…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!
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: …not with mentors, and mentors.