Induction Junction, what’s your function?
No matter how many times you’ve done it, starting a new job is a stressful experience. You are surrounded by new faces working busily and purposefully, knowing exactly what they are doing and where they are going while you wander around trying to find a meeting happening in a conference room named OZ, struggle to remember dozens of new names (strangely none of which is Dorothy…), and find your way back to your desk from the bathroom. Also, they seem to speak in what sounds like English, but it’s mixed with some strange tribal language with words like gepo.
This can be stressful, and it’s easy to feel as if you might never “get it” – that you might never be a part of this energetic mosaic, or ever understand its unique language. And then, suddenly, the picture starts to come into focus. It might start with something as simple as someone explaining what a particular client means when they say “GEPO” (good enough, proceed on!), or someone telling you about a great place to get lunch when you’re pressed for time, or even how to get to the less “relaxed” elevators. These are wonderful people! They help you find your way during what can be a stressful, albeit exhilarating time. And so, pixel by pixel, a picture of this place emerges.
LBi’s induction session was instrumental in finally pulling all those pixels together into a coherent picture of what the company is and does, a picture that I could start to see myself as contributing to and being an integral part of. Among the presenters was Andrea B, Director of Human Resources who introduced us to the culture of the company as well as guiding us through all we needed to know from a human resources perspective. Cedric Devitt, Executive Creative Director gave us a sense of the company’s goals and mission as well as helping us to understand the creative drive that powers it. Paddy O, Head of User Experience Design gave an in depth view of both the user experience department and the state of the art of user experience design in general. Judith Carr, Co President had many of us wanting to switch to client services to be a part of the exciting, demanding, and powerful world she described. Craig K, Senior Strategist made a complex subject both approachable and intriguing. Frank Pederson, COO, outlined the tremendous growth of our health division and the company’s growth overall. Lisa B, VP of Media, showed us some very cool and exciting projects and left us all feeling as if we had been a part of their creation. Chelsea P, Senior Project Manager exemplified the spirit of the delivery team by filling in at the last minute with grace and poise. Greg E – Head of Social Media/ePR showed us how we are all connected and made us feel a part of a greater whole, and Paolo Y, Director of Technology, guided us through a tour of the cutting edge technology being employed here at LBi.
In all, the induction session welcomed us as newcomers and in a very short time converted our longing to be a part of something exciting and prosperous into the sense that we now belong to something exciting and prosperous. That, I think is a successful induction.
Tags: induction, life at LBi