…not with mentors, and mentors. My company matches you up with a mentor (typically a level or two above you) and you meet with them a few times a year to discuss your career, reviews, future, and so on. This is awesome because we’re forced to meet and do the things that often get overlooked.
Aside: my second engagement since starting work was out in California. On the first day we meet with the client after lunch in a dark room with a PowerPoint presentation on all kinds of stuff I really have no familiarity with. I started doing that head nod, eyelids droop thing. My supervisor across the table from me noticed. Yup, you know that’s going in the review!
So, as I sit here at lunch with my mentor and I tell him this story he stops and says “haha! I’ve got a better story than that…” and proceeds to tell me about how he, too, once started to doze while talking with a client. Score.
That’s what mentors are for. When we see that review come up we can just chalk it up to “first time” and be done with it. No more stress!
I totally dozed off the other day when my team leader was showing me through one of our apps. She didn’t realize it, it was brief, but I totally did that head-nod-and-wake-yourself-up thing. I just couldn’t stay awake! :D
I haven’t had it happen since then… but hey, that doesn’t mean I won’t again. Bringing water has helped because you have something to do when you realize it’s coming. Also tensing all my muscles for as long as possible works, too… haha.
I dozed off the second you clarified that it was “and” and not “with.” ;) Kidding!
I wish I had a mentor, but I think I’m lucky in that my boss kind of serves as one, too.
I kind of nod off here at work from time to time but nobody gets to catch me at it because I’m in the upper mezzanine and kind of overlook everyone. ;)
stabbing yourself with a pencil/pen works pretty well too, or pinching yourself.
i have a few mentees, i’m really bad though because i don’t see them as often as i should – it’s really hard though when they are on different engagements than you. yea, i know excuses aren’t good…
Always excuses with you, Shivani..
thank you for this: