Dear Diary,
I did it. I emailed Felicity at The Experience Works.
The Experience Works… I’ve just realised the name. That’s good. That’s really good.
It only took 47 minutes. Drafting, redrafting, watching an episode of Friends, making a cup of tea and briefly wondering how I could turn dried pasta and a tin of kidney beans into a meal (I’m starting to question my life choices).
But eventually… I pressed send.
Subject: Learning Experience Specialist – Expression of Interest
(Smashed it.)
She replied. Warm. Enthusiastic. Smiley face.
I’m thinking… potential BFF.
I was invited to meet Phil for an initial “chat” online.
At 9:51am, I was already on Teams. Neutral background. Good lighting. From the waist up, I was every inch the polished corporate professional.
10:00am sharp, Phil appears, headset on, calm, cool and collected. Asking the kind of questions that make you think just a little bit harder than you expected.
By the end of the conversation, we’d covered everything from experience. Adaptability. Coaching philosophy. The fine line between realism and not actually traumatising Dave from Finance. And, of course, the ability to escalate emotion by roughly 12% without triggering a call from HR.
I decided not to mention that all my characters tend to have the same backstory. Labradoodle owner. Slightly obsessive. Needs to flick the light switch on and off six times before leaving the house.
Some things are better revealed later.
The meeting was coming to a close.
Then came the final question...
“What’s your key takeaway?”
I panicked and said:
“Nando’s… Fino pitta, two sides, and a roulette of chicken wings.”
Nailed it.
Today, though, I realised something important, we’re not just actors but we’re mirrors...Sometimes slightly uncomfortable ones.
We reflect behaviours back to people in a way they don’t always get to see. We create just enough tension to make it real but not enough to shut people down. We’re professionally irritating, in the service of growth.
...honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Till next time,
A Learning Experience Specialist