Beth SchaeferApril 12, 2024

Celebrating the Grumpy Coworker: Part One of a 3-Part Series

Celebrating the Grumpy Coworker: A 3-Part Series

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Curmudgeon

cur·mudg·eon

/kərˈməj(ə)n/

Definition: a crusty, ill-tempered (usually old) person

Also known as:

  • Killjoy
  • Wet Blanket
  • Grouser

Most Well-Known Phrase: “Get off my lawn!”

I have written quite a few articles for IPD over the years, so I feel like you have gotten to know me pretty well; therefore, this confession may come as a bit of a shock, but I am a closet curmudgeon.

To those who read the articles on the IPD website, this may surprise you because I write about engaging employees, valuing people’s input, and encouraging chit chat at work.  And, I believe in all those things – no, really… I really do because I strive to keep my inner-curmudgeon hidden during the workday.

(Disclaimer: Truth be told, as I get older, my curmudgeonliness may be more out in the open than I am aware of and not so much of a secret to those who interact with me regularly.)

But now… I may not have to hide or attempt to keep my curmudgeon self hidden any longer.

New research is debunking the myth that the always-happy employee is your most productive employee.

You may feel that some of my articles have promoted that theory.  I would like to be on record saying that I promote how engagement affects productivity.  If you go back and read my articles, engagement looks different than happy.  Engagement is not about sugar-coating bad news or smiling until your cheeks hurt; engagement is:

  • Removing inane processes that create unnecessary barriers to work completion
  • Enabling flexible work situations for life adaptability
  • Thanking people for specific accomplishments and contributions
  • Being a part of a team that includes and respects each other – even if someone is a curmudgeon
  • Providing challenging work that helps people contribute to the organization

To quote the famous Ted Lasso*, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”  In other words, easy and happy are not the same as challenged and engaged.

If you are not already a curmudgeon, it’s not too late to take up the challenge. And remember, if it is not uncomfortable at first, you may not be doing it right – or maybe you are a closet curmudgeon too, and you feel a weight being lifted.

 If you are not convinced that grumpy is good, stay tuned for our next installment: Because the Research Says So… (be sure you say the title in your best curmudgeon voice) which is Part 2 in the 3-Part Series: Celebrating the Grumpy Coworker.

*I have a new person on my team who shares a Ted Lasso quote each week – which is where I heard this one.  I hear that Ted Lasso is a “feel-good show,” but I am too much of a cheapskate (cousin to curmudgeon) to pay for Apple TV, so I am not sure if Ted falls into the always-happy employee category.  I am hoping not, but that may just be the curmudgeon in me.

Series Resources:

Fortune: Getting Angry Can Make You Better at Your Job

NDTV: Can Being Angry at Work Make You More Productive?  This Study Says Yes

PTC News: Can Anger Boost Productivity?

Quartz: The Case for Being Grumpy at Work

Sky News: Getting Angry Boosts Performance and Productivity

StudyFinds: Research, in a nutshell: It’s good to be grumpy

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Beth SchaeferApril 12, 2024

Celebrating the Grumpy Coworker Part 2: Because the Research Says So…

A curmudgeon may be known for saying Because I said so…  In this article, I am saying this because the research says so.  Yes, research provides solid reasoning for having at least 1 grumpy coworker on your team or in your department. I can provide 4 reasons to tolerate your grumpy coworker.

Side Bar:

One of the best things about celebrating the Grumpy Coworker is that your grumpy coworker will be the first one to be skeptical about a grumpy coworker being a good thing.  Yes, skepticism is one of the talents the curmudgeonly coworker provides (Series 1: My Inner Curmudgeon is Welcome at Work if you are unsure about the definition of curmudgeonly).

Here are the strengths your Grumpy Coworker brings to your team:

1.Analytical

The grumpy coworker brings the correct mood to be analytical.  Research finds that when people are in a grumpy mood, they perform analytical tasks better. Besides being skeptical, you can use your grumpiness to proofread documents, search for numerical inconsistencies, review data for trends and patterns, and identify inconsistencies in new situations or processes that warrant more attention.  Because skeptics ask for proof, they bring critical thinking, innovation, and integrity to any workplace problem-solving discussion.

