How to Professionally Handle a Personal Crisis

[image error]I know for sure that at some point in your career you will experience a personal crisis. It could be anything from the loss of a loved one, a medical crisis, or a divorce. My crisis came just 5 days after my wedding when my mother unexpectedly passed away. I know from firsthand experience that the best way to get through a crisis is to have a plan. Here are some things to consider as you manage your career and life during times of personal challenge: 

Do your job or take time off.

During a time of crisis you may not be able to focus effectively on work. If that is the case, be willing to take FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), personal leave, or vacation time to deal with whatever is going on. If you decide in the midst of the crisis to continue working, then you need to do your job and do it well. It may not be fair, but your colleagues will be evaluating how you handle yourself during this challenging time so make sure you maintain your peak level of performance.

Clarify what you need and ask for it.

Often during a crisis we forget that there are others around who can support us. But we have to tell them HOW they can help. For me, that meant everything from asking for space to having people send the acknowledgements on behalf of the family. You may need time off from work, someone to watch the kids, or bring a home cooked meal. Whatever you need, be willing to ask for it. Many companies have a ton of benefits to support employees during times of crisis, so make sure you fully leverage your benefits by asking what your situation qualifies for.

Decide on the details you will share.

Everyone does not need to know all the details of your personal crisis. Before sharing any details at work, decide what details you will share and with whom. You also want to decide how you will answer questions like: What Happened? Are you ok? Is there anything I can do? The more you rehearse your answers the less likely you will break down. Be prepared for the unexpected response when you do share. Your situation will have an impact on your colleagues and they may respond in a variety of ways and share things you did not know. Be prepared to hear about circumstances similar to your own that your colleagues have faced in the past.

Take care of yourself and set boundaries

If you have not been on a great self-care plan, now is the time to start. There are three things you can do immediately to start taking care of yourself: Eat right, exercise, get plenty of rest. Just doing those three things will help you have the energy you need to get through days ahead. As part of your self-care plan you will need to set strong boundaries. If you have to deal with your personal crisis at work, do so privately so your colleagues don’t over hear. Make sure when you get triggered or upset that you find an outlet outside of work you can call on to process your emotions. Your colleagues have their own challenges and may not have capacity to listen to your ongoing issue.

Doing these 4 things will help you to maintain your professional reputation while handling the personal crisis in your life.

-Cornelia Shipley, Career Coach
www.corneliashipley.com