The past few weeks have continued to improve at work. I knew that my transition into the corporate world (from academia via a small business startup) would take some time and would not be without its challenges and frustrations. However, I must say that this transition has been one of the easiest for me to make.
Our company seems to give new hires plenty of time to get aclimated to the new environment - to learn the local jargon, to discover resources, and to begin to network with others in the company. Now that I sit on the other side of this orientation phase, I can see that the time I spent feeling under-utilized may have been to my advantage.
During that orientation phase, I developed several key sets of knowledge that I can see will be crucial for me to be successful in the future. I now have a solid set of peers that I know well enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses on different projects. I have a good understanding of the general process we use to develop and deliver our products, and know who to ask when I need clarification. I also know the team well enough to know where the holes in our overall knowledge lie, and can pursue training or education that can position me to fill those voids. Finally, I have begun to pick up much of the company’s “lingo” that sneaks into most conversations. Instead of being dazed when acronyms are flying at me faster than I can comprehend, I’m able to track the conversation because I know most of the acronyms now.
My workload has steadily increased, to the point that I now feel I have the right amount of work - not so much that I can’t do anything well, and not too little that I am looking for more to do. I hope to keep this optimal balance, though I know it is the nature of the workplace to push as far as you let it. I’ll have to work hard to not allow the seasons of busy-ness to become the norm. Work is important, but it is just that: work. In my hiearchy of priorities, it cannot be allowed to overtake my family or my faith. That’s what the battle for balance is really about.