2. Status Quo Challenger

Grumpy people are more likely to speak up and open topics in conversations that others may be afraid to address.  Curmudgeons do not care if they are liked, or at least, liked by everyone all the time, so they are OK saying what needs to be said. Their intriguing comments can increase the engagement of other team members. Someone who is willing to challenge the status quo helps your team avoid Groupthink and is actually, ironically, a catalyst for positive change.  Organizations who listen to their grumpy challengers are more likely to be innovative and adapt to uncontrollable forces. And, also ironically, the curmudgeons’ workplace longevity is a testament to the qualities of resiliency and agility – not traits we usually associate with curmudgeons

3. Persistent

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, angry people are better at thinking innovatively for out-of-the box solutions and more likely to persist in the challenging work to implement those solutions. Angry is one step beyond grumpy, but I still felt the study was worth noting here. Curmudgeons have standards; they know how things should be done and they are willing to put in the time and energy to ensure those standards are being met on behalf of their team, department, organization.

4. Productive

In the United States, we tend to value more highly someone who is even-keeled as a team member than someone who is grumpy.  However, research shows that anger is the most productive emotion. Anger was the best emotion for problem-solving and overcoming a challenge – more so than cheerfulness, sadness, or apathy.  Again, grumpy coworkers may be more irritated than angry, but they are still on the right track.

Things can go wonky in the workplace.  The curmudgeonly grumpy coworker says This is wonky.  This needs to be fixed.  This is bordering on ridiculous.  We need to stop this. (As a closet curmudgeon these phrases are familiar to me) along with This is very frustrating.  This makes it difficult for me to do my work.  This does not mean that the situation will be fixed or even addressed although organizations are more likely to fix things when made aware that they do not work.  By stating their unhappiness out loud, the curmudgeon can help their organization fix process and be more efficient.

The curmudgeon is also more productive as an individual worker. The American Psychology Association states that by expressing anger and frustration, you can be more productive at work.  When you are unhappy and frustrated, but are afraid to express those feelings, you can waste energy on pretense.   Smiling and pretending that everything is OK when it is not, takes time and energy – time and energy that you are not using to get work done. Passive acceptance of bad situations is not necessarily positive.  Another study showed that women who are happy all the time at work are less likely to be promoted.

Side Bar:

Finally, a study that focuses on women as the main subject and not an afterthought 20 years after the first study.  While I wish it was something more positive, the curmudgeon in me is happy to see that I am on the correct track with expressing workplace frustrations when they occur.

In addition, expressing anger and frustration in a proper manner to the proper people means that grumpy coworkers are less likely to have it come out sideways at the wrong time and directed to the people who do not deserve to be on the receiving end of an angry outburst.

In summary, a grumpy coworker can help you be innovative, critical thinkers who are more likely to address problems and challenging issues so that they, their coworkers, and their organization can be more productive.

But, before all you curmudgeons out there start dancing for joy – wait… you would probably not do that – before you start waggling your finger saying I told you so, know that being grumpy all the time will decrease your impact.

Coming soon: Celebrating the Grumpy Coworker: Part 3 – Too Much of a Good Thing

Series Resources

Fortune: Getting Angry Can Make You Better at Your Job

LinkedIn: Is Groupthink Reducing the Effectiveness of your Team?

NDTV: Can Being Angry at Work Make You More Productive?  This Study Says Yes

PTC News: Can Anger Boost Productivity?

Quartz: The Case for Being Grumpy at Work

Sky News: Getting Angry Boosts Performance and Productivity

StudyFinds: Research, in a nutshell: It’s good to be grumpy

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Beth SchaeferJanuary 4, 2024

IPD Welcomes Eric to the Team – New Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Specialist

Eric Dormoh, Jr is our new DEI Program Specialist.

He started January 3rd and is connecting with organizations that want Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training in their organizations.

Once Eric has made those rounds, he will pick up the work of Destyn Land and:

1.  Continue to build and launch the DEI Workplace Influencer Certificate – available to individuals who are shaping DEI in their workplaces through their role in HR, or the role on a DEI committee or task force, or their role as a department or division leader.

