And so it begins. Again.

I spoke in one of my previous posts about the cyclical nature of museum work. While many projects are one-offs, and things do change (more often for the better), the annual museum cycle is just too obvious not to notice. It's especially noticeable at a seasonal museum like mine, where we're closed for most of the year, and new staff will create a surprisingly different experience every open season.

The sister museums opened last Sunday after much planning, prep and two weeks of staff training. Training is always an exhausting and terrifying ordeal; shaping new interpreters into my ideal, setting up expectations and praying that I like them and that they like me.

I'm not going to lie and say that I don't care what others think. I do. Well, I should clarify that I care what people I care about think. My friends, my family, my colleagues, my boss, my staff... I need them to understand where I'm coming from so that everything runs smoothly. This is especially the case with my staff, since I'm going to rely on them immensely for the next four months. If we don't mesh together, it'll make things a heck of a lot more difficult.

As much as I'm sure some people would dig drinking
in the workplace "Mad Men" style, I don't think it's quite
"museum appropriate".

I've said before that I don't think people spend enough time on teambuilding and socializing in the workplace. Now, I don't mean that we should be having wild parties, or waste tons of time. I simply mean taking some time to get to know your colleagues and employees; know a little bit more about them, their lives, what interests them, etc. I'm not going to pretend that playing "get to know you" is simply in the interest of having fun and making things all "touchy-feely". There's a practical aspect to it, too.

And, I'm not gonna lie, it makes me feel a bit guilty to even think about it.

I actively cultivate relationships. Like gardens, only better than gardens, since I can't really manage one of those without having tons of weeds. Perhaps that's the irony of it all, since, frankly, I don't have many close friends; I tend to focus my energies on a few.

Professionally, however, I want, no, need to have good relationships with my peers, staff and colleagues. Perhaps it's a reflection of the inherent isolation of my museum, combined with the fact that I'm it's only full-time employee for 8 months of the year. I need help and support from my colleagues, superiors and staff in order to make it work.

Besides, it makes everything so much easier when everyone is friendly!

It's simple really, and just a bit of good manners. It means not rolling my eyes when my staff ask "But... why?" for the hundredth time. Smiling when I see a colleague after a while, even if I'm exhausted. Calling someone right back to help them with their work, even if it means that mine might be delayed. Taking the time to talk with the old lady who visits a couple times a week, even if I've heard this story twenty times before. Starting a phone call with "Hey! How are you doing?" instead of, "So, I need you to do this for me." It takes a lot of extra energy, but it means that when I need them, they'll be there for me. If that's selfish, so sue me. In the end, it means that we'll work better together.

So, when things get crazy, the work starts piling up, the phone keeps ringing off the hook and I have to re-do my program plan for the upteenth time, I'm going to remember the importance of a positive work environment.

Co-worker pizza party picnic anyone?