Standing ground

Three days later and I’m still thinking about Tuesday’s shift. Alex had been pushing back on every protocol suggestion for weeks, questioning my decisions in front of patients, making those little comments that chip away at team cohesion. Finally called him aside after he contradicted me during a family consultation.

Standing ground

Turns out he’d been testing boundaries because he wasn’t sure about my authority in our new dynamic. Fair enough - we’ve been colleagues for years, now suddenly I’m coordinating cultural programs and he’s wondering where that leaves our working relationship. Twenty minutes of honest conversation and we’re back to being the team I know we can be.

What surprised me wasn’t the confrontation itself, but how calm I felt during it. Six months ago I would have second-guessed myself for days before saying anything. Now? I addressed it immediately, stayed professional, and focused on solutions rather than ego.

Processing everything in my favorite thinking spot.

Margaret was right when she told me last week that teaching pottery requires the same skills as managing workplace dynamics - knowing when to guide and when to let people figure it out themselves. Sometimes leadership is just being willing to have the uncomfortable conversation first.