37 YOU are needed to help us ‘Reach for Better’

One of the intentions of this part of the textbook is to present opportunities for YOU to participate in and lead organizational change efforts, even as a new member of an organization. My hope is to provide inspiration and tools that are available to you immediately upon your entry into your chosen profession—whether as an intern or employee.

So, I have chosen to begin this last chapter with a return to how I began this book: a call for ‘better’ rather than ‘normal.’

YOU are an important part of this challenge because you will enter your profession with hope, vision, innovative ideas, talents, and observations that are all needed.

Consider that you will be entering your profession likely on the periphery of an organization—on the edge or frontline versus the center of the organization. The periphery is an important place for change strategies partly because those in the periphery are likely to be less connected to influences that may counter or resist change efforts. ^[1]

Please consider these opportunities from the periphery:

• YOU have the opportunity to make fresh, meaningful observations of your new work environment. Observe the system and attempt to characterize the organizational culture, particularly aspects that seem healthy and those that seem harmful. Observe how you enter the culture and adopt the organizational norms.
• YOU should ask questions and listen. Your initial judgments or observations about the organization may be spot-on and worthy of criticism and they may uncover complex reasons that require in-depth understanding.
• YOU have the opportunity to volunteer to participate on teams or committees related to projects you are intrigued with. The team or committee should have some institutional power behind their work (budget, outcomes, etc.) so that their work isn’t just to check a box but to innovate and support change.
• YOU can find and connect with like-minded coworkers. Use your connections to build your network of people who share your vision and ideas for change. Get to know other people. Listen to their ideas.
• YOU can suggest tools and resources. You likely learned about new resources and tools during your academic studies that were not part of your new coworker or supervisor’s education. Suggesting these tools and resources may be a palatable way to share your knowledge in a way that is heard, less as criticism and more as sharing.
• YOU can offer to do some of the work. For trainings, perhaps you offer to research trainers who would be available. Perhaps you offer to look for materials for a work-sponsored discussion group and suggest a book, podcast, or TED Talk.

YOU have power and YOU have the opportunity to move our communities and organizations toward a better place. Consider this. Ponder this. Go forth.