Authentic Work Relationships

ESFJ Enneagram 2

As a Myers Briggs ESFJ or an Enneagram 2 and a mom to five children, I deeply value authentic relationships. My motto has always been “everything is more fun with a friend!” I stayed home with my kids for 6,789 years so entering into the workforce after being home for so long was quite a shock. But then I landed the best job at the best school, Hazel Dell Elementary. All my sweeties went to Hazel Dell and in some ways, we all grew up at this school. Because of this, working here has been a bit like “working from home.” This has been true not because of being a substitute teacher or being an ED IA and not because of my current position as the Tech Assistant (more on that later) but far and wide because of ONE thing- the relationships I have with my coworkers that are first and foremost dear friends. I love kids and I love people and I love that for the first time in forever, I am having to use a part of my brain that had turned a bit mushy in the delightful and precious time I spent at home with my children.

Interview Nerves

Let me just set the stage as I share about the worst interview in the history of all the world. The Tech Assistant job opened up here at HD and I decided to interview for it. I knew that this job would stretch me as technology is not my passion, people are. I save all my tech questions for my tech-savvy teenagers. I was super nervous the day of the interview and dressed looking like I was going to prom AND I wore heels. In the interview, they asked, “which device I used, a MAC or Microsoft.” I knew I had heard those terms but had zero ideas what they were so I nervously answered, “my phone.” They also asked where I wanted to be in 5 years and again I felt panicked. I answered very professionally “I want to be a March Madness Roadie.” After the interview, I felt like I was going to cry and as Travis Penn walked me out to the front of ESC I literally tripped in my heels and almost fell. A few days later Andrew Swickheimer called and left a message that came in my van’s Bluetooth with my darling 8-year-old listening. He offered me the job and Max Diebold said, “Mommy, I think they called the wrong person. You are terrible at technology.” Apparently, I have failed in the “be encouraging to one another” department as a mom.

Jenny Sebbas Love

I started my new job not knowing anything. Everyone was leaps and bounds ahead of me in their technology IQ. The technology team has been so kind and patient as they have trained me. Jenny Sebbas has lovingly encouraged me and freed me up to say “no” to optional training knowing the thought of anything extra was totally overwhelming to me. Jenny and her heart for people and her job exemplifies authentic care and compassion. I could spend all my days learning by her example of how to lead and encourage others.

The Fishbowl   

At Hazel Dell my desk is in an area we call The Fishbowl. Several of us work in this space and daily we practice what it looks like to have an authentic relationship. We all have different roles at HD but we are quick to step in and help anytime someone needs something. This is one way that we love and care for one another. I also think that in a work relationship, you need to know that you can depend on and trust your colleagues. My friends in the fishbowl are trustworthy and I know they always have my back. Sometimes we have hard days just like anyone else. We feel tired, and overwhelmed with our jobs and with our own personal life but because we live and work in a space where we have an authentic relationship we can share these things with one another.

Now back I go to research Macs vs Microsoft…but wait - I have all those teenagers at home and fortunately for me I also have my Fishbowl friends to help me and afterwards we’ll plan my outfit for my March Madness Roadie debut…sans heels of course. The moral of the story? Make sure to invest in your work relationships. Work is way better when you have yourself a Fishbowl crew (I’d insert a cute, cheesy GIF here, but I haven’t learned how to do that yet).

Ashley Diebold

Technology Assistant