The Power of Speaking Up in the Workplace

 A few months ago, I found myself at a crossroads during a two-day leads workshop at my company. It was late April, and I was seriously contemplating whether to quit. Feeling under-utilized and lost regarding the team's direction, I began exploring other options. I struggled to voice my concerns, but the workshop turned out to be a much-needed break, allowing me to reflect on my purpose and consider how sticking around could shape my future.

In the final session, one of our technical directors posed a question to me about the challenges I faced in my work. Suddenly, I went blank. I was torn between expressing my frustrations with the team leader or my struggles with customers. Over the preceding months, my primary role involved sending emails to potential clients, setting up meetings, and trying to secure projects. Unfortunately, I was met with constant disappointment and little success, leaving me frustrated and unsure of where the problem lay. I grew tired of sending emails that went unanswered and felt lost in my inability to strategize effectively. With no one to turn to for support, I hesitated to voice my concerns, not just in the meeting but throughout the workplace.

This failure to communicate affected me profoundly. I experienced low morale, became disengaged from the team, and even considered throwing in the towel. However, months later, a new team emerged, fostering open communication and collaboration. I decided to stick with the job, feeling hopeful about the change.

The experience taught me that not speaking up in the workplace can have significant repercussions. It can lead to:

• Low Morale: Constant frustration can sap your motivation and enthusiasm.
• Disengagement: Without open communication, you may feel isolated and disconnected from your team.
• Missed Opportunities: Failing to share concerns can result in unresolved issues and hinder your professional growth.

So, speak up! That’s the lesson I learned. Your voice matters, and open dialogue can lead to positive change.

A Teacher's Lasting Impact!

This Teacher's Day, as I reflect on the profound impact teachers have had on my life, one particular incident from fourth grade remains etched in my memory.

Back then, I had told a friend that I didn't quite like my Math teacher. Unfortunately, that friend reported it, and soon I found myself standing outside the classroom for almost a week (at least three days in succession) as punishment. When I was sent to the Principal's office, she, being a family friend, gently brushed it off with a chocolate and sent me back to class. When my mom found out, she called the teacher to apologize. That single incident made me dread math classes. My enthusiasm for the subject plummeted, and soon, my grades followed.

By the time I reached 10th grade, my confidence in Math was at an all-time low. The half-yearly exams were a stark wake-up call when I scored a dismal 38 out of 80. Despite performing well in all my other subjects, I just couldn't bring myself to like Math. My worried mother turned to the Vice-Principal—a brilliant Math teacher herself and a friend. She decided to take me under her wing.

She didn't just teach me Math; she reignited a spark within me. She handed me a question bank and told me to work on it, encouraging me to come back to her for corrections. Her faith in me was unwavering and within a month, my marks shot up to 75 out of 80 in the revision exam! That newfound confidence propelled me through my public exams and beyond.

It became evident to me that my struggle with Math was never about ability. It was about overcoming the hurt from that one negative experience. As an aspiring doctor, I initially thought I could avoid Math altogether. However, I chose to stick with it. To my astonishment, I effortlessly scored a 94 in my first Math exam in 11th grade! I continued with the subject all through 12th, consistently performing well—thanks to the unwavering encouragement of one incredible teacher.

Teachers have the extraordinary power to either break or make a child. Today, I am deeply grateful for those who chose to build me up, even when I felt like giving up. A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Helen Sudarshanam, my Math teacher at Ida Scudder School, Vellore. Your support truly made all the difference.

Lockdown special!

One will say, `I belong to the LORD'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, `The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel." Isaiah 44:5

 

That was the verse that stood out to me during my daily quiet time in January 2018. Despite my initial resistance to the idea of having another child - with my second child only 9 months old and me just starting my career after a long break - I felt a strong sense that the Lord was telling me that another baby was on the horizon.

 "Three is a good number". My husband and I had determined early in our marriage that three children was the ideal family size for us. It could be because of the loving relationship my mom had with her brother and sister or it could be because of the warm relationship I had with my own brother. Yet, the thought of having a third child at that point in time was unimaginable. I simply was not ready, and I told God that. 

