Management
One of the delightful aspects of new job here in Wisconsin is that I am transitioning from being in an entry level position the past four years into the first stages of the dreaded "middle-management". Now granted that the position I hold is not the truest form of middle management, but it does have it's share of the duality of reporting to those you "oversee" while also being accountable to those that "oversee" you.
Part of the reason I went out looking for new work was in fact to move up the proverbial food chain to get more experience with the dual role that a mid-manager must face. It is too early to tell how I like it so far, suffice it to say that it involves more meetings then I am used to having (and that is saying something if you know the field I work in).
Added to the structure of my position are the responsibilities overseeing student leadership on campus, as well as helping to coordinate and define an emerging learning communtiy program on campus that has some strong support from academic faculty and administration. Somehow on top of that I am also now the departmental representative to campus programming bodies, advisor to an honorary student leadership organization, and in charge of fundraising programs for student leadership groups living on campus. It results in a long list of responsibilites, especially when you add in the expectation of supporting the departmental efforts that my two other central staff colleagues are engaged in.
In many ways, the move out of the residence halls after 10 years has given me greater personal freedom with my life, but the complexity of new job has siphoned off that freedom back into the work that I am doing.
Don't get me wrong, I think I will enjoy the work that I will get to do, especially as it prepares me to be a more engaged and effective learning administrator, but it is kind of a shock to see just what goes on at this level.
Wish me luck!
Part of the reason I went out looking for new work was in fact to move up the proverbial food chain to get more experience with the dual role that a mid-manager must face. It is too early to tell how I like it so far, suffice it to say that it involves more meetings then I am used to having (and that is saying something if you know the field I work in).
Added to the structure of my position are the responsibilities overseeing student leadership on campus, as well as helping to coordinate and define an emerging learning communtiy program on campus that has some strong support from academic faculty and administration. Somehow on top of that I am also now the departmental representative to campus programming bodies, advisor to an honorary student leadership organization, and in charge of fundraising programs for student leadership groups living on campus. It results in a long list of responsibilites, especially when you add in the expectation of supporting the departmental efforts that my two other central staff colleagues are engaged in.
In many ways, the move out of the residence halls after 10 years has given me greater personal freedom with my life, but the complexity of new job has siphoned off that freedom back into the work that I am doing.
Don't get me wrong, I think I will enjoy the work that I will get to do, especially as it prepares me to be a more engaged and effective learning administrator, but it is kind of a shock to see just what goes on at this level.
Wish me luck!
posted by GT at 9:25 AM
1 Comments:
Hey Mr. IWG... I have to say, I enjoyed reading about your new situation as well. And, sometimes I think it's a bummer we've never actually lived near one another, 'cause there would be some good conversation and even better wine drinking if we did. I'll read your stuff, so keep posting :)
mb
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