Hi Class,
The Mesa Arts Center is a great place that I think is run quite efficiently, but if I was boss there I would make some changes. One change that I would make would be to have my employees work on projects that are due towards the end of the week today. When I interviewed Katie (an employee and my mentor at the MAC) she stated that some employees at the MAC sometimes put off work that could be done today just because it isn't due today (different work ethics). I would try to persuade my employees to work harder and think of today! The only other change that I would make at the MAC to help improve the center would be to hire more people. Sometimes I have noticed that the center is often scrambling for someone to cover a class when someone is out sick. I think hiring more people could easily solve this issue. I understand that the economy is stressed right now, but even hiring one or two more people in my opinion would help out immensely.
Through my various classes at ASU I have learned to be a problem solver and to work with others, so if I was boss at the center I would implement these skills and I would show my employees how to use them efficiently and effectively. Also I feel like I could continue to use my skills that I have learned in some of my classes to assist with the management of the classes. For example I could show even more games that students could play in the improvisation classes because I know many of them from my Acting 101 class that I have taken at ASU. To accomplish my goals that I have mentioned my team of employees could hold a meeting and discuss a strategy and a plan to get it going by specifying jobs for everyone to work on.
Peace,
Dyanna D.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Interview from the Shadow
Hello class,
This week I interviewed the person I Shadowed last week. Her name is Katie and she is a teacher at the Mesa Arts Center. I learned a lot about her background with the Mesa Arts Center and she seems like she truly loves her job. Below is the interview set up as my questions followed by her response (in Q and A form).
Peace,
Dyanna
Q: Why do you do this job?
A: I have been friends with Jennie (her boss) for 24 years and I am really comfortable working with her. Plus I love to teach puppetry and at the MAC I can do that. Also I really love the facility.
Q: What types of challenges do you face?
A: The main challenge that I am facing right now is the Economic challenge and the fact that we are losing some programs because we are just not getting enough kids to sign up for the classes.
Q: How do you deal with deadline stress, difficult people, and internal politics?
A: I have close conversations with my friends and vent to them, behind closed doors. This really helps me deal with hard situations and help me get a new idea on a subject.
Q: What do you like or dislike about your position?
A: I dislike that it is only part time and I only work as they need me. I wish I could work full time there and I want to try getting a position that would allow me to do that. I like the many different things that I get to do everyday. For example I teach, do festival activities, plan events, and talk to different people. It's a lot of fun.
Q: What do you feel can be done to make work go smoother?
A: If everybody had the same work ethic, I think work would go smoother. Sometimes people don't seem to work as hard as they should and put off things that need to be done. That can be a little annoying at times, especially with deadlines coming up.
Q: How do you feel about working with others?
A: I HAVE to work with others because I am a very social person. I love working with others.
Q: How do you separate the personal from the professional?
A: At times this can be a bit tricky because of how long I have been friends with my boss and co-workers. I try to be professional and friends and I never take anyone for granted. I remember that respect is key and I never let that go in my professional atmosphere. I guess that is why I work so hard.
Q: Do you enjoy working on group projects?
A: I do! Although I do enjoy working alone at times, working together on a project is to me more fun.
Q: What is your ideal work environment?
A: I like my current environment (in which she is in a classroom), but if I was able to go full time, I would like an environment where I work more with the crew instead of doing separate jobs. I would like an office where I can do work and also open a door if I want to have a friendly conversation with one of my co-workers.
Q: How do your responsibilities help or hinder in your communications with others or your conflict resolution approaches?
A: It helps that we are all really old friends. We have a shared history that is great. I think the only way it hinders me is that some times I feel like I can't say my true feelings.
Q: How has your education and experience prepared you for your current job?
A: I networked a lot in graduate school and I met a lot of the people I now work with. This helped me with my current job a lot.
Q: After whom do you model your work behavior?
A: I model my teaching behavior from my middle school music teacher. She was strict, but fun. I try to clone her and she began my interest in drama.
Q: Have you reached out to mentors and has the mentorship system worked for you?
A: I contacted Jennie and an ASU teacher of mine. The professor didn't work because he told me I didn't have a job there, but Jennie worked out good. She is now my boss.
This week I interviewed the person I Shadowed last week. Her name is Katie and she is a teacher at the Mesa Arts Center. I learned a lot about her background with the Mesa Arts Center and she seems like she truly loves her job. Below is the interview set up as my questions followed by her response (in Q and A form).
Peace,
Dyanna
Q: Why do you do this job?
A: I have been friends with Jennie (her boss) for 24 years and I am really comfortable working with her. Plus I love to teach puppetry and at the MAC I can do that. Also I really love the facility.
Q: What types of challenges do you face?
A: The main challenge that I am facing right now is the Economic challenge and the fact that we are losing some programs because we are just not getting enough kids to sign up for the classes.
Q: How do you deal with deadline stress, difficult people, and internal politics?
A: I have close conversations with my friends and vent to them, behind closed doors. This really helps me deal with hard situations and help me get a new idea on a subject.
Q: What do you like or dislike about your position?
A: I dislike that it is only part time and I only work as they need me. I wish I could work full time there and I want to try getting a position that would allow me to do that. I like the many different things that I get to do everyday. For example I teach, do festival activities, plan events, and talk to different people. It's a lot of fun.
Q: What do you feel can be done to make work go smoother?
A: If everybody had the same work ethic, I think work would go smoother. Sometimes people don't seem to work as hard as they should and put off things that need to be done. That can be a little annoying at times, especially with deadlines coming up.
Q: How do you feel about working with others?
A: I HAVE to work with others because I am a very social person. I love working with others.
Q: How do you separate the personal from the professional?
A: At times this can be a bit tricky because of how long I have been friends with my boss and co-workers. I try to be professional and friends and I never take anyone for granted. I remember that respect is key and I never let that go in my professional atmosphere. I guess that is why I work so hard.
Q: Do you enjoy working on group projects?
A: I do! Although I do enjoy working alone at times, working together on a project is to me more fun.
Q: What is your ideal work environment?
A: I like my current environment (in which she is in a classroom), but if I was able to go full time, I would like an environment where I work more with the crew instead of doing separate jobs. I would like an office where I can do work and also open a door if I want to have a friendly conversation with one of my co-workers.
Q: How do your responsibilities help or hinder in your communications with others or your conflict resolution approaches?
A: It helps that we are all really old friends. We have a shared history that is great. I think the only way it hinders me is that some times I feel like I can't say my true feelings.
Q: How has your education and experience prepared you for your current job?
A: I networked a lot in graduate school and I met a lot of the people I now work with. This helped me with my current job a lot.
Q: After whom do you model your work behavior?
A: I model my teaching behavior from my middle school music teacher. She was strict, but fun. I try to clone her and she began my interest in drama.
Q: Have you reached out to mentors and has the mentorship system worked for you?
A: I contacted Jennie and an ASU teacher of mine. The professor didn't work because he told me I didn't have a job there, but Jennie worked out good. She is now my boss.
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