IAQ - Infrequently asked questions

Vulnerability is a feature. So here I am, answering the hard questions no one asked. What do I do when things go wrong?

What do I do when a mistake happens because of me?

This may be the hardest situation for me. Amy Edmondson classifies failures into 3 levels: basic, complex and intelligent. The first is due to lack of attention, the second to the nature of a problem and the third to exploration. I consider failures as mistakes in this answer. And I hate to make basic mistakes. But it's impossible not to make them, especially for someone like me who likes to have a lot going on. So when I make a mistake, I feel very guilty. I question my professionalism and my capacity to deliver good work. My body gets warm. It's intense. But I have no problem apologizing and owning my mistakes. I tend to want to fix them straight away. And, if that's not possible, I try to compensate for it with hard work in future tasks. Basic mistakes resonate with me for some time. But I tend to recover fast, even more, if I can help solve them.

What do I do when I don’t know what to do?

I do some research and ask for help. Having a chat with anyone helps with the unknown unknowns, too. I’m always amazed at how much I can learn with others.

What do I do when I’m late for a meeting?

The first thing I do is inform the people I'm meeting and share an estimation for the delay. I'm very aware of my time and think everybody is like that. Mostly, I avoid being late by leaving earlier. I allow myself the time to get lost.

What do I do when conflict is about to erupt at work?

Conflict can be good if there's a productive result from it. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. If I am involved in the discussion and realize it’s not work-related, I de-escalate and ask questions to understand where the problem is coming from. If other people are in the room, that's not the best place to discuss a personal issue. Taking the situation elsewhere is the best recommendation. If I'm not part of a negative discussion but can help avoid it, I deal with the context. Eventually, a positive discussion can get disrespectful. If the argument is about work, I de-escalate, too and try to reach an agreement. In the end, we are all in the same boat.

What do I do when a client is rightfully unhappy?

I listen. That's the best you can do. Then, reassure that our team will do its best to overcome the challenge and set some milestones and a strategy to make it happen. It's necessary to be aligned with the team before doing that.

What do I do when there is no time to do something?

I work fine under time pressure. There's some adrenaline related to time-constrained tasks. I invest the time I have to solve the problem. Nights and weekends can help with that. But I also know my best work comes when I take the time to do it. So, I start my tasks early and allow myself the time to reflect and revise.

What do I do when I'm caught by surprise?

After almost 20 years of working, I know that surprise is the rule. It's impossible to predict the future. Some news can be pretty nasty and change the rules of the game. But having a good sense of urgency helps to react to surprises. Leaving earlier for a meeting, starting to work immediately after receiving a task. These things help to prepare for surprises.

What do I do when there's too much on my plate?

That's a tendency. I blame my curiosity. I like to say “yes”. I want to try new things. There's a resistance to let go, I confess. But I revise the plate occasionally and take some things out when big projects demand it.

What do I do when the energy is low?

What drains me: ill will, too much to do in a short time, lack of clarity or objectivity, laziness, lack of physical exercises. Anything opposed to that helps me to re-energize. Being with my family and friends, taking some time alone, admiring something beautiful and walking or biking through the city help, too. Another thing that I do is get energy from my different endeavours. E.g. a win in my activity as a board director nurtures me to be better at my work.

What do I do when I doubt myself?

That happens every day. Every hour? I don't want to sound dramatic, but that's reality. A trip through Linkedin or Instagram can really put us down. Comparing ourselves to others is normal, and as we access more information, it gets "more normal." When I think I am not good enough, I try remembering my past and the journey that brought me here. I fought a lot. That should be enough. However, I go further: I not only fought, I fight. I study, and I research, and I try to do better. All of my efforts back me up to strengthen my self-esteem. I am valuable because I work to be.

What do I do when I lose?

I really feel it when I lose. But there's no control in a dispute. So I take my time to mourn, and I bounce back. Depending on the loss, it takes more time, some hours, a day. But no work loss resists a night of sleep. A new day is a blank sheet.