2. Build and Launch the DEI Advancing Program.  This will be a subscription model for virtual training on new DEI laws, evolving DEI best practices, and tips and strategies for navigating awkward work situations – especially those related to current events and headlines.

To see Eric in action, check out the January Expert Insights session Space and Grace in the Workplace | January Free Expert Insights Webinar.

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Beth SchaeferDecember 27, 2023

Eyeshadow Can Change Your Life

By Beth Schaefer
IPD Director

 

The Workplace Resolution Concept

It’s January, and the start of a new year, so the IPD January article focuses on the New Year and the resolutions or fresh starts that come with it. To freshen up the article idea, I decided to take a different approach and focus the article on workplace resolutions.  A quick search on the internet showed me I was not the first to take this “fresh approach” (You can scroll to the end to see the lists I compiled).

Even as I am encouraging you to set a workplace resolution and pondering my own, I wonder if I need the extra stress of a resolution.  Isn’t the workplace already filled with deadlines, goals, benchmarks, and KPIs?

The Eyeshadow Resolution

And, then I think of the year of the Eyeshadow Resolution: my most successful resolution ever that occurred about 10 years ago.  I was at a New Year’s Day brunch and pressed into sharing a resolution- which I tend not to make or share, but with excessive badgering, I stated that I would resolve to wear eyeshadow every day.

The year of the Eyeshadow Resolution was the year that I lost 60 pounds.

I always laugh at that result and explain it as a fluke, but while researching workplace resolution lists, I came across an article that explained why the Eyeshadow Resolution was so successful. To summarize the research: use your resolution to change your process, not set a qualitative number with a deadline.

The Process Resolution

At the time, the eyeshadow goal served the purpose of keeping people from being in my business, but I had fallen into a bad habit of not getting out of bed when the alarm went off.  Occasionally, I got up on time to get fully ready for work (back in the day when you traveled outside your home to the office and wore a matching top and pants and makeup).  Instead, I hit the snooze button and eliminated parts of my morning routine with each button tap. Not wearing makeup was the first elimination so I could sleep 10 more minutes, followed by other options such as not eating breakfast or not packing a lunch.

 

By resolving to wear eyeshadow each day, I had to quit hitting the snooze button.  To quit hitting the snooze button, I had to go to bed earlier so that I was less tired in the morning. To be less tired and get a good night’s sleep, I had to be sleepy at bedtime. To be sleepy at bedtime, I started doing more exercise and activity.   The Eyeshadow Resolution led to a change in my sleep process which led to overall positive changes for my daily routine that included: activity, sleep, breakfast, and packing lunch.

The Resolution Frame

A resolution is a big-picture change.   While it offers intent, it does not provide a plan.

 

A goal is a measurement.  While it offers a concrete pass/fail measure to a resolution, it does not provide a plan.

 

A process resolution is the key to achieving a goal and a resolution because it contains the first (of perhaps many) concrete steps to change.

 

To frame a resolution as a change in process is easier said than done, but if you are in a resolution rut, this may be the lens for you to reframe and achieve a goal.  I have taken some of the workplace resolutions I found and attempted to frame the process to help get you started.

The Final Notes

At the time of publication, I am still pondering my process resolution goals for both my personal life and my workplace.

In full disclosure, during the past 3 years, I have gained 30 of the 60 pounds back.  Since I work from home and mostly adopted a default routine during the pandemic, it is probably time for me to make an intentional process resolution on my work-from-home routine.

The positive of any resolution is that while we mostly feel that we fail, research provides proof that we do not.

 

  • Even though 43% end their resolutions by February, that leaves more than half who are still forming a new habit after the first month.
  • New Year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to succeed over other methods of change.
  • You cannot win if you do not enter. 8% of people fully achieve their resolution.  You can be part of that 8% – especially if you are smart about the resolution framing.

 

I wish your process resolution success in in 2024.

