In 2005, I worked as a Training and Curriculum Specialist at
an Air Force Base in England. I was guiding the program through the
accreditation process. The staff were receptive, engaged and excited about the
process. The staff worked as a cohesive
team working in concert with each other like a symphony, playing a Mozart
masterpiece. The process was intensive and time consuming
but, the strengths of each member came flowing out to ensure success. When we finally reached our goal and received
word that we achieved accreditation, we had a huge party. The base commander
sponsored a party at the Events Center and the entire Base came out to
celebrate our success and show their support for the program. Each member of the staff received a coin
from the commander. Receiving a coin is
a tradition, which is passed between the presenter and the receiver via a
handshake. They are given for awards, appreciation,
retirement, and any significant event. Now
that the pressure was off the team could adjourn to return to social
gatherings. We would all get together to go to concerts, plays, and meals. We
took on a more relaxed lifestyle.
In contrast, when the program I am currently at received word
of receiving accreditation there was no fanfare, no parties, no gathers, or
coins. The director of the program wrote
an article which was published in the base paper. There was no adjourning to
speak of; it was just business as usual. How depressing and what a feeling of
disappointment. A lot of work goes into achieving
accreditation and there was no visible sign of appreciation for a job well
done.
3 comments:
Julie great post. You seem like a very hard worker who works well in a team, you also seem like a very outspoken person; this is a trait that i am working on as an adult.
Julie,
What a beautiful tradition. When my center finished the process we were so proud of ourselves but there was no adjourning. Tomorrow I will find out if I have a new job that is similar to the one that you described. I will be sure to incorporate a ending ritual in the program for the schools that I work with. Thanks for the post!
I loved how your team threw a party and congratulated yourselves on a job well done. It is so important to take the time to celebrate your achievements and accomplishments and sometimes I think we make ourselves to busy and fail to acknowledge when we have had great success. Very nice post.
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