MGMT 535 Personal Reflection Blog - week 1

 As I reflect on all that this course presented in the way of communications, I think I see some growth in my potential communications style. In the beginning of the course we were presented information on culture. As a military brat and subsequent military officer, stationed all over the world, I have always been aware of cultural differences and my role in making myself fit expectations. However, I never thought to look at my internal communications within my everyday life and job as an avenue to bring that same awareness and focus to cultural differences, etc. It's even more appropriate as I now have a female asian, direct supervisor! I will tell you that in the beginning it was not easy. However, I actually called her at the peak of my frustration and admitted a realization, that pretty much broke a barrier (and I don't know which one) that now allows for open communication. What I told her, is that it is my fault for not recognizing the change that was being directed from ...

Thinking about the past year from June 2020 - now, there was one big change. We onboarded a new Test & Evaluation Director (a newly retired Air Force 2 star general). What changed...communication. Of course, the first folks to bend his ear, where those in leadership positions and closest to him. It was apparent when he held is first one on one meetings with the rank and file...the perceptions from leadership and those of the everyday worker, were completely different. As you know, we worker bee's have a lot closer relationship than we may let on. We were all comparing what was asked of the director and how they responded. That allowed all of us to echo the same themes as well as echo the same items of interest. What came out of that first round of "talks" was the edict that the rules are no longer rules and all options for solving challenges were on the table. In this one move, the boss had opened up the portals for creativity not unlike what the TED Talk speaker ment...

 I will "Amen", the statement Powers makes about working across boundaries is unnatural. The natural tendency of humans is to protect "their" turf. That being said, it is easy to see how organizations get stove-piped and focused on only their "lane" or primarily on their lane. Everyone believes they are the main attraction. With that all on the table, I have to state in my current job/position within TSA, it really is a mixed bag. On one hand, we work well and communicate well with the other departments that are a part of a testing event...because we have to...to get our job done. On the other hand, other departments don't necessarily respond or communicate how what we require affects their routines/rhythms. In that regard, many times our department has to request information multiple times before someone "gets it", that what we are asking is important (at least to us). When it comes to interactions like this where the other department is not...