The Power of Silence

Sometimes, being quiet is part of finding your way forward.

I’ve been unusually quiet on here recently. Not because I have nothing to say, but because, if I’m honest, I’ve been trying to process a lot.

Leaving a job you genuinely loved is hard enough. Leaving under circumstances that have taken such an emotional toll is something else entirely. After 23 years in local government, I never imagined I would find myself at this crossroads, reflecting on a career I’ve been passionate about, questioning what comes next, and trying to make sense of how something you care so deeply about can become so damaging.

There is a real sense of loss in walking away from a role, a community and work that have been such a huge part of your life. But there also comes a point when protecting your wellbeing has to take priority.

With ACAS Early Conciliation having concluded without engagement from the other side, I am now preparing for the next stage of the process - Employment Tribunal. It is not where I wanted to be, nor how I imagined this chapter ending, but I know I need to stand up for myself and seek accountability.

Alongside that, I’m beginning to ask myself a different question: what do I want the next stage of my career to look like?

What do I do with 23 years of knowledge, experience, qualifications and passion for local government? How do I take everything I’ve learned — the good, the bad and the incredibly difficult — and turn it into something positive?

This is where my idea of The Proper Officer stems from.

Perhaps this is an opportunity to do something different. Perhaps it’s an opportunity to use my experience to support other Clerks, champion better governance, and help bring about the change our sector so desperately needs.

I don’t have all the answers yet. And perhaps that’s okay.

For now, I’m allowing myself time to reflect, to grieve what I’ve lost, to recognise what I’ve learned, and to be open to what comes next.

Sometimes, the end of a chapter isn’t a failure. Sometimes, it’s the beginning of finding your voice again.

Twenty-three years of experience doesn’t disappear because one chapter ends. And neither does the passion that brought you here in the first place.

Here’s to whatever comes next.