What museums do you think have a positive workplace? Why? Hard to say, but I typically imagine that the museums where senior staff has been in place for a very long time must have good work culture. Read more →
Category: Joyful Museums survey
Oct. 19 – From the survey
If something about your workplace culture was improved, how would this change the way that you work, both in the short and long term? I would consider making this job potentially a longer term position if my work culture was improved (been here 6+ years already though). I would likely not be stressed as much, because half of my stress… Read more →
Oct. 17 – From the survey
Tell me about a great moment at work, when you felt happy, proud, or joyful. This could be either an individual moment or a shared one with your team. Very simply, I was thanked for my work by several board members. I have been leading a project in which they are all involved, so I’ve had more contact with them… Read more →
Oct. 15 – From the survey
Are there any for-profit/corporate organizations that you think have great workplace cultures? Why? It seems like the tech companies (Google, Microsoft) have got it pretty good. I think organizations that value the idea of working hard and playing hard usually succeed. In museums I think sometimes a culture of “work mediocre and then get out of here” can develop… Read more →
Oct. 13 – From the survey
Tell me about a great moment at work, when you felt happy, proud, or joyful. This could be either an individual moment or a shared one with your team. Every time my team completes a project (always on-time, on-budget, and with the highest quality deliverables) I’m incredibly proud of the work that they do! And I let them know… Read more →
Oct. 11 – From the survey
If you have a concern at work, who do you feel comfortable talking about it with? Why? I have a great working relationship with a good many colleagues and many Board members. There is a group of us who share the same concerns regarding culture, and the lack of equal expectations and favoritism for a few folks/departments. Many Board members… Read more →
Oct. 9 – From the survey
If you have a concern at work, who do you feel comfortable talking about it with? Why? No one…The atmosphere is one of fear and reprisal from a dictator boss who controls all decisions. We have witnessed staff being dismissed without cause. There is no Human Resources department, annual reviews or transparent policies. Administrators are afraid of the Director… Read more →
Oct. 7 – From the survey
Have you ever taken the initiative to make an improvement to workplace culture? What happened? Yes. People a bit further up the chain of command seemed as though they would rather not hear any ideas about improving my own work, let alone the institution’s workplace culture. It was as though a number of people would like to just show up,… Read more →
Get your survey results in!
We are closing in on the NEMA Annual Conference, so I have to start analyzing all the data you’ve sent me. To date (Oct. 2014), I’ve had 185 responses. Wow. Thanks for weighing in! If you know of anyone who hasn’t completed the survey, please send it along. It’s here. See you in November in Cambridge, Mass! Read more →
Oct. 5 – From the survey
What museums do you think have a positive workplace? Why? I think the museums I currently see with the best workplaces are places that are willing to experiment (with exhibits, donor/funding sources, programs, etc) and be entrepreneurial, that treat everyone on the team like professionals and allow agency and autonomy in day-to-day work, and that collaborative both within the workplace… Read more →