I’ve been back at work this week after a slightly longer break than I’d planned. A broken shoulder and a family bereavement necessitated some additional time off. It is lovely to be back, catching up with colleagues but I am having to make full use of the technology we have available to us, dictating this update given my still limited typing capability.
Having been limited to mostly using only one arm for the last four weeks I’ve had to rely much more on others. As someone who’s used to being pretty independent it’s been a humbling experience having to ask for help to do even the most basic tasks. Coming back to work has also been made much easier because of the support I’ve had from colleagues, who helped to manage things in my absence. It’s been really obvious in many situations that I’ve needed help because my arm has been immobilised in a sling. But, there are lots of times that we need help when it is much less obvious and we need to be better about asking for it.
In my experience people are far more willing to offer assistance than we imagine, including the many strangers who helped pick me up when I fell in Luton airport and who offered to carry my bags for me.
One of the things that I love about working for Argyll and Bute Council is the camaraderie of colleagues and I’m certainly very conscious of benefitting from many people’s expertise in areas that are not my specialism. So one of the lessons I’m taking from my summer holidays is to be more willing to ask for help, and remembering that those needing help might not be wearing the fact on their sleeve (or sling).
Thank you to all those have been helping me out and especially to colleagues in the HSCP who have looked after me so well.
Have a lovely weekend.
Pippa
Pippa Milne
Chief Executive