 

The References

4 Reasons to Make New Year’s Resolutions Even if You do not Keep Them

5 New Year’s Resolutions for Work in 2024

10 Meaningful New Year’s Resolutions for Your Office

30 New Year’s Resolutions that will Inspire You at Work

New Year’s Resolutions at Work Can Work

 

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Beth SchaeferNovember 6, 2023

Making Your Lists and Checking Them Twice

By Beth Schaefer

IPD Director

Thanksgiving – just a few weeks away – used to be the kick-off of the holiday season.   That is no longer true.   The holidays have crept into October.   As soon as Halloween wraps up on October 31st, people are swapping out their spooky decorations for the next holiday.

The holiday =  more parties and potlucks, more shopping and spending, more decorating and baking… more, more, more… STRESS!

Even though most of this stress is from our home environments, it can creep into the workplace.  As we move into the last 2 months of the year, be aware that the stress of holiday preparations and celebrations may affect your staff and coworkers in different ways.
Read a list and cheers to reducing the stress of the holiday season.

Based on my own experience and some light internet research, here are some top holiday stressors:

Time Management – more parties and potlucks, more shopping, more pageants and festivals, more cooking, more decorating, and more wrapping – all this can lead to more decisions being made with less sleep and changes to routines. Stress.

Family Conversations – so many divisive topics and so much time together – in addition, some family members may no longer be part of the family (death or divorce) and some may be failing cognitively or physically, and seeing these changes firsthand can be jarring. Stress.

Money – while your cash reserves may be spinning downward, many do not even have cash reserves making economic disparities more visible, frustrating, and discouraging during the holidays. Stress.

High Expectations – Besides trying to plan the perfect holiday gathering, finding the perfect gift within your budget, or trying to provide idyllic memories for your children, you may also be scrambling to wrap up the goals you had for 2022. Stress.

Illness –More gatherings also mean more opportunities to spread illness. While this is a relatively new item on the list, it carries quite a bit of stress. The pandemic has made us more aware of doing our part to not spread any germs, but having to choose to stay away from a special gathering because you might have something that you do not want to spread is a tough decision to make – and can also be a no-win situation.  Some will be pleased with your consideration, and some will be miffed that they missed seeing the grandkids or that you could not bring your famous dessert.

STRESS!

All this busyness and stress can lead to less exercise and more eating and more stress –  which may mean weight gain and decreased immunity, or the stress can even lead to physical illness, such as upset stomach, headache, sleeplessness, or even sore muscles.

You can take some actions to manage this year-end stress.

Managing Holiday Stress at Work

As a supervisor:

  • Encourage team members to handle extra holiday chores during lunch times so that workers are present and focused on their tasks.
  • Workplaces can have extra visitors or visiting or parties taking place this time of year; provide some additional quiet spaces for those who need them to concentrate and stay focused to complete work.
  • Remind staff that some people, such as the finance department closing out year-end, are extra-busy during this time and to be patient when interacting with them.
  • Encourage employees to stay home when sick so that you do not spread illness across the department or to each other’s families
  • Help team members prioritize work– especially with their and others’ holiday and vacation time.

As a coworker:

  • Plan so that the work you need others to do can get completed amongst the extra time off and holidays.
  • Check-in with co-workers if you note the stress. Remind them of any Employee Assistance programs they could use or just listen.
  • Be mindful of those who may be alone during the holidays or are experiencing the first holiday without a loved one. Offer comfort if your co-working relationship allows, “I know that this is the first New Year’s Eve without your husband, that must be difficult.”
  • Partner with a coworker and take walks during your breaks.
  • For those who have taken the IPD communication course, remember to flex! Assess the communication style of the person you need to receive your message and then flex your communication style to accommodate them – and remember – we all communicate differently when under stress.

Manage your Holiday Stress

The tried and true include:

  • Eat smart whenever when you are not at gatherings.
  • Skip tasks (do not send out cards) or cut corners (do a cookie swap rather than baking them all yourself).
  • Set a budget for gift-giving and stick to it.

Some more strategic and thoughtful approaches to holiday stress include:

Generate a master schedule of events, prioritize them, and remove the bottom 10 or 15 % of the list. Fewer events and less hustle and bustle will allow you to be present and focused on the ones you attend.  Choose quality over quantity.  Think about planning gatherings with those you missed in December a few months into the new year instead.

