Wardle On Identity, Authority, and Writing In A New Workplace

When reading Elizabeth Wardle’s essay I learned what factors help one find their work identity and how that can influence their writing. Wardle establishes how newcomers to a workplace find identity based on theories proposed by sociologist Etienne Wenger. Newcomers first find “modes of belonging” which are characterized as engagement, imagination, and alignment. To find engagement new workers must involve themselves in the work that others do in that work environment. Imagination and alignment are achieved when these newcomers can recognize their work as being a part of something larger. By achieving a sense of belonging newcomers can much more easily enculture themselves into their workplace.

Wardle also informs us on what it means to have an authoritative voice in your work. A speaker/writer’s authority is something that is ever subject to negotiation by those within a community. It can be granted by and maintained. However, it can be easily relinquished depending on how well one expresses their sense of authority. Without being granted the proper authority a speaker/writer’s words, no matter how appropriate or proficient, won’t hold as much power.

Finally, Wardle provides an example of the relationship between authority and identity in the workplace through a story of an IT specialist she knew named Alan. Alan’s biggest issue throughout this story was that he did not engage too well with his fellow staff. When he did attempt to, usually via email, he did not write them in a way that was properly tailored to who they were addressed to, which made him seem ignorant (since tailoring the email was custom for that department), hindering his authority. When it came to how Alan viewed his work and his role he viewed it quite highly. So, highly in fact, that he saw himself as “God” when asked to describe his position. Because he saw himself so highly he saw those he was meant to assist as beneath him, which further isolated him. Even though Alan was granted institutional authority had he properly encultured himself into this work environment he could have had more authority over those within the humanities department and thus would’ve been able to achieve his goals.

Related posts:

Negotiating Authority in the Workplace Writing in New Workplaces. Discourse Communities Decoding Discourse Communities