WHAT’S NOT IN PERPETUAL MOTION Article by Lynn Lawton
One of my key roles as Manager of the Depot is staffing. This involves selection, training, performance appraisal, professional development along with a host of day to day tasks vital to ensuring an effectively functioning team and operation. We currently have eight full time and 3 part time staff. The Depot is a creative hub, responding to and initiating change and for me an aspect of the Depot in perpetual motion is staffing, in particular, responding to staff changes as people have come and gone for a variety of reasons during my time here. Current research indicates that today most people do change jobs 10 – 15 times during their career, and sectors where change is most frequent are media, entertainment, government, marketing and non-profits. Baby boomers (1946 – 1964) change less frequently, Generation X (1961 – 1981) average 2 job changes by 32 years old, millennials and Generation Y (1980 – 2000’s) three to four. We have had staff work at the Depot for less than a year while there are currently 5 staff who have been here from 3 to 21
years, staff spanning the baby boomer to Generation Y. Staff have left for a variety of reasons: OE, further tertiary studies, another position that is a step along or up one’s career path, internal changes resulting in different position requirements, mutual recognition that the role and person fit isn’t working and performance and personal issues. New staff bring fresh ideas and different skills and they can provide an opportunity to reshape the way we work. However, it takes time for new staff to become an effective member of the team with an understanding of and reflecting the culture and values of the Depot. The Depot’s philosophy of encouragement, support and inclusiveness along with its values are critical aspects of the Depot not in perpetual motion. Rather, it is an environment that calls me as a member of the team to be in perpetual motion. To reflect upon, respond to and be enriched by the philosophy and values of this amazing creative hub. I. www.thebalance.com/how-often-do-peoplechange-jobs-2060467 37