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The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Learn

The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Learn. Survival Strategies in New Job Settings Angela Madden and Joanne Oud, Wilfrid Laurier University. Starting a new job:. Day 1: Isn’t this great! Day 10: What have I gotten myself into??. Things to learn in a new job:.

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The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Learn

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  1. The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Learn Survival Strategies in New Job Settings Angela Madden and Joanne Oud, Wilfrid Laurier University

  2. Starting a new job: • Day 1: Isn’t this great! • Day 10: What have I gotten myself into??

  3. Things to learn in a new job: • Job tasks: Easy! You know some already and get training for others; “the ropes to skip” • Culture: Hard! Difficult to figure out and causes most problems; “the ropes to learn”

  4. Organizational culture: • The taken for granted assumptions in an organization • “the way we do things around here” • Every organization has one • Every organization’s culture is different

  5. Culture shock! When encountering a new culture: • The old rules for figuring things out don’t work any more • Things seem strange and unfamiliar • You have to learn new rules that work in the new environment

  6. Surprise Others’ reaction Learning Responding Advice for success • Expect some culture shock (it’s normal) • Understand the learning process

  7. Advice for success (cont.) • Don’t leap before you look: • Understand how your library’s culture works to avoid major mistakes

  8. 3 levels of culture • Level 1: artifacts (detectable behaviour and processes) • Level 2: stated values (conscious and documented goals, philosophies, etc) • Level 3: assumptions (unconscious, taken for granted beliefs and feelings)

  9. How to interpret what you see • Behaviour doesn’t always match stated values: confusing for newcomers • Interpret behaviour by examining underlying assumptions in your organization’s culture

  10. Figuring out your new culture • Observe, ask questions about • Physical space/layout • Stories/history • Structure and procedures • Etc • See handout for suggestions

  11. More advice for success • Be proactive: don’t rely on others • Come up with a strategy to get what you need to do well • Ask questions: be specific

  12. More advice for success (cont.) • Take advantage of being new: ask naïve questions • Don’t take early conflict or mistakes personally: they result from culture shock • Find and use a support network

  13. More advice for success (cont.) • Find a mentor • Seek feedback, both formal and informal • Set realistic goals; be patient • Recognize successes as well as mistakes: stay positive

  14. What is success? Functioning well NOT Fitting in

  15. Angela Madden amadden@wlu.ca Joanne Oud joud@wlu.ca

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