Trigger your feel-good endorphins by spending time or money on others. Consider visiting a relative or friend who cannot get out to the big gatherings due to limited mobility issues.  Save money on presents for friends and family and donate it to a homeless shelter or a women’s crisis center. Pack some food for those who are in need. Use technology to reach out to friends and family who may be long-distance and not able to travel back to see their loved ones.

Avoid these questions at family gatherings:

  • When do you plan on starting a family?
  • Why aren’t you engaged yet?
  • Remember when (fill in any embarrassing moment or past argument)?
  • Have you gained weight? Have you got more gray?  Lost weight?
  • Don’t you need a job that pays more money?
  • What do you mean you are not working; what do you do all day?

Mark some days as “off limits.” Mark them off at somewhat equal intervals. Do not schedule anything on those days or nights and use them to get caught up, or just take time to relax, or just hang out on the couch to watch a favorite holiday film or binge-watch a favorite show.

Prepare yourself for difficult social situations (family or otherwise) with these tips:

  • Anticipate awkward questions you might be asked and have a light-hearted vague answer at the ready.
  • Try to position yourself so that you can walk away from conversations you do not want to be a part of.
  • Prepare a list of questions to change topics if a conversation gets heated:
    • I am wondering where to travel this year. Where have people been?
    • I am looking for a good BBQ Shrimp (cake, salad, chili) recipe. Does anyone have one or know where I could look?
    • ____ and _____, I am not sure if I know how you met. Can you share that story with us?
    • I want to binge-watch some shows this winter, what do you recommend?
    • I need to pick the next book for book club. Any ideas?
  • Prepare a list of questions that people (generally) enjoy answering:
    • What are you looking forward to in 2023?
    • How is your (garden, hobby, cooking class, sport, DIY project) going?
    • How was your trip to ____ last summer; do you have any pics on your phone?
    • How old are your grandkids (kids, nieces, nephews, dogs, rabbits) now?  Any pics on your phone?  What are they up to these days?
    • And follow most answers up with, “Tell me more.”

Choose. For those of you who have taken the IPD course on handling conflict, remember there are five choices for how to handle conflict with others.  While you learned these strategies in a workplace context, they work for other environments as well.  Review your 5 strategies for handling conflict and make a choice rather than defaulting to whatever the situation brings.

With those 6 strategies, go forth and have a happy and stress-free holiday season!

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Beth SchaeferOctober 5, 2023

Moving to Interdependence

Moving to Interdependence

By: Beth Schaefer

In search of an employee who is a self-starter and can work independently?  Not me.

 

In writing the posting for our new IPD Operations Lead role, I pulled out a word that I had not thought about for a while, but it seems like a word we should use more – Interdependence.

 

Back in a class I took (high school or college – too long ago to remember), I was taught that Interdependence, not Independence, is the real mark of maturity.

 

The theory was that being able to ask for help when you need it and being willing to support others when they needed it was far superior than being alone on your own island of independence (see the chart below).

 

However, in American culture, we have our roots in the rugged frontier which still transfers to modern day with the self-made person.  We love a “rags to riches” story where one person overcomes all the odds to gain power and riches.  However, I am sure that if you drill down into these stories, you would discover they are myths.  Even as I think about the terms associated with independence such as frontiersman and self-made man, those terms sound antiquated and out of place in today’s world.

 

Frontiersmen relied on someone to teach them survival skills, and others to support a supply chain, and others to care for children, and others to form towns and cities.  They may have moved outside “the grid,” but they used the community for support. They were not wholly independent.

 

I think too of the rich plantation owners that built the southern economy.  Self-made?  Hardly.  They relied on forced labor- slave labor.  Entire communities of slaves to build their empires and fortunes.  They were not independent at all. In fact, they may have even fallen more to the dependent-side of the continuum.

 

While we may not use these specific examples anymore, our culture still idolizes the multi-billionaires who presumably build corporations by themselves using their own ideas. The harm of putting the self-made rugged (or now-days contrarian) individual on a pedestal is that we send the message that NOT asking for help or NOT accepting help is the goal.

