The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Learn

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The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Learn

• Survival Strategies in New Job Settings
• Angela Madden and Joanne Oud, Wilfrid Laurier
  University

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Starting a new job

• Day 1 Isnt this great!
• Day 10 What have I gotten myself into??

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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

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Organizational culture

• The taken for granted assumptions in an
  organization
• the way we do things around here
• Every organization has one
• Every organizations culture is different

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Culture shock!

• When encountering a new culture
• The old rules for figuring things out dont work
  any more
• Things seem strange and unfamiliar
• You have to learn new rules that work in the new
  environment

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Advice for success

• Expect some culture shock (its normal)
• Understand the learning process

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Advice for success (cont.)

• Dont leap before you look
• Understand how your librarys culture works to
  avoid major mistakes

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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)

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How to interpret what you see

• Behaviour doesnt always match stated values
  confusing for newcomers
• Interpret behaviour by examining underlying
  assumptions in your organizations culture

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Figuring out your new culture

• Observe, ask questions about
• Physical space/layout
• Stories/history
• Structure and procedures
• Etc
• See handout for suggestions

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More advice for success

1. Be proactive dont rely on others
2. Come up with a strategy to get what you need to
   do well
3. Ask questions be specific

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More advice for success (cont.)

1. Take advantage of being new ask naïve questions
2. Dont take early conflict or mistakes personally
   they result from culture shock
3. Find and use a support network

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More advice for success (cont.)

1. Find a mentor
2. Seek feedback, both formal and informal
3. Set realistic goals be patient
4. Recognize successes as well as mistakes stay
   positive

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What is success?

• Functioning well
• NOT
• Fitting in

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• Angela Madden amadden_at_wlu.ca
• Joanne Oud joud_at_wlu.ca