What does your 'naughty chair' look like?

A little while ago, I was put in the professional naughty chair.

Did I deserve it ….maybe …..but none the less it was not a pleasant experience.

I didn’t want to be there and everything that came out of my mouth sounded like a lame excuse for the reason I was there in the first place.

It killed my vibe for the whole day.

Then I realised - when I am in the naughty chair - I wear it - loud and like a badge. You can’t miss it.

It’s bright and fancy and unavoidable.

When I am in it I am feeling like everyone is looking at me and my big arse chair…not focussing on all the good things I do. It gets me down about my business and my ability to do my work. It makes me feel exposed and isolated.

So it made me wonder ?

What do other people's ‘naughty chairs’ look like ? So I asked around…

One colleague said hers was a bean bag - because when she’s in it she wants to be comfortable.

Another said hers was too small, uncomfortable and heavy.

A third said hers was sharp, metal and had straps on the arms - ouch!

It got me to thinking …..why do we feel that we have a ‘naughty chair’ , how do get into it and how the hell do we ditch the chair ?

1. I have a ‘naughty chair’ so I can contain my guilt. If I am in my psychological naughty chair then I am going through the process of guilt, feeling embarrassed, and the fall out of what I have or have not done.
2. I need to visualise my ‘naughty chair’ to move beyond these feelings and start the reparation process. I need to repair the damage, deliver the result or say sorry for my misgivings
3. I ‘lose’ the naughty chair by achieving a positive from the negative feelings of guilt, sorrow and embarrassment. I actively feel like I have created a space that I then can move forward from.
4. I am really putting myself in a ‘time out’ - I’m mentally taking time to think and re group - it invariably results in a new event of business and emotional business growth.
5. Its a reflective mindset re boot.

In business I often end up in the naughty chair because I make the fatal mistake of trying to please everyone and accept their deadlines. I have learnt to say “No” this year - I have learnt to accept work on my terms and most of all to only let myself feel disappointed by my own boundaries NOT other peoples'. Fair to say I have spent less time in the naughty chair this year.

In 2018 I plan to be on Santa’s nice list not his naughty list BUT regardless I will still have a naughty chair - it just might look more comfortable and accommodating - it might have a drink holder and a footrest for those times I might need to stay there for a while.

But in 2018 I plan to try to spend less time there !

What does your ‘naughty chair’ look like ?