It’s a new academic year and we have the opportunity to focus on departmental interpersonal goals. I believe that the three strong legs of a department are Connection, Communication, and Coordination. Approaching our work in a mindful manner where these foundational components are present will result in a department that is happily aligned.
An office that encourages its employees to be connected within and without (outside of) the department wants them to have various ways to be in sync, such as working actively together on projects, serving on college committees, attending events and celebrations together, and recognizing the achievements of one another. Personal connections go very far in reducing conflict and maximizing group accomplishments.
For communication to be a focal point, a strong department prefers face to face meetings over emails. It also seeks to address differences as soon as reasonably possible instead of holding things in and having problems fester. Working in silos is antithetical to a department that values personal communication. The same is true where individuals work in offices with their doors closed or where leadership makes plans that affect the entire department but fails to share those plans in an open manner. Making it a priority to actively communicate within your office will have positive results.
An office that works on coordination is one that mindfully and deliberately directs its different groups to notify one another of their work so that they all work in tandem towards shared goals. Coordinating work is similar to a logistics arm of a transportation company, where there is a plan for each component group, that plan is discussed with and among the participants, and they all coordinate with one another to achieve the hoped-for plan. Coordinating with one another will prevent overlap of duties and will allow for more efficient and trouble-free work.
A model department focuses on these three things in alignment with the values of the organization. For instance, Wellesley’s values are academic excellence, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, commitment to community, value and respect for human differences, and caring and cooperative relationships. Each department would do well to utilize the three prongs discussed above in light of these shared values.
