Dealing with Work Anxiety
Hey, can you book a meeting in my calendar?
The dreaded question we all get at one time or another from our boss or supervisor.
Whether it’s positive, neutral, or negative news, that question elicits fear in so many of us.
So, how do we handle it?
The hardest part for me is always the waiting — the time between when they asked for the meeting and the actual meeting day.
I once got a request a whole week ahead and had to wait all that time to find out what we were talking about.
Here are 5 ways to handle the anxiety:
Stop Worrying.
Good joke, right?
But the truth is, worrying about it isn’t going to make it better. If you were given a conversation topic (an unhappy customer, missed deadline) definitely take time to review the information, but needlessly stressing about it has never gotten anyone anywhere (easier said than done right?).
Ask for an Agenda
If your boss didn’t provide a topic for the conversation, asking for an agenda can help put your mind at ease. If they are willing to share the agenda that one simple question can take away all our fears.
Identify Improvement Opportunities
Keeping our mind busy can help. Taking some time to look back on any improvement opportunities you can bring to the table shows you have a growth mindset.
Come in with an Open Mind
Try not to jump to conclusions or get defensive. Be prepared to hear them out, admit when you made a mistake, and share some wins to remind them how great you are!
Don’t Forget: Your Worth isn’t Tied to your Job
Do I need to say that again for the people in the back?
People make mistakes. It happens, we all do it. Yup, even you! You are worthy no matter what they think of you! Let’s remember to base our worth on who we are not what we do.
If you need something to keep your mind busy while you wait for your meeting, consider asking yourself these questions:
Am I making careless mistakes? Am I no longer invested in this job?
Do I have too much work and feel overwhelmed?
Was this situation a team effort and I felt I didn’t have the support I needed?
What am I doing well at work and what areas can I improve on?
These questions not only help you to evaluate where you are at in your job but allow for some great conversation with your boss.
Taking a step back and evaluating why this happened can also give you a clue about the next steps in your career.
Some of my clients have found they are in the wrong job, on the wrong team, or just ready for a change.
Who knows, it might just spark the best change of your life!
