You’re Invited: A Virtual Huddle on “Beginnings” Hosted by Coach Tina Essmaker
TINA ESSMAKER / Creative Coach
Where do you go for meaningful conversations with fellow creatives? Work? Community events? Your coworking space? Now there’s a new place to meet—announcing WNW Virtual Huddles, a monthly online conversation with creatives led by me, Coach Tina Essmaker. Online, free, and open to all, each month will address a different theme. You’re invited to join us, share your experiences, and find solidarity with your peers.
The seed for this idea was planted in August 2018 when I launched my coaching column on Working Not Working Magazine with the ambition of answering letters from creatives who wanted help with a specific career-related challenge or opportunity. Since then, I’ve responded to 30 letters from creators who have wrestled with feeling all out of love for their work, felt frozen by fear, found themselves waiting to be seen, and looking to leap.
At first, I was curious if anyone would read the columns other than the letter writers—the answer turned out to be yes! Once, I was at a friend’s annual studio party and someone I had met the year prior approached me to say they read the column and found it helpful. Another person I met at an event told me they read nearly every column and it always feels like I’m speaking to them. Another reader reached out about coaching, ready to go beyond consuming the column and take action in their own lives.
People were reading the column and it was resonating. Feedback from letter writers and readers has solidified the fact that we are not alone in the challenges we face as we build our careers—even if we do feel alone at times. As WNW cofounder Justin Gignac said in his article, We’re Not as Fucked Up and Special as We Think We Are: Why WNW Started a Support Group for Creatives:
“The individuality of our experience and voice is what sets us apart, sure, but our vulnerability and shared experience are what connect us. There is far more that we share as (creative) people than what sets us apart.” —Read Justin’s article here.
Right now we are transitioning back to work after the winter break. I’m curious: What are you experiencing as an individual as you begin the new year and dive back into work? Are there challenges that are causing you anxiety, opportunities that have you feeling excited, confusion over what’s next, pressure to reinvent with the new calendar year? Wherever you are, there is someone else who can relate. Despite the differences of our experiences, there are common threads that weave us together as Justin noted above.
Yet many of us may struggle to find a space to connect over our shared experiences. The workplace can often feel like the wrong venue as we’re focused on producing to meet deadlines. Social media can feel too simplistic, limiting the rich dialogue that can’t happen via brief comments and strings of emoji. Meetups can be wonderfully enriching, but limited by location and our ability to travel. And what if you work independently and don’t have peers to reach out to?
In her book, Stitches, the writer Anne Lamott states, “If a writer or artist creates from a place of truth and spirit and generosity, then I may be able to enter and ride this person’s train back to my station.” When we share our experiences with one another, it helps us normalize what we go through, it helps us feel seen and heard, it affirms that we are not alone. Together, we help each other grow and move forward. This goes for our work, but I believe it extends to the conversations we have along our journeys, which is why I’m excited to collaborate with WNW to kick off the WNW Virtual Huddle series.
We hope you’ll join us as we create an opportunity for conversation and connection with each other. Details below and don’t forget to RSVP to participate in the first Huddle next week on Thursday, January 30th from 2-3pm Eastern on the theme of “Beginnings.”
Announcing WNW Virtual Huddles
What: A monthly online conversation around a theme hosted by Coach Tina Essmaker. Free and open to all. RSVP is required to participate.
When: The first huddle is Thursday, Jan. 30 @ 2-3pm Eastern.
Where: Join us online via Zoom. After you RSVP you will be sent a link to join. You can join from anywhere by video or audio from your phone or computer.
Who: Anyone who works in a creative field and wants to engage in meaningful conversations with their peers.
Join the Working Not Working community to receive our WNW Newsletter and stay up-to-date on upcoming Huddles.
Huddle Guidelines
There are a few ground rules to help this be as comfortable as possible for everyone.
1. The huddle will start promptly. If you are late, you will not be allowed to join to avoid disruptions to the conversation. Plan to join a few minutes early.
2. You are welcome to join by video or audio from your phone or computer. Please turn off all notifications on your computer/phone to avoid disruptions during the meeting.
3. If you need to leave the huddle early, you can simply log off on your device.
4. What is shared in the huddle stays in the huddle to protect the privacy of participants.
5. Please keep sharing to 2 minutes at a time so everyone has a chance to contribute.
6. Wait until your peers are done speaking before you begin. There will be time for everyone to share.
7. Talk from your experience and use “I” statements versus “you” or “we.” This forum is for sharing experiences and offering support by listening. Please refrain from giving advice or directions.
8. You are encouraged to share, but not required to.
9. We will not share your information with the group, however if you want to connect with someone one on one after the huddle, you are welcome to do so with their permission, granted they are comfortable.
10. The huddle is a place to embrace different perspectives and viewpoints. It will be a safe, welcoming environment for all who participate. Misconduct, including any form of harassment will not be tolerated.