To summarize Elizabeth Wardle’s article , Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in Workplaces, it explores the complex situation of identity, authority, and writing in new workplace environments. Her beliefs are that newcomers at a new workplace must learn to navigate the specific conventions, codes, and genres of that particular community to successfully be part of that work community. This is where Alan comes in and provides as an example of how one fails to integrate themselves into their new work environment/community. Alan struggled a lot when it came to communicating with his new coworkers in his new workplace community. His version of authority was him being seen as a “God” because he thought his technical expertise made him superior to his colleagues. In contrast his colleagues viewed him more as a tool than an authority and even his writing style would hurt his authority even more. When Alan would write emails to his coworkers he used language and tone that was not the same as the department’s standards and in doing so this would cause a rift between him and his coworkers. Alan would then refuse to adapt the writing style of the department’s conventions. His stubbornness severely damaged his relationships with his colleagues and permanently prevented him from being recognized as an authority figure.
A simple solution to this situation would be for Alan to have asked for specific instructions from his colleagues about their writing conventions. He also could have asked them what the expectations of writing were in his new workplace. In doing so this could have helped him understand the cultural norms and expectations in the workplace. Alan was not completely at fault for how the situation came to be. There is also blame on his colleagues because they never communicated with him or even tried to help understand how things worked around the department.
I’ve never seen someone act like Alan in any of the jobs I’ve worked in, but I have heard a few stories from friends. Most of those people were in the wrong when it came to adapting into a new work environment. They either would not adapt to how things worked at their job or they would try to change the workplace so that others can work in their style. I don’t think I act like Alan at my workplace. I respect my coworkers and they respect me and we work together to help each other out when one of us makes a mistake.
Leave a Reply