see~ Informer

Staff Career Development
By David DeMuynck, Committee Chair

Think about it. Change is everywhere. Minute by
minute. In all walks of life change is a constant,
inevitable.

When you manage change you embrace it. Find the
good init. Hear its promise. Learn from it.

- exerpt from Thriving on Change workshop handout.

The Staff Career Development Committee hosted its
Spring '95 workshop, Thriving on Change, on campus
May 31.

Workshop leader Marie MacDonald delivered a fast
paced overview on the subject of the changing
workplace, with a focus on the human factor in
change and workplace wellness. In terms of
managing change and related stress, a number of
points were emphasized:

¢ It is important to feel comfortable in letting go of
the old reality before attempting to grab onto the
new. Therefore, new beginnings must start with an
ending. Consider how you and your organization
navigate the stages of transition in times of change.

¢ Failure to account for the feelings of loss is the
single largest barrier to change for both individuals
and organizations.

* Allow yourself time to let go. It is normal to feel
some anger and loss due to change. Learn about
how you personally respond to stress - recognizing
the signs will help you to deal with them on both a
physical and emotional level.

¢ Anticipate and plan for change. Not all change is
outside our control. By anticipating change we
assume more control and ownership.

¢ Use a wide-angle lens. Try to look at the broad
view of the current situation. Separate yourself
from the problem.

* Keep the flow of information moving. The
responsibility lies with management to keep it
flowing out, and with employees to channel it up.

¢ Above all, keep your humor perspective.

External Audit Team, a major component in the

More than 55 employees registered for the half day
workshop, including several members of the College
administration. The invitation was extended to
administrators in response to feedback at recent SCD
workshops on conflict management and changing
computer technology. Input from staff emphasized
the importance of the administrators' involvement in
these workshops, suggesting that positive changes in
the workplace are more likely to occur with the active
support of the people they work closely with and for.

Thank you to Bill Gibson, Lynn Jest, Carol
McCandless, Marleen Morris, Cindy Rogers and John
Waters for joining us at this event.

The participants’ evaluations indicate that this was a
timely and appropriate workshop, particularly in
view of the number of changes taking place at the
College.

For example, the possibility of layoffs has been a
topic of discussion among many, possibly due to past
layoffs and the uncertainty associated with the recent
organizational restructuring. All indications from
College president Greg Lee at his May 26 all-College
presentation seem to suggest that layoffs will not
occur this year; however, the fact remains that many
staff members are concerned about their jobs and
careers.

This concern is reflected in the Report of the

College’s self study process. While the report is
dated March 1995, it appears that many staff members
are not aware of its existence. All staff are
encouraged to read the report and discuss the issues
addressed in it, in areas such as retraining, equity, and
institutional climate.

Remember, as Marie MacDonald says, keep the flow
of information moving, in both directions.

At the time of writing, copies of the external team's
report were not yet available at the Library. If you
have any difficulty in locating a copy, call David
DeMuynck, Staff Career Development Committee
Chair, at local 2002.

&Y printed on recycled paper