Comments on: A Memo to Interns http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/ spirituality in the workplace Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:10:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: h sofia http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1076 h sofia Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:26:52 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1076 I agree; her admonishment was likely ineffective and - seeing as how it somehow ended up all over the Internet - might have even created a problem. Certainly in my experience, being chastised with a group of other people was unhelpful (for me, the manager, and my coworkers). My coworkers and I were more likely to feel indignant more than contrite. I agree; her admonishment was likely ineffective and - seeing as how it somehow ended up all over the Internet - might have even created a problem.

Certainly in my experience, being chastised with a group of other people was unhelpful (for me, the manager, and my coworkers). My coworkers and I were more likely to feel indignant more than contrite.

]]> By: Ms. Theologian http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1038 Ms. Theologian Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:57:03 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1038 I do agree that they seem to deserve one another. :) I'm just of the mind set that the best management is that which is individualized and not done in a shaming way despite whether or not the interns deserve it. Surely she could have met with each intern for five minutes to say, Here is something you are doing that is great, and Here is something you need to work on. And yes, I'm sure the interns would have bitched about it together, but I've been on the receiving end of shaming group messages, and fear that no one would have taken this advice to heart (not for the long-term, anyway). It just makes employees hate you and doesn't improve their behavior. I do agree that they seem to deserve one another. :)

I’m just of the mind set that the best management is that which is individualized and not done in a shaming way despite whether or not the interns deserve it. Surely she could have met with each intern for five minutes to say, Here is something you are doing that is great, and Here is something you need to work on. And yes, I’m sure the interns would have bitched about it together, but I’ve been on the receiving end of shaming group messages, and fear that no one would have taken this advice to heart (not for the long-term, anyway). It just makes employees hate you and doesn’t improve their behavior.

]]> By: h sofia http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1037 h sofia Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:52:13 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1037 Chances are if she talks to them individually, they are all going to talk about what she said to them as a group anyway, so she is saving herself some time. I have little sympathy for the boss, as she hired them; and I have zero sympathy for the interns - if you are taking an unpaid internship at Elle for 3 days a week, you clearly have some other form of income; and it sounds like they are a bunch of gossiping slobs with no work ethic. These interns sound annoying. But perhaps they are in the right place. Chances are if she talks to them individually, they are all going to talk about what she said to them as a group anyway, so she is saving herself some time. I have little sympathy for the boss, as she hired them; and I have zero sympathy for the interns - if you are taking an unpaid internship at Elle for 3 days a week, you clearly have some other form of income; and it sounds like they are a bunch of gossiping slobs with no work ethic.

These interns sound annoying. But perhaps they are in the right place.

]]> By: Ms. Theologian http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1033 Ms. Theologian Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:54:09 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1033 But let's say I employed these interns, and I had been listing their sins in my head, becoming more and more annoyed as time went on. Sending a blackberry message doesn't seem to me to be a good way to change their behavior (if that was the intent). Meeting with them in person (or possibly one by one) seems like it would be a lot more effective. It seemed to be a bit more about shaming than managing (though shaming is a management technique). But let’s say I employed these interns, and I had been listing their sins in my head, becoming more and more annoyed as time went on. Sending a blackberry message doesn’t seem to me to be a good way to change their behavior (if that was the intent). Meeting with them in person (or possibly one by one) seems like it would be a lot more effective. It seemed to be a bit more about shaming than managing (though shaming is a management technique).

]]> By: GhostGirl http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1029 GhostGirl Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:30:57 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1029 I honestly have no problem with this memo. Even though I'm reading The Devil Wears Prada as my airplane reading. :-) Or maybe because of it. I honestly have no problem with this memo. Even though I’m reading The Devil Wears Prada as my airplane reading. :-) Or maybe because of it.

]]> By: Comrade Kevin http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1023 Comrade Kevin Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:58:49 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2007/12/22/a-memo-to-interns/#comment-1023 Oh, those poor poor little rich girls. Does their behavior really surprise you? Oh, those poor poor little rich girls. Does their behavior really surprise you?

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