And I've learnt this one over the years. You can know exactly what you're doing and still have a stressful day because of one simple communication issue. You explain something, the person understands it one way, you meant it another way, everybody moves on, and then two days later, you're having a completely different conversation. 😂

And sometimes, nobody is even being difficult. People just have different expectations, different ways of communicating, different standards, and even different ideas of what “urgent” means. 

I've also learnt that being good at what you do is only part of the job. You have to know how to communicate, ask questions, be clear about what you can and cannot do, manage expectations, and sometimes, you have to say no.

That one took me a while.

I used to think being professional meant being available and trying to make everything work. Now, I'm learning that professionalism also means knowing your limits. If you can't meet a deadline, say it. If you don't understand something, ask. If something isn't working, speak up. If you need to set a boundary, set it.

And if a working relationship isn't working, sometimes you just have to accept that too. Not every client, colleague or business relationship will be a perfect fit, and that's okay.

One thing working with people has really taught me is that your skill may get you the job, but knowing how to work with people makes the job a lot easier.

I'm still learning this one myself.

What's one thing working with people has taught you?