5 things I’ve learnt since returning to work
Our Operations Director extraordinaire Jenny Howell joined Disruptive Thinking in 2021, after she experienced a longer-than-expected period of time off following a redundancy, a second baby, a house renovation and a pandemic. With all that behind her, she wanted to do something for herself again, to work and have purpose, when she saw our ad for a part-time flexible project manager. As collectively we explore what Disruptive has achieved over the last 5 years, Jenny shares the 5 things she’s learnt since joining the team and returning to work.
1) Imposter syndrome is a very real thing
For the first 4 weeks of my new job, I felt it acutely. I consider myself lucky that in my career it’s not something I’d previously suffered with but it certainly stemmed from having a long career break. I doubted my ability in almost everything and it took some time for my confidence to grow again. It was a huge relief to find that my knowledge was still of value and that I had skills I could apply quickly and easily in a variety of situations. A lot came flooding back, mostly through perseverance and really wanting to do a good job. I had loads of support from the DT team who put their faith in my abilities - if they believed I could do it, I was going to prove them right!
2) Great teams do great things
I’ve been part of good teams before but there is no greater joy in your working life than being part of a team whose approach and mindset is truly in tune with your own. When you’re all working towards a common goal with a common purpose it makes life and work so much more enjoyable and rewarding. At DT we all pull in the same direction. We’re a solutions-oriented team, which I love. Tell us what you need and we’ll probably be able to figure out how to get it done. We support each other and we genuinely care about each other.
3) Flexible working is wonderful
One of the biggest positives to come out of the pandemic is that flexible and remote working really can be effective. With the right communication systems in place and a team that talks regularly (like, all the time, keep the chat coming people) there should not be any huge difference to sitting next to someone in an office. I can do my job just as well at home, possibly better you could argue, than in a physical office. We do have in-person team days several times a month, and those days are fantastic. I genuinely look forward to speaking to other grown-ups in real life. But this way of working has been a game changer for me, possibly a life changer. I don’t think I would have found it easy to return to a relentless 9-5 office-based job.
4) Work fulfils a need for purpose and balance
We hear a lot these days about finding or achieving ‘balance’ in your life. We are told we need to carve out time for work, parenting, exercise, self-care, meditation, healthy eating… the list goes on. We all feel the pressure to fill our lives with meaningful experiences. I can’t say I tick each of these boxes but returning to work has definitely given my life more balance and I have found a renewed sense of purpose. The work we do for our clients gives me a great sense of accomplishment and has restored my drive and enthusiasm.
5) Gifs are everything
You know you’re on the same wavelength as your team when you can have an entire and effective conversation purely through the medium of gifs. Forget expressive dance, gifs are where it’s at.
