Professionalism vs. Whining
Sep. 9th, 2008 11:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vcmwI'm thinking about professionalism vs. whining today. After working for several different public agencies in multiple states, I'm beginning to wonder: as a professional, when I see systematic behaviors and official policies that appear to have unintended or ill-acknowledged effects, should I be pointing these out? If I am the victim of some of these ill-acknowledged effects, does pointing out the flaw constitute whining?
If I do point out such flaws, should it be during performance reviews? At an exit interview? Never?
Basically, everywhere I've ever worked I've been blessed with a) excellent bosses who act with my best interests genuinely in mind, b) pleasant coworkers who are supportive and encouraging, c) really wonderful patrons/customers/users who make the exchange between public servant and public very fulfilling.
But I have a very analytical mind that's good at systemic thought, and sometimes I find myself looking at a system and going "Element A of this with Element B of this with Element C of this adds up to a really toxic structure D." These systems are usually at a level far above my job role or things that my supervisors/bosses could be expected to affect. I wonder if there is any positive, non-toxic way to mention these insights, or if they are best stored in the "someday, when I reach the level of X, I will attempt to structure Y differently" box in my head?
If I do point out such flaws, should it be during performance reviews? At an exit interview? Never?
Basically, everywhere I've ever worked I've been blessed with a) excellent bosses who act with my best interests genuinely in mind, b) pleasant coworkers who are supportive and encouraging, c) really wonderful patrons/customers/users who make the exchange between public servant and public very fulfilling.
But I have a very analytical mind that's good at systemic thought, and sometimes I find myself looking at a system and going "Element A of this with Element B of this with Element C of this adds up to a really toxic structure D." These systems are usually at a level far above my job role or things that my supervisors/bosses could be expected to affect. I wonder if there is any positive, non-toxic way to mention these insights, or if they are best stored in the "someday, when I reach the level of X, I will attempt to structure Y differently" box in my head?
