🗣 An HR lady and a Therapist walk into a bar

Let's unpack that, shall we?

Author

Cassidy Edwards
February 07, 2024

🎉 Yo! We are back at the weekly office party, where everyday feels like #casualFridays. Dropping mics and sounding off.

You could be anywhere in the e-world right now, but you’re here with me. Reading this newsletter. You’re a real one.

If there is anything I learned last week, it’s that an essential goal for 2024 is to put focus on the human BEING versus just the human DOING. We are at a crossroads that also serves as an opportunity to take inventory of how we are doing in our wellbeing journeys. Everyday won’t be perfect, but we owe it to ourselves, right?

What can help us cultivate some joy in our work outside of creativity? CONNECTION.  

Now onto this newsletter. We’re diving into a special edition of ‘Yo. You’re on Mute.’ with a very talented woman (who also happens to like sneakers). I’m no expert in therapy, but it has helped me over the decades. I’m honored to have the real subject matter expert in the building today.

⛽️ Fueling creativity + community + connections ⛽️

🗣 Special Sound Off: The HR Safe Space community has been such a blessing in my personal wellness story. HR can be lonely, no doubt. Find people that you can learn from, laugh with, and lean on when you’re feeling sh*tty.

If this email was forwarded to you, tap in and join the cool collective.

An HR Lady and a Therapist walk into a bar…

Remember how those old school jokes started? Well today we are going to fellowship around an imaginary roundtable to dive into our wellbeing journey + mental health overall. I’ve always heard that business deals and the best insights/advice happen over good food + drinks (read: mocktails definitely count too).

In walks my homie Alelia (Lia). This newsletter isn’t solely about sharing my own experiences to draw connections, but also amplifying the dope people I know personally + professionally. Lia is another cool mom that really cares about how our mental health impacts all areas of our life.

Lia works as a Licensed Professional Counseling Supervisor in her day job, but she’s also an advocate for women of color in a variety of ways. I have worked with Lia in our youth mentoring program in Houston, where she ran a session on using music as a mindfulness practice. The GenZs had us trying all the TikTok dances. WHEW.

We’re going to dive into some insights that will help you throughout 2024 and beyond. Take inventory and kick your feet up for this one.

❝

“Tryna find deeper meaning in nonsense. Tryna grow without hating the process. ”

- SZA (Grammy winner btw!)

💡If you missed the confessions of rough wellness journey, head on back to To the Window, To the Wall: A Wellness Journey.  

Do you just GO and GO or do you pause and check in with yourself? As a woman, we hold many titles that sit at the intersection of ‘Get the Sh*t Done’. This a hard route when we are grasping at how to balance it all. While some of this can be programming (or childhood coding), there are ways to reflect and reach some harmony.

When I hear more and more people wanting a ‘soft life’, I truly feel like it’s also an ask for more wellbeing + more mental health overall. Plot twist: Toxic hustle culture ISN’T sustainable folks.

👀 That Sneaky Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome can be a barrier to expressing one's authentic self at work. How do you recognize the signs of imposter syndrome? Also,what strategies or approaches do you recommend to help individuals navigate and overcome imposter feelings?

Lia: 💎 Signs of going through imposter syndrome show us feeling a lot of self doubt, fear, feeling inadequate. You may find yourself questioning your performance or if you’re able to do the work and do it right. Sometimes, what that can look like is overworking as a means to go above and beyond to make yourself feel like you are doing something right. It leads to high burnout.

Imposter syndrome is a FEELING. I try to remind people of the FACTS. For example, go back to your last evaluation at work. Did they actually say you did well or need some improvement? I like very simplistic things like positive affirmations on sticky notes or patting myself on the back when I accomplish something.

✨ Creativity and Wellbeing.

How do you believe fostering creativity in the workplace contributes to the overall well-being of employees?

Lia: 💎 Definitely because we always want to feel like we are accomplishing something moving forward. You don’t want to feel stagnant when you doing the exact same thing. You want to find other ways to do it, better ways to do it, better ways to expand these things. I think that’s major to keep you motivated.

