out the other side unscathed.

Whether you’re feeling burnt out, demotivated, or your confidence has nose-dived, these feelings can impact your ability to find a new and better job.

Perhaps you ignored the early warning signs. Now you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. You're lashing out at loved ones at home and avoiding social situations.

Or maybe you’ve lost your mojo and are going through the motions; you don’t feel connected to your work.

Whether it’s due to external or internal factors, it’s still personal. Finger-pointing doesn’t help. The next course of action is, what can you do for yourself?

First things first!

All the classic stuff will help …walks in nature, exercise, downtime, getting creative, reading, borrowing a dog, indulging in 'me' time, taking a duvet day, or having a lost weekend.

Carve out space for you!

You need it and you deserve it.

When I opened a LinkedIn conversation about duvet days, I discovered that everyone wants them but cannot justify taking one.

 As Viv Groskop, writer, broadcaster, and comedian, added to my thread, make space in your diary for “DO NOTHING TODAY.” It doesn’t happen by magic—you need to make it happen.

Taking care of yourself

Want to talk about how I can help? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact me here.

ABOUT ME

I’m Tracy, a Career Consultant and former Executive Headhunter. Through 1:1 coaching, I help senior executives and leaders land great jobs and be successful at work.

I work with clients around the world from my London-based Zoom office.

If you’re ready for straight-talk and career guidance, get in touch – let's start the conversation.

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