Can I use this forum to discuss a vexing professional issue?
Autonomy is a good thing. But I am finding it hard to continue holding myself accountable to myself, when my boss seems generally pleased with whatever I happen to decide to do. I don't have a shortage of work, but there is no accountability if I let something slide for a week or month. Some days I find myself bored and demotivated. This is especially bad because half of my job is to hold other people accountable for things.
Does anyone have any resources to suggest, like a good article, kick in the pants or anything?
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Hmmm, I don't have any resources to suggest but I have most certainly had the same issue in the past. And I've been upfront since then that I become most disengaged when others are disengaged around me. While I don't *need* someone hovering over me to nitpick and make sure I get every little thing done, I know that it is hard to do any reaching when someone doesn't hold the bar up for me to jump a bit. Otherwise, I sort of "save" work for later because I'm afraid the boredom will continue.
Wait, didn't Alex teach us something about all of this?
Anyway, I'll think more on this...
After reading the blog this morning, it made me think of how much I really want to stay involved in the arts and I'm not doing much in my life to get there. And then I saw the job postings that Angie put up and realized that I'm not doing enough in my life to get me back in that direction. Reading a job description of something I'd love to have in the future is pushing me to find activities that will get me there. Maybe finding a job description for something you'd like to have five years from now will help you prioritize stuff with fuzzy deadlines.
You're boss is probably right though - I can't imagine you as a slacker so it's cute that you're worried about it. Very buddhist, to be constantly striving to improve yourself ;-)
Speaking of Buddhism, there is a great book called Work as a Spiritual Practice by Lewis Richmond. All about a Buddhist approach to finding satisfaction at your job.
Jo, I have similar thoughts about my involvement in the arts. I'm enjoying working with the undergrads at Point and I'd like to start some board involvement if I can find the right place.
I'd love to hear more about what you might start doing to put your involvement back in that direction.
Ultimately, I'd like some board involvement too. I was thinking about finding a great community arts org and becoming an uber volunteer there. Obviously, they'd invite me to the board eventually ;-)
I just joined the Young Women's Leadership Council of the Chicago Foundation for Women. I went to the first meeting last night and it was a fun combination of cool projects and extreme feminist sensitivity. We seriously had a 20 minute discussion on whether or not to use the words "self-defense" on a flyer for a self-defense workshop we're hosting (something about the victimization of women through language...). My comment: "People won't come if they don't understand what it is. And besides, Confidence Building Workshop sounds likes it's for losers." I think about half the people in the room were on my side. And I joined the subcommittee that meets at a bar (the fundraising committee).
But I'd rather be part of a group focused on the arts and I'm not sure where I fit. I hope that eventually I can volunteer for some umbrella arts groups so that I get to go to big picture organizating stuff too.
Have you looked at boardnetusa? Maybe there's something there for you.
I went and visited the local arts org in my neighborhood, thinking that I would sign up for a class and maybe volunteer/try to join the board. I went to go sign up for a class the first week of fall semester kids classes (my class started the next week). The guy at the front desk was completely confused - it took him forever to find the right form/figure out how to tell me to fill it out. Then he told me the wrong amount to pay. While I was going through this, a woman came downstairs to let him know that their teacher hadn't shown up - I think they had been waiting for 45 minutes! He got very flustered, then went and told the other woman at the front desk, who also became rather flustered, then ran off to call the teacher.
I think I'm going to hold off on volunteering for them. Actually, I'm not totally sure how I can offer my time in a way that's productive for everyone. I'm sure they could use marketing help (I always need to work on my marketing skills!) so I guess I could see if there's a committee I could join...
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