This April has been harsh for Kelly Ripa. She was last called into a meeting where she found out that her successful morning show was Live! Kelly and Michael’s co-host, Michael Strahan, is leaving to have a full-time position at Good Morning America. She took the next few days off, which caused the press to speculate that she was extremely angry with Strahan. They immediately labeled her as dramatic, but is it not understandable to be upset when blindsided at work? Even Oprah came to Ripa’s defense: “Blindsiding someone is never good. I don’t know who’s in charge of these sorts of things, but somebody should’ve said something like, ‘This is going to happen.’You shouldn’t have to read about it in the news.” After all, you are suddenly left in a difficult position and possibly feeling panicked. Ripa now has to do “public auditions” for a new co-host (hopefully it will be Anderson Cooper) and put on a brave face for her audience and the media. While Ripa may have been able to do this, Nicole Williams provides a few more tips in case you’re ever met with a similar situation.
Play Nice: It can be tough to stay calm when you’re feeling blindsided, but now is not the time to get emotional. Be professional and positive, and set a good example for others. You can vent your frustrations to your friends or family later – just not at work.
Step Back: It can be difficult to see both sides of a situation, but it’s important to try. Was this action done with the intention to harm and betray you, or could it simply be seen as a misunderstanding due to a lack of communication? If your bosses and coworkers were plotting against you, it might be time to start looking for opportunities elsewhere.
Create Check-Ins: To stay ahead of the curve, set up weekly or monthly meetings with your supervisors. Keeping tabs on the next steps for the company will help you stay in the know. You should also express to them what you hope to gain from this role and progresses within the company.
[Related: 6 Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder]
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