My fur baby, Piku, has this very theatrical way of expressing disappointment. Turning his back on me. Literally.
If I refuse him a second treat or delay the evening walk, he doesn’t argue; he turns his back on me. Tail glued to the floor, ears drooping, eyes full of judgment.
But here’s the thing! Two minutes later, he’s back. Nudging me, wagging his tail, trying again.
Actually, if I only focused on what he didn’t get right (like sitting a little crooked when asked, or barking a little too loudly at the doorbell), I’d completely miss the fact that he’s showing up, trying, every single time.
That dramatic back-turn isn’t defiance. It’s his way of saying: “Don’t just tell me no…tell me what I did right too.”
Isn’t that so much like us at work, too?
Recently, my team and I have been neck-deep in creating 70+ videos, 100+ graphics, and lots of content… each one demanding creativity, precision, and long hours.
And yes, mistakes happen. A design goes off-track, a typo sneaks in, or a tiny detail gets missed.
I totally know how it feels to have all your hard work and entire project dismissed because of one slip.
And that’s why, when I review their work, I make it a point to acknowledge the effort because I know how much effort and energy it took.
So, instead of shutting down the conversation, I say,
“This is beautiful, just fix this little part.”
Or, “I love how much thought you’ve put into this, just tweak this one detail.”
Because, whether at work or at home, none of us stop trying because we got it wrong. We stop when we feel unseen.
And Piku, through his dramatic exits and equally dramatic returns, reminds me of that every single day. Smiling in the funniest way!
Shines & Shadows 