 

There are plenty of public service announcements that attempt to tell us that it is OK to ask and accept help for our mental health, but I feel like the step of asking for help is still considered a last-ditch effort to solving a problem.

 

Interdependence in the Workplace

We hire for the self-starter independent worker and are then surprised that we find that person lacks the skills to be a “team player.”

 

It is time for us to realize that we are not working on an island.  We need to teach people to work interdependently, ask for help early, and work with others to dream big and solve large problems.  We need to cultivate work places that value and respect this balance.

 

Look for a series of future articles to discuss the philosophy of Ubuntu that provides a framework to lead based on the African worldview of the interconnectedness between people.

* Examples of resources include = ability to comfort, mentor, ability to pay bills, listen, do errands, make purchases, provide advice, recognize limitations, see other’s strengths and weaknesses, solve problems, maintain person and home, give grace

Subscribe to the IPD Monthly Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on upcoming DEI blogs from this series.

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Beth SchaeferAugust 23, 2023

Practicing What We Preach

By: Beth Schaefer

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The Metro State Institute for Professional Development (known as The IPD to most of you) uses the tools it teaches to run its department.  Every 3 years or so, IPD uses those tools to check in with its customized training clients.  Customized training clients have purchased training to be designed and delivered to their employees to build specific skill sets useful to the organization.  This usually occurs at their organization, but The IPD has the ability to host training sessions at the university too.

This article discusses some of the tools we teach and use while sharing the results of our most recent survey.

 

Business Architecture

Our Business Architecture Certificate Program has two core components: understanding the business and moving from business strategy to execution.  The survey is part of the first component of understanding our customized training clients’ needs.  IPD wanted to measure if we are providing the products and services our customizers need and delivering them in a useful way.  To do this, we used a process we teach in the business architecture course:

  1. We described the work our clients are trying to get done by outsourcing the training of their employees to The IPD.
  2. We described qualities of the product (The IPD training) that they found valuable.
  3. We described how The IPD is unique from others who offer training and maybe the reasons that our clients use us for training.
  4. We used the survey to verify with our clients that we had guessed correctly (or not – in some cases) about their work, their needs, and their IPD value.
  5. At this point, one usually writes a value proposition statement to keep their products and services focused; however, IPD already had this statement, and when our team revisited it, we verified that our value proposition statement is still accurate.

Our next step is to define our strategy and align projects to execute that strategy.   As an intermediate step, I have summarized our results using a strategy we teach in our leadership courses.

 

Leadership Evaluation Strategy

In our Public Sector Supervision courses, we teach the use of the STOP, START, CONTINUE strategy.  As a leader, when you get new information from an internal source (like a new process from finance) or an external source (like new legislation or best practice from a training workshop), the STOP, START, CONTINUE allows you to do a quick evaluation on how that new input could or should change what you currently do.

Here is what it looks like when I apply that evaluation tool to our customized training clients’ survey results.

STOP

  • Spending too much time and money developing virtual/online courses for customized training. Unless our customized training clients have employees spread out at national locations, they prefer to have them gather in person for our training workshops.
  • Handing out paper certificates. While this may be helpful sometimes, most are interested in acknowledging accomplishments in a more streamlined way.

START

  • Using electronic badges when someone completes a stackable credential or certificate.
  • Adding advanced training topics on the topics and courses we already offer.
  • Figuring out how to add ongoing support after the direct training is completed and participants try to implement their new skills and learning.

CONTINUE

  • Vetting and using instructors that are both knowledgeable of the topic and able to engage their audience.
  • Developing training that is about the immediate application of new skills.
  • Being flexible on where and when training is offered.
  • Using the training proposal as both a tool to scope projects and a tool to speed up contract execution. Note: In every past survey, the contract process (8+ weeks) was listed as something we needed to improve.  Thanks to this new process and a new contracts expert in the finance office, The IPD can now execute a contract with a client in 8 days.

 

Armed with this client information, IPD will define some long-term strategies.  For instance, IPD is currently developing some courses for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training.  As we do that, we are looking at client information to align those training features with the ones our clients need and want.

