As some of you know, prior to being The Calm Coach, I worked for the University of Oxford for almost 15 years (1994 – 2008). In that time I only worked for 2 units but managed to move from a low clerical grade to middle management.
In 2002 I was offered a new high-profile job and a major new challenge within the University. I knew I needed to change my job because I had become stale in my old role, and somehow I had persuaded this new group to give me an opportunity to set up a whole new unit.
This was a major league change for me and although somewhere deep inside of me I had the belief that I could do it, I also had that nagging thought at the back of my mind that I might get “found out”. What if I wasn’t good enough?
Externally I was giving off the aura of calm and being in control but inside I was quaking in my shoes and really worried that this was all a big mistake and I had over-stepped my abilities by taking on this role. I was totally stressed out and worried about this continually.
Something had to change.
Not wanting to fail or to lose face with my new boss, I had to prove to him and the world that I was the right person for the job, so what I needed to do was to become calm both on the outside and the inside.
What did I do?
I created systems and strategies and used my current knowledge and skills to make this new unit not only function but to be the best it could be.
- I sought advice from other people in the institution who I knew and trusted
- I used my network of contacts to build a support base
- I developed a system for student record management
- I updated my skills in finance and other areas and developed systems to make this work for me
- I went on a postgraduate management course
- I treated everyone as equals – academics, administrative staff and students- and gained respect from each of them
- I went the extra mile in everything I did in order to make it work
As this was a totally new venture for me and the University, I had to create lots of new systems and strategies for it to work. I not only found out that I could actually do this and was pretty good at it but that others now looked upon me as the person to talk to for advice on setting up similar units. What a turn around.
So, for me, the essential part of creating my CALM was all about removing the chaos in my head in order for me to function at my best and for my true potential to shine and make a success of my new role.
If you think that you would benefit from creating calm in your life why not check-out my website at The Calm Coach
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