Working in retail for so many years has given me some amazing memories. I’ve met people who have made difficult shifts easier, colleagues who have become friends and customers who can completely change your day with a simple smile.
But there is another side to working in retail that people don’t always see.
Sometimes you have to work alongside someone you don’t get on with.
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about this because someone I’ve had difficulties with is coming back to work after being away.
And if I’m truthful, knowing they’re coming back brings back a lot of emotions.
There’s that horrible feeling in your stomach before you even get to work. You start thinking about what might happen, whether they’ll speak to you, how they’ll treat you and whether you’re going to manage to get through your shift without becoming overwhelmed.
Part of me wishes I didn’t feel like this.
I shouldn’t have to prepare myself emotionally just to walk through the doors of a place where I’ve worked for so many years.
But I’m also reminding myself of something important.
I can only control how I behave.
I don’t have to be someone’s friend. I don’t have to forget what has happened. I don’t have to pretend that things haven’t affected me.
But I can still be professional.
I can walk into work with my head held high. I can say hello. I can answer work-related questions. I can help customers and get on with my job.
And when things become difficult, I can remind myself that I don’t have to react to everything.
Sometimes being professional is incredibly hard. People might think it simply means being polite, but when you’re dealing with someone who has previously made you feel uncomfortable, it takes a lot of strength to remain calm and carry on doing your job.
There might be moments when I need to walk away.
There might be moments when I need a few minutes to collect my thoughts.
And if something happens that isn’t right, I know I can speak up about it.
Being professional doesn’t mean staying silent when you’re being treated badly. It means dealing with the situation in the right way rather than allowing anger or emotion to take over.
I’ve worked too hard and for too many years to allow one difficult relationship at work to define my experience.
I’m going to concentrate on the people who make me smile, the colleagues who support me and the customers I enjoy helping.
I’m going to concentrate on me.
I might be nervous. I might feel uncomfortable. Some shifts might be harder than others.
But I’m going to walk through those doors, do my job and remind myself:
I don’t have to like everyone I work with.
I don’t have to pretend the past didn’t happen.
I just have to stay true to myself and remain professional.
And sometimes, that’s an achievement in itself.
