I was sitting at my desk with a sick feeling in my stomach.
I had to deliver a tough message to a great person.
Yes, it was absolutely the right thing to do. I just didn’t feel like it.
You’d think that after all these years I would be used to having hard conversations. And I am. I just don’t like seeing people in pain. Would it be easier if I didn’t care? Maybe. But watching grass grow is easy too, and what’s the point in that?
As far as I’m concerned, I am in HR exactly because I do care about people. That is why I find mindfulness helps. I felt sick, so I sat with my feelings. I did not judge them. I just noticed them. And eventually the feelings passed. I went on to have a respectful, direct conversation with the manager in question. And everyone has moved on.
For me, mindfulness helps me to be myself – feelings and all. Which for me is a good. Personally, I think that the day that I am comfortable delivering painful news, will be the day I look for a different career.