News

How to Make It Through a Tough Week at Work

Has worked seemed tougher than usual lately? With the heat of summer bearing down on us, and many of us juggling the kids’ back-to-school routine, you may have felt a bit more rundown, negative, or even despairing on the job. And you know it’s not that you hate your work or that there’s something wrong with you—it’s the simple fact that some weeks are tougher than others. The good news is, you will get through it!

These tips can help you cope with a rough week at work:

Ask yourself…

Why is this week so hard? It should be the obvious starting point, but figure out why things aren’t going your way. Maybe you’re sleep deprived, fed up with that nosey colleague, or struggling under a stressful project. Once you find the problem, you can work on fixing it as best you can. You may not be able to get your nosey colleague sent away for the rest of your career, but you could research how to gracefully squelch her nosiness, you could restructure your schedule to grab a nap or rest break, or you could outline the timeline and goals for your project. And if you can’t fix the problem, put an end date on it—that project will be over in two weeks. Reward yourself for small victories!
Can I talk to my boss about this? Some of you are laughing because your boss is a harpy sent from Hades, but for the rest of you, your boss is probably a reasonable person who is ready to support you and give you the tools you need to succeed. Sometimes that tool is an ear to hear your concerns. You might even get some unexpected results, such as an extended deadline or a cheerful note on your desk. If nothing else, you’ll probably feel better if you approach it constructively instead of whiningly. Remember, even the most driven and successful people need a hand now and again.
Am I being too hard on myself? When you’re driven to succeed, or if you’re a rampant perfectionist, you usually put at least part of the onus on yourself. You’ll ask, “Why don’t I have this situation under control in the first place?” Now, if your week is tough because you made a mistake, own it, learn from it, and get out from under it. But if you’ve otherwise been chugging along, remember you can only get so much sleep, you can only be so assertive with your coworker, and you can only clear so much calendar space to work on that project. You can’t control everything. And some weeks, work will just stink.

Bad weeks will happen. And while you may not be able to prevent them, you can use these coping strategies to pull through the tough times. This too shall pass—if by the grace of Friday!

YES! News

The “better” way to conduct layoffs

Layoffs are hard on everyone. Even as business leaders and HR professionals, layoffs are one of the hardest things we have to do. Regrettably, many of us remember this from the all-too-recent pandemic layoffs. Layoffs are a reality we may soon face again as the threat of recession looms. And while we may not have […]

Resolve conflict like a champ

We’re hard-pressed to say conflict resolution is a fun or glamorous part of a Human Resources or leadership role, but it’s one of the most critical parts. How you mediate conflict impacts employee morale and retention, and also shows your leadership abilities and your willingness to tackle the tough stuff. Your conflict resolution skills can […]

Stop! and hire this candidate

It’s easy to criticize potential hires and spot reasons why we shouldn’t hire them. That one is too arrogant, that one lacks technical skills, and that one knows nothing about the company. Process of elimination, right? But too often we fail to recognize the positive reasons why we should hire someone. Positive flags can be […]

Client Testimonials

"Kathi has been an extremely reliable, knowledgeable and indispensable resource for our growing business. Anytime we had a difficult issue or needed to refine, replace or upgrade our HR communication, Kathi provided outstanding support and feedback. She is a wonderful person and an outstanding, solution oriented communicator. I can't recommend her enough to businesses who need assistance with HR strategy and support."

"Kathi is reliable, knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. She has always been readily available to help us with all of our immediate needs, from handbooks to policies, and notices. We highly recommend her. A great team player."

"SPMD has been partnering with Kathi for almost 4 years. She is a fantastic partner to our design firm. Her experience, knowledge, professionalism and ability to problem solve is the perfect package to fit our business. Over the years she has helped us navigate many employee situations quickly and re-wrote our Employee Handbook. Kathi is always there in a heartbeat when a situation arises and has the answers and advice we need. We highly recommend Kathi!"

“Kathi provided Senior Human Resources leadership to Orqis Medical for over six years. Her effectiveness is immediate, her contributions substantial, and her ability to integrate into the employee base as a consultant outstanding. I highly recommend Kathi to any company looking for senior management help in the HR arena, without the ability to hire a full-time manager. This is a go-to person for any small, medium, or start-up company.”

Free Consultation