“When someone changes, something has changed in their life.”
In parks, there’s an expectation that we should love our jobs. We work in beautiful places, serve the public, and often have what people call “the best job in the world.” That expectation can make it even harder to recognize when something isn’t right.
There was a period of time where I didn’t enjoy my job. It wasn’t just that though. I didn’t even enjoy time at home. It didn’t make sense. On paper, everything should have been great. But that’s the reality of depression. It doesn’t always follow logic.
One of the most important steps forward came when I finally talked to someone. That conversation made a difference. It’s not always easy to speak up, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Lee Cockerell is someone many people look up to for leadership. He is the retired Executive VP of Operations at Walt Disney World. Which may be why when he openly talked about his own experience with anxiety, people listened. He described how it affected his focus, his confidence, and even his ability to do work he had done successfully for years.
The thing that really helped people was the way Lee shared how intentional he became about managing it. He built routines and exercised. He forced himself to get out of the house and made a point to talk to professionals, and leaned into the support from his family. None of it was easy, but it was necessary.
When someone’s behavior changes, something has changed in their life. As leaders it’s important to pay attention to your people. If you know your team well enough to notice that shift, you have an opportunity to help.
If you’re the one struggling, the message is simple but not always easy: talk to someone. It may feel like you’re supposed to be strong, but reaching out is one of the hardest and most important steps you can take. You don’t have to handle it alone.
Resources
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Notable Moments
[00:00:02] Why this episode was difficult but necessary to record
[00:01:22] Personal experience with depression while working in parks
[00:03:25] Lee Cockerell shares his experience with anxiety
[00:09:48] The importance of routine, activity, and support
[00:19:19] Why you should talk openly and seek help
[00:29:27] Recognizing changes in others and taking action