You Don't Talk about That at Work!

There are things you don't discuss with your colleagues—even less so with your boss. Mental health issues are certainly a big no-no. Sophie Küster will discuss her experiences talking about the big workplace "No-Nos" and how that led her to support herself, as well gaining support from her boss, co-workers, and mentors. Ultimately, being able to discuss these workplace taboos led to her and others becoming their most authentic selves. When Sophie started working as an agile tester, she kept her history a secret. She didn't speak openly about topics that were close to her heart: mental health and self-care. But in agile, we value respect, courage, and openness, right? So, how could she reconcile these inconsistencies? How could she be courageous and open if she denies a part of herself? After Sophie attended her first-ever testing conference, she was in awe of the openness to discussing psychological topics. Inspired, and with her head still spinning from the conference experience (and a serious lack of sleep), she came clean to her boss on her first day back. To her surprise, her courage and openness changed her work life. Inspired by her vulnerability and transparency, others in her workplace felt secure discussing their experiences, and others sought her advice on helping others or themselves in a similar situation. Sophie will discuss how communication has improved for her and her team. She will give tips on being there for others in crisis and tell you why she will always talk about "the things you don't discuss at work!"