How are you? It is such a frequently asked question. A frequently asked question SQW senior consultant So Sum Lee reminded us that we almost always answer with a lie. “I’m fine,” we respond robotically. “Yep. Not too bad.”
But, said Lee, the reality is that often we are not OK, we are not all good and we are not fine. She utilised her EG Future Leader talk to investigate the stigma of mental health and why we still all struggle with the notion of it being OK to not be OK.
Lee recounted her own experiences of the coronavirus pandemic. She felt isolated and trapped. She tried to fill her days with activities, she was putting on a brave face, she was being just fine. Until one day stress got the better of her and she broke down in front of her line manager. Lee’s initial feelings were those of shame and embarrassment.
“We actually don’t have to hide it. It’s OK sometimes not to be OK, and it’s OK to talk about it”
“I was really disappointed with myself that I wasn’t working or, indeed, couldn’t work,” Lee told the audience. “I also found it really difficult to reach out for help because I was wary about being judged by anyone and I didn’t want to be seen as someone who is weak, someone who cannot manage her emotions properly. But there was nothing else I could do.”
So Lee called LionHeart, the independent charity set up to help past, present and future RICS professionals through difficult moments. The experience was life-changing for her.
“We’re all working in a fast-paced, demanding industry,” said Lee. “We all have different challenges and changes every day. I’ve realised that sometimes I just need to be honest with my feelings and talk about it.
“That’s not to say that you should just tell everything to everyone, and your problems will be solved,” she added. “But all of you can make a difference in your workplace or even in the industry. We can all make it more supportive and make it more comfortable for everyone to open up when they need to.”
Watch So Sum Lee’s full speech on asking ‘how are you?’:
A key element of what makes EG Future Leaders so special is the ripple effect it has. Our Future Leaders inspire action in our audience.
This year was all about the power of turning small ideas into mighty actions and unleashing the creativity we know exists in real estate.
Head to my.walls.io/EGFutureLeaders to see some of the takeaways our audience members shared.
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