Stagnant Sally
Hi Barb, I’ve been feeling a bit stagnant in my job lately and like I’m just going through the motions day to day. I know that work is work, but I was wondering if you had any advice on bringing some excitement back into it. Thanks!
So, it sounds like you’ve just trotted your horse into the Stagnant Stable. We can’t always tell when we first enter the Stagnant Stable. At first glance it looks like the horses are waiting patiently for their feed, but then you remember that horses sleep standing up and they’re not counting hay, but actually sheep.
In other (less metaphoric) words, your environment feels stationary and your actions feel passive. But don’t you worry darl, because the barn doors to the Stagnant Stable don’t lock from the outside – you can leave the building!
But what is professional stagnation, you ask?
Well, it’s a state where no significant positive or negative changes occur. It’s like a cold glass of Champagne served in a flimsy paper cup, it’s not quite terrible, you know you’ll still drink it, but you won’t be particularly delighted by it.
So how do you get your bubbles out of that creasing cup and into a grandiose goblet? Just as I now choose to always carry my favourite crystal coupe with me, the change must be self-initiated.
Barb’s HOT Tips for regaining your OOMPH!
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These should be a mixture of short-term and long-term goals. Create some daily and weekly objectives. This can light a little fire in the belly and give you something to chase, with a nice little side salad of big pats on the back when you achieve them. Your long-term goals will define what you want your success to look like in 6-12 months’ time. Perhaps you want to enter a competition, master a certain breed type in the salon or progress in job titles from a junior to senior groomer.
Both short and long-term goals should be realistic, measurable and another hot tip from Barb: don’t just think it, WRITE it down!
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Upskill baby! The worst place a person can be is in a position where they think they know everything. In a field like dog grooming, there is ALWAYS more to learn darling! Asian fusion? Hand-stripping? My igroomhub membership is like my favourite polka-dot capris every holiday season, bursting at the seams with knowledge for your noggin!
Tutorials, short courses, client education tips, an ops and resources blog, even a chatbot if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for! -
“Ask and you shall receive”, I believe is a verse from the bible, it’s either that or a verse by Bublé’ but I think the latter would most likely involve a Christmas reference. Regardless of who indeed said it, the words are straight out of a truth trifle.
Constructive feedback (notice I didn’t say criticism; this isn’t an excuse for work place bulling) from coworkers and managers can help identify areas for growth. -
Network baby! When I was an up-and-comer it wasn’t as easy as you lot have it! We would meet in person and call one another on something we called a ‘landline’ (ask your parents). If you’re attending a seminar or workshop, hang around for a chit-chat! Don’t waste a room filled with groomers who are very clearly interested in the same themes as you! These days, you also have communities on Facebook, WhatsApp, instragram, TikTok, all just clicks away!
But just a disclaimer: OnlyFans is NOT a community of people who are only fans of dog grooming, that was a very unfortunate misstep. -
If our work hours become the only highlight of our day, when that highlight starts dimming, so does the rest of our world. Try a new hobby, join a new club, practice mindfulness.
Mr Taylor and I have just started incorporating breathwork when we’re cooking together in the kitchen. It keeps moods mellow, and nothing reminds us that it’s time to exhale quite like the cheery chime of the microwave. -
A person won’t fix a broken tap if they don’t know it’s dripping. In other words, it’s hard to help when you think nothing is wrong. So have a chat with your managers, explain your feelings of stagnation and pick their brains. It can also help to share some of the goals you’ve set - they might be able to help you reach them!
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Ever heard ‘a change is as good as a holiday’? Well, the inverse of that can be just as true. Burnout can sometimes mask itself as stagnation (the cheeky rascal!), so maybe think about taking a trip for a few days before making any huge life changes.
I hope these tips help bring back the pep in your step with vengeance, sugarplum!
Barb-bye!
