Recently I found myself questioning everything; my capabilities, what values I was adding and was my role worthwhile. A world of insecurities were flooding in. Any normal situation I would have wallowed in my own self doubt however, if this year has taught me anything, it is to pause, reflect and discuss what was on my mind.

If this year has taught me anything it is to pause, reflect and discuss what was on my mind.

We at Gravita started working on a new collaboration and everything started great. When it came to designing a single page narrative I was structuring the content, applying colour palettes, setting the typographical hierarchy.

Pleased with the progress I was keen to share with my team (Rosie & Leigh) at the time both me an Rosie we’re not 100% after obtaining a rather nasty cold so were dipping in and out of the collaboration adding value where we could we made our comments and left it for the following day.

I woke eager to make some more traction, to find overnight Leigh had redesigned what I had produced.

I reacted in a way a little out of character or at least took me by surprise when I later reflected on my reaction “what was wrong with what I had produced? Why was there a need to re-do the work”.

“What was wrong with what I had produced? why was there a need to re-do the work”

A flood of feelings of disappointment, anger and doubt I felt de-valued, at which point I stopped myself from making any remarks and began to reflect then share my thoughts with Rosie and Leigh. What I had discovered was the redesign was nothing more than plussing what I had produced and we has discussed this time and time again, my structure, colour, everything was there I just could not see past my own ego and need for validation.

We began to play layer tennis in Photoshop, plussing each other making more suggestions to improve the overall experience and the result proved to be very positive. Only 4 minor amends and a very very happy client.

Many discussion this year between me and fellow colleagues have been about new perspectives and changing how we work. Becoming new archetypes for future creative’s, grand ideas and profound insights flooded, influences from Holacracy , psychology and our own pains shaped our ideals, however when it came to applying them myself it became a very different story, many of my issues seemed to come to the surface quickly and I found it a battle to deal with them.

Over time I am learning to embrace my vulnerabilities as they are making me stronger— more accepting of change and they empower me to drive the ideas that we at Gravita are striving for collaboratively.