My first semi-research related task! Make numbers pretty. It seems like it would be an easy task, my boss showed me nice program outcome grids with goals, benchmarks, results all clearly labeled.
Then I started to get the actual data. I got one that was done exactly how it was supposed to be. This is now my favorite department. There are 4 departments and you know what you have to do when you have more than one of something. (Make them fight!)
The next department could not grasp the concept of “this is what I did last year” vs “this is what I will do next year” and put everything on one grid marked 2008 and gave me narratives. Now there is reading involved? Hate this. It took me a while to figure out but eventually confirmed that the grid they gave me was referring to last year even though it said 2008. I know, numbers r hrd.
The data just went down from there. The last thing i was given was handwritten and given to me at 4:00 the day my numbers were due. I suppose I should be happy I didn’t get anything in crayon. Since I got everything so late and half-assed, I had to take work home with me which made me feel very adult but mad that the people I’m working with are so unorganized.
My boss looks to me to magically make coworkers respond to deadlines when they never have before. My first few weeks I panicked when people did not return my calls and things were not handed in on time. Then I learned that coworkers do that because there are never any consequences. One night when there was lots of drama going on, I suggested consequences rather than hounding people for answers. My boss agreed but I think she just explained to the person dodging questions how their inefficiency was making other people’s jobs difficult or impossible to do. And these aren’t low level staff I’m talking about, these are clinical supervisors, directors of departments.
So I’m not sure how I am supposed to magically change the culture of an organization. Especially in my position. I’m a gatekeeper because my boss is one of the top people at the agency but I’m not in a position of power. The majority of what I do is very independent from the rest of the agency.
78 says hi!