🦋 A Moment for Mindfulness.

Can you share insights on how mindfulness practices can enhance creativity and help individuals connect with their genuine selves at work?

Lia: 💎 Mindfulness [practices], are important everywhere, but especially as it relates to work because our minds are constantly on the go. Even taking a second to pause can help organize (+ reset) your thought patterns, which support creativity and productivity. It’s reminding yourself of why you’re here and why you’re doing the work.

Draw yourself into the here and now (read: be present) and ask yourself ‘What can I do in this moment?’ or ‘What can I control?’.

🛠 Tackling the Barrier of Burnout.

How do you feel organizations need to support and better equip employees to prevent burnout?

Lia: 💎 Services (like EAP or other counseling benefits) are great, but I think they need to be more realistic with their expectations. People can work on setting those boundaries as well.

Companies can set a positive tone of how work actually gets done. Those expectations matter.

🏀 We Talking Teams?

How can teams create a culture that encourages creativity and supports each member in expressing their unique ideas without fear of judgment?

Lia: 💎 I think it’s the smallest thing ever. COMMUNICATE.

Get to know your teams by asking the right questions, even if it feels hard. For example, get their feedback on process/procedures and ask them if the company is still meeting their needs. Are we still in line with why you wanted to be here and what you wanted to accomplish? Check-ins need consistency.

🗣 How can I help amplify your wellbeing journey or be an accountability partner ? Reply to this newsletter and let me know.

^^when my inner voices hype me up with the ‘feel goods’.

🪴 back with a reminder of the ‘feel goods’.

Take as many affirmations as need today, and share with someone who has helped your wellbeing journey or just been an awesome f*cking human.

1️⃣ I balance my passion for my work with the need for rest and rejuvenation.

2️⃣ Taking time for self-care enhances my creativity and job satisfaction.

3️⃣ I recognize that a balanced life contributes to sustained enthusiasm and effectiveness in my career.

4️⃣ My work contributes positively to the world, and I take pride in my role.

5️⃣ Even the smallest step is a reason for celebration.

🎙 time to sound off in HR/People Operations.

Yo. HR/POPs peeps. Do you feel like you place your undying support everywhere else in the organization and not within your own team? It happens to the best of us.

Lia helped me understand that even the smallest things are BIG indicators that our wellbeing is off. For example, are you even drinking enough water or eating throughout the day? I can’t count how many times I look up from a virtual call and it’s 3pm and I haven’t eaten anything (AND I’M NOT intermittent fasting btw LOL).

Pay attention to these things for yourself and your teams. With recent new hires across the company, our team has sent them Doordash gift cards with a note ‘working late hours? please eat’. 😂 It’s the small moments that matter, and we KNOW they are up hustling because they choose to. If anything, this is a strong reminder to nurture those environments for our overall wellbeing.

Let’s let 2024 be the year where our creativity takes over our chaos AND wellbeing is prioritized. Aren’t you tired?

⚡️QUICKSTRIKE HR SOUND BITES

The HR/People Operations landscape is evolving. As the HR World Turns 🌎 could be its own show. Check out some of the happenings below.

👟 SNEAKER INDUSTRY SOUND BITES

Some HR people may like pilates and shopping trips to Ulta. You could say my thing is sneakers + streetwear. If you enjoy sneaker culture - this section is for you.

🗣 COMMUNITY SOUND BITES

Supporting the small biz/brand owner is important to me. Each newsletter, I’ll introduce you to some talented people in my network and beyond.

🎧 A SONG I DIDN’T SKIP ON MY PLAYLIST TODAY

Have you ever heard a performance that makes you want to f*cking cry? TEMS’ voice does that for me. Hammercy.

Remember: If you are a Corporate Creative, Entrepreneur, or slanging knowledge through the startup space - I am rooting for you. 👏🏽. Your work [and rest] is important.

We are shaking things up in Black History Month. I hope you will join me. Celebrations go way past a month. Our stories are Black History. 😉

a weekly mantra.