 

Thank you very much to the clients who took the survey and the clients who continue to support our work with repeat business and by recommending us to others!

 

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Beth SchaeferAugust 23, 2023

Public Sector Hiring Challenges (and Solutions)- Part 2: Disrupt and Innovate

Public Sector Hiring Challenges (and Solutions)

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Part 2: Disrupt and Innovate

By Beth Schaefer

IPD Director

In the previous article, I presented 6 steps you can take to give your public sector organization a recruiting edge.

This article moves from the concrete to the abstract.  It is the hope of a 7th action step that is yet to be defined.

Be disruptive and innovative

While I hope the 6 action steps can assist your organization with recruitment, nothing in that list is innovative.  As someone who has spent her entire career in the public sector, I find it sad that the organizations that grow and maintain our democracy are in a talent crisis.  I also find it ironic that so many of our roles focus on helping people with their career pathways, yet our own public sector pathway is hidden.

I stumbled into my public sector career- perhaps like many of you.  I started as a public-school teacher – which I did not even associate with being a public sector role.  When I was ready to move into leadership, I kept finding that the jobs I found appealing required a Master’s degree in Public Administration.  I had never even heard of that degree, but I enrolled in a program, earned the degree, and continued my public sector career in higher education.

I am fortunate that my heart for service could be supported with resources for the convoluted career pathway I took; not everyone has the same resources that I had.  Once they stumble onto the public sector pathway, they may not have the resources to make that change.

This hidden pathway leads me to ask some larger questions:

  • Could we be doing more to promote this career pathway?
  • Are there actions we could take as a collective to promote public sector careers?
  • Could we start the recruiting process in middle school or high school rather than waiting for people to stumble into a public sector career?

Let’s be a choice, not a default.

To me, the younger generation is much more focused on community and service than my 80’s generation ever was.  Let’s leverage those values and show those at the start of their careers that almost every profession and almost any interest can be found in the wide array of public sector roles.

If you want to be disruptive and innovative, here are some links to organizations and events that start their industry recruiting early; maybe they will ignite a spark for the Minnesota Public Sector to collectively promote ourselves as a great career option.

MN Technology Association

Statewide Tour of Manufacturing

4 Ways to Sell Your Program at Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences, Job Fair coming April 25th

Southwest Minnesota Career Expo

Perhaps there is a way for us to join forces and collaboratively build the talent pool rather than compete against each other for qualified candidates.

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Beth SchaeferJuly 31, 2023

Public Sector Hiring Challenges (and Solutions)

Part 1: Recruit

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Compiled by Beth Schaefer

IPD Director

While almost every industry sector is suffering from the challenge of the Great Resignation, the public sector is suffering more than others.  Sources report a 25% vacancy rate for government jobs – up from 13% before the pandemic.

Several factors contribute to this crisis; The Public sector is:

  1. Experiencing high levels of retirement
  2. Requiring non-essential years of experience or degrees for positions – especially since 2/3 of Americans over the age of 25 do not hold a bachelor’s degree
  3. Moving too slowly through the hiring process and losing candidates before the offer phase
  4. Losing the recruitment banner of “great benefits” as corporate benefits have caught up or surpassed government benefits
  5. Trailing on inflation: public sector wage growth has only been 3.4% compared to 5.5% in the private sector

Insufficient qualified candidates prompted 51% of surveyed Public Sector HR Managers to reopen and extend their recruitment period.

What is Working

The National League of Cities surveyed Public Sector Managers who could check any and as many recruitment tactics they thought produced results.  Here is what the survey revealed:

55% or More Selected

Government Websites
Social Media
Employee Referrals

54-30% Selected

Profession-Specific Media
Commercial Websites
College Outreach/Partnerships
Job Fairs

29- 20% Selected

Internships
Apprenticeships

16 other options received 20% or less approval from HR Managers as being effective.

6 Talent-Recruiting Actions to Find Public Sector Employees in Minnesota

For those of you who are part of Minnesota’s public sector infrastructure, here are 6 actions steps that you can take to increase the probability of hiring qualified candidates for your open positions.

