Into the Wild...Let The Hunt Begin #23

Group Dynamics.

One of the most memorable classes I took in graduate school was about Group Dynamics. Perhaps it was because the professor was one of the most intelligent, articulate, hilarious, and extremely caring people I have come to know in the realm of academe. But mostly it was so memorable because of what it was about and what occurred in the class daily: GROUP DYNAMICS.

The good. The bad. The uncomfortable. The awkward. The frustrating. All of the dynamics that I encountered in that class prepared me for work in higher education. Honestly, I cannot tell you how important it is for me to assess the group of which I am now a part. I am treading lightly, as I begin to see the relationships, the "frenemies, the cliques, and the alliances. My plan? To be nice to everyone and not engage in the gossip that people "let me in on" during our conversations.

Don't you hate that? Just because you're new and you don't know everyone's personalities and roles they play in the group, people approach you and say, "Now let me let you in on a secret--this doesn't leave the room but..." and then they begin to tell you something like Janey over there has a habit of being needy, or Billy Bob thinks too highly of himself. It's a tough situation to be in because 1) you want to be included but 2) you don't want to take sides. Since I haven't had enough time to formulate my own opinions about these people yet, I just silently listen, but I will not engage in that kind of gossip!

In my opinion, everyone I have met is great in their own way and I am friendly with each of them. But our department is divided physically--we are split in two separate buildings. The physical divide is beginning to manifest itself in front of me in subtle ways. For example, I sent out an email today asking for suggestions about who to pair up with to do some shadowing. One person in my office said that I could choose anyone and since I've begun making connections with folks on the other side, I should work with one of them. I read that email and was like "Oh crap. Do they think I'm betraying them because I went to lunch with people from 'the other side?' Do they not get along with those people? Will I be shunned in my own office now?" It's silly to think, but when you work in such a small office like mine--only 7 people--and there is a larger "main" office that holds the rest of the department, it is very easy to form a sub-family and feel like a separate entity. That means stronger, deeper bonds. That in turn means interesting group dynamics for when EVERYONE gets involved.

I should probably bring my book from that course into my office as a permanent fixture on my bookshelf!