Keeping occupied at work ...

Emmzi

taking a stab in the dark here but there is an empty room and you want to run sign language courses, based on prior posting history. But whatever your posting history...

a) do you have your C&G teaching qualification or equivalent?
b) what experience do you have of programme design and measuring return on investment?
c) how long have you been practising the thing you are proposing to teach?
d) how do you know there is a demand? (you say other things are under subscribed)
e) who will do the things you do while you are off teaching?

I would be more impressed with you doing some research with users to find out what they would like than jumping in half cocked. Suggest a survey.

Sambucus_Nigra

Ok....I totally agree with stepping back a little and doing tons more research at the moment.

First thing is to ask why the conference facilities are under-utilised [there is usually a reason and not always the obvious one].

Second thing, are you there to redesign the training programme? If not, whose toes will you tread very firmly on at the point at which you announce your plans?

Thirdly, can you cope with hostility in the workplace and if not - you really need to be prepared for a backlash from those already there and the cries of 'just who does she think she is'. As it will happen.

There is no way on earth I'd advise anyone to start this sort of mission a mere 5 days into their employment. Even at Director level - you have to tread carefully unless your mission is to churn things up a little. If you persist - you will be back here within weeks claiming that people are being nasty to you at work and you are having trouble making friends.

Remember - you are an intern and you should be doing what you have been asked to do and networking as much as you can to secure other employment. Whilst in the long run, designing a new training programme will possibly make your organisation some money; it could hemorrhage even more whilst at the same time upsetting current staff. Are you prepared to take the hit if it goes wrong? If not, then ease back, and ease yourself into the job in hand which is what you have been employed to do. There is a fine line between coming in and changing the face of an organisation for the better and p1ssing everyone off.

Savvy_Sue

Emmzi wrote: »

a) do you have your C&G teaching qualification or equivalent?
b) what experience do you have of programme design and measuring return on investment?
c) how long have you been practising the thing you are proposing to teach?
d) how do you know there is a demand? (you say other things are under subscribed)
e) who will do the things you do while you are off teaching?

and f) how can this be made sustainable, ie after you've moved on who will continue the courses?
and g) what will the advertising and and other costs of running these courses be?

Wellery82

Going against the grain on this thread i like you attitude and would be pleased to employ someone with that kind of approach. Too many people sit back and relish having no work. They don't look to build their role, giving themselves more opportunities as a result. I think it is proactive and positive. In my opinion those who don't take kindly to being offered suggestions and proposals about how to change something have the wrong attitude. We are all capable of doing this better in our jobs, and it is only if we are receptive to ideas, and to people challenging the status quo, that things ever do change.

Whilst it may be your ideas aren't right for them i would like to think that if you present them in the right way, and take any negatvity or rejection in the right manner, then the attitude of looking to improve is one that is to be commended, and that a good employer should harness

Oldernotwiser

Jimavfc82 wrote: »

Going against the grain on this thread i like you attitude and would be pleased to employ someone with that kind of approach. Too many people sit back and relish having no work. They don't look to build their role, giving themselves more opportunities as a result. I think it is proactive and positive. In my opinion those who don't take kindly to being offered suggestions and proposals about how to change something have the wrong attitude. We are all capable of doing this better in our jobs, and it is only if we are receptive to ideas, and to people challenging the status quo, that things ever do change.

Whilst it may be your ideas aren't right for them i would like to think that if you present them in the right way, and take any negatvity or rejection in the right manner, then the attitude of looking to improve is one that is to be commended, and that a good employer should harness

I don't think that anyone here would disagree with anything you've written, just with the timing of it.

What people have been saying is that, having spent a maximum of five days with an organisation, it's too early to be making these types of suggestions. The ideas will keep for a month or so, by which time the OP will be far more knowledgeable than she is now and her comments will be more appropriate.

Sambucus_Nigra

And it is essential to get an idea of the politics within the organisation.