1.  Partner with Metro State University’s programs for Public Sector Administration Degrees.

Contact Dr. Crystal Fashant to learn more about providing capstone projects to Metro State students.  This program is a win/win.  Graduate students receive real-world experience and your organization gets to know a qualified potential employee.

Dr. Crystal Saric Fashant, MPNA DBA (she/her)
Associate Professor and Department Chair
Department of Public and Nonprofit Leadership, College of Community Studies and Public Affairs

 651.999.5853 | crystal.fashant@metrostate.edu

 

2.  Become a vendor at the annual Law Enforcement Opportunities (LEO) Career Fair.

Metro State partners with Hennepin Tech and a small nonprofit to host this annual career fair. Contact Mary Schober Martin, the program advisor or the link to get more information.

Mary Schober Martin (she/her)
Academic Advisor
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCJ)

mary.schobermartin@metrostate.edu

LEO Career Fair

 

3.  Post jobs on Metro State’s Career Center

Current Metro State students and alumni have access to Handshake, an online recruiting platform.  Use this link for Handshake information and registration.  The Career Center may also be able to assist you with internships and apprenticeships – especially for roles in IT.  Contact Emily Johnson, the Internship and Apprenticeship Coordinator.

Emily Johnson (she/her)
Internship and Apprenticeship Coordinator, Career Center

651.793.1513 | metrostate.edu

Emily.Johnson@MetroState.edu

Metro State Career Center Handshake

 

4.  Grow your employees by assisting them with a defined career path.

Use these links for more information on building a career path that combines experience with education.  Combine this with a re-examination of your education requirements when posting a position. Here is a sampling of links for Metro State programs – many with online options:

Public Administration

Criminal Justice

Human Services

Search all Programs

 

5.  Support employees with professional development offered through Metro State IPD.

Word of mouth on how well you treat your employees will boost recruitment efforts. Plus, you can build leadership skills with those who are already have experience and knowledge specific to their roles.  Use this link to check out public sector training options or contact IPD to build your own.

Metro State Professional Development

 

6.  Join Minnesota cooperative groups that post public sector roles

Use these links to find out more about these options.

Association of Minnesota Counties

League of Minnesota Cities

 

While I have provided the links and contact information, IPD is part of the Metro State team, and I would be happy to help you connect with the right person with an option(s) that work for you.

Beth.Schaefer@metrostate.edu

Resources

Governing: The Future of States and Localities

American City & County: Overcoming Worker Shortages in Public Sector Amidst Growing Demand

National League of Cities: The Public Workforce Recruitment Challenge: New Data

 

Read More
Beth SchaeferMarch 16, 2023

The Risk Register | Past Leadership Toolbox Expert Insights Webinar

Watch Video Here

Audience: Decision makers (Large or Small) for organizations on resources, projects, processes, and strategy.

Description:
Every decision you make (or delay making or avoid) carries an element of risk. 

Psychology Today’s latest research states that you make 35,000 decisions each day!  That equates to about 2000 decisions per hour, and in an 8-hour work day that is 16,000 decisions related to work daily! You are already informally, subconsciously, or automatically calculating risk for your job 16,000 times each day.  You could spend your whole day analyzing risk, or you could determine when to move those risk decisions from being automatic to being calculated.  This Leadership Toolbox session will show you how and when to use a risk register.  It is easy, and like any good tool, it will not only impress your leaders and colleagues, it will also provide an opportunity for collaboration and input.

Watch Video Here
 

Takeaways:

  • Learn to build a risk register
  • Determine when to use a risk register
  • Understand the risk of doing nothing

 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: You know Beth Schaefer as the host of the Expert Insights series, but she also manages the staff of the Institute for Professional Development at Metro State as part of the university’s leadership team.  Before her role at Metro State, Beth was the director of an area learning center serving grades 7 – 12. In this role, she led teachers, staff, students, and parents through experiential learning and the changes that occurred during those secondary education years. In her leadership roles, Beth mostly navigates change that is generated by external forces (economy, pandemic, legislation) to meet the needs of customers while lacking the time, money, and resources that would make those changes easier to lead.

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