Joyful Museums

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 actually *just* left this position for another workplace. I was the fourth person in my department to leave this year. If there had been any sign at all that folks above me were willing to… Read more →

Tell me about a time when you were really upset about something that happened at work.   My feelings about work are not really centered on a single upsetting incident, but can be described as a slow attrition of my interest and motivation. Seeing coworkers goof off while others are overwhelmed, seeing old systems persist after different tactics to change… Read more →

If something about your workplace culture was improved, how would this change the way that you work, both in the short and long term? Knowing that your voice matters and that people are listening helps.  I know we are in a profession where we don’t make a ton of money so I realize getting a huge salary increase is not… Read more →

If something about your workplace culture was improved, how would this change the way that you work, both in the short and long term?   If general workload distributions improved, and employees were equally engaged, and management seemed to be checked-in about the issues, I think our motivation and energy as a group would shoot up. It would feel like… Read more →