In September of that same year, a prophetess visited us for a prayer meeting. As she prayed over me, she declared that God would bless us with a son named Jeremiah. Despite my initial reaction of "No, I'm not ready for another child," I couldn't shake the feeling that this was the Lord's plan for our family.

For the next 1.5 years, life got very busy with kids, home, and work. I think it was the end of 2019 during my prayer time, when I finally submitted to God's will of having another child.

The year 2020 dawned and the coronavirus was just making entry into India. It was March 18^th, 2020. My Mom was on her way back from Odisha. My older daughter had just finished her first-grade annual exams. So we had planned to send the kids off with my parents to Vellore. On 19th March, my office announced work-from-home and so my husband and I decided to go along with the kids to Vellore, stay for the weekend and come back. We spent the weekend at Vellore but it came as a shock when the nationwide lockdown was announced. We couldn't go back to Chennai ( I hadn't locked the windows of my house and had left clothes for drying in the balcony since we expected to be back in two days). I was extremely thankful that we could be with the kids at my parents' home in Vellore for the next couple of months. It was there that I discovered that we were expecting our third child. Our joy knew no bounds. God had perfectly timed it and was going to fulfil what he had promised two years ago! I knew that God had a special plan for this child of promise.

Over the next few months, despite the pregnancy and the lockdown, we made multiple travels - to Chennai for cleaning up the home, twice to visit my in-laws in Tuticorin and once to Nagercoil for a wedding at my 37th week of pregnancy ( you can read it here).

In August 2020, my father-in-law was tested covid-positive. So, we quarantined him at our parents' place at Vellore. I was five months pregnant then with two small kids. God's protecting hand was evident. Soon, the whole neighbourhood was infected- my maid, and people who helped with our parent's ministry. God made us a blessing to those around us, in terms of providing them with food. 

The pregnancy progressed smoothly and the greatest blessing was that I could have my husband, kids and parents around me throughout the pregnancy. I was praying for an easy delivery just like my other two deliveries. My due date was on Christmas day, but I expected the baby to arrive a bit late, hopefully on our anniversary a few days later. 24^th December turned out to be a very busy day. My dad, my husband and I went to the market to buy some snacks to give it away to homeless people who would turn up at our door on Christmas day every year. We were having guests for dinner that night. So we went shopping and bought a few presents for them. It was way past lunch time and so we got home, had lunch and put the kids down for their afternoon nap. I baked a cake in the evening, packed all the snacks into small packets that filled an entire cardboard box so that it would be easy to give them away the next day. 

At around 7 pm, our guests arrived. After a small birthday cake-cutting for one of them, we headed out for dinner. We had an awesome Christmas Eve dinner and by the time we returned home, it was past 10 pm. I put the kids to bed with their dresses on so that we wouldn't have to change them for the 5 am Christmas service at church in the morning. It was past 11 pm when I hit bed. I was so tired that I even forgot it was my due date.

Mild contractions began at 11:30 pm and I began monitoring them on my phone app. Contractions were at regular intervals, and after an hour of monitoring, I knew it was time to go to the hospital. Not wanting to wake up anyone, I fumbled around in the dark that was lit-up only by a small nightlamp, re-checked my already packed hospital bag, filled up water bottles, and got my documents ready. When I sneaked into my mother's bedroom to get my sweater, my mother woke up. Soon, my parents and I were well on our way to the hospital. My husband stayed back with the kids who were sleeping. By the time I was admitted in the labour ward, it was 2:30 am. God answered my prayer and the labour progressed very smoothly and effortlessly. In just a couple of hours, at 5 am, the doctor presented us with Jeremy Shelton born naturally, weighing in at 3.4 kgs, making our Christmas super-special. 

God has given me a beautiful gift and privilege in allowing me to mother three beautiful children. I pray that I will have a heart that is fully dependent on the Saviour as I raise them and that my husband and I may have wisdom in the way that we lead them!