Learning to say NO, without guilt!

The most important change in work culture that I had to make when I did a transition from a Government job to one in the private sector was learning to say NO without guilt.

My 10 years in the Indian air Force had taught me to be a team player and one who would never defy the authority figures and their decisions. But one month in the private sector and I realised it was difficult to work efficiently if I kept saying YES to everything that was thrown my way.

In most of the schools in Indian setting, Counsellor’s duties and responsibilities are so diluted that taking substitution periods and additional duties as replacement/ remedial teachers is often considered to be an accepted role of the Counsellor. Being a passionate child lover, it was very difficult for me to say NO to taking substitution periods in the very beginning. For many nights, this GUILTY feeling kept me awake.

But slowly when I reiterated my aim of joining the school ; to enhance happiness quotient of the students, the Guilt was replaced with conviction. The impact this decision had on my work was that-

a. I could be an active listener for all my ailing students,

b. I could re-organise my schedule to make space for more meaningful sessions with individual students,

c. I could interact with the teachers and primary caregivers without much ado,

d. Recording and referring to case notes for follow ups became more prompt

e. I could see patterns emerging out of the students’ behaviour,

f. I could predict more accurately the actions some of my students would take up  due to my continuous and uninterrupted observations and interactions with them

What helped me overcome my guilt was trying to find out my Best Possible Self and not get clouded by others’ opinion about me.