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last updated 10/3/2016 Entering a New Organization / Culture
§
The organization’s view
-- You should fit our role! (You're being socialized into the organization's
idea of the role you should adopt.) §
The employee view - Get
a niche and meet your personal needs (affiliation, esteem, autonomy, creativity,
etc.), thus ·
Master
new task skills ·
Learn
other’s expectations ·
Plan how to get/stay
motivated §
"Reality Shock" It turns out that, inevitably, the new job isn't what you expected entirely.
Stages: 1.
It's kind of like a new
romance 2.
Be prepared to manage
unrealistic expectations! ("reality shock") - implied (and often
inaccurate) contracts 3.
Manage your self
concept!
A.
Your generalized self
concept
(1)
competence level
(2)
need for autonomy
(3)
sense of self respect versus
B.
Your organizational specific
self concept (These two types of self concept may be inconsistent) New employees will receive messages confirming and denying elements of their self-concepts. 4.
Let go of past patterns of interaction and
previous organizational cultures
Stage II. Encounter ("It feels odd here." Ask questions!) 1.
Learn the culture -
recognize it's a symbolic construction. (Story telling often gets at
this). A.
Learn formal
structure/expectations from your supervisor. B. Learn informal expectations.
etc. from colleagues * colleagues will "frame" culture for good or
bad 2.
Assess behavioral
expectations ("White shirt" rule example) real vs explicit Don't
blow this!! 3.
Deal with emotion and
communication
A. note the morale curve - learning a new culture is
hard work.
B. get into the local informal cycles of communication
to learn to fit in, build relations, get power. C. you need to find support because your self concept
needs reinforcement - some people overdo it (bragging, etc.) 4.
Develop task skills
A.
Regardless of the lack
(or extent) of training, it's your job
to get skillful and valuable
B.
Don't forget learning
future skills
Stage III. Metamorphosis -- Identification occurs leading to:
Discussion Question for Thursday: What do you think are key elements in creating a positive image at work? Bring a list of 3 items (actions) you would consider doing to create a positive image for yourself at your first professional job. |