Chapter 7
Pages 200-201 talk about the history of “identity” in organizational communication. The authors define “identity” as how individuals position themselves in the world through language and action. The authors mention that historically, identity of individuals was largely fixed, unitary, and organizational bureaucracies tried to establish control over the work life of employees. Employees identified their “real” lives to be outside of work life. However the authors describe that in the recent years, there has been emergence of broad range of employee identities. These identities are fluid and multiple which tend to focus on ethics and consistency of one’s behavior. Individual seek to be authentic in both their work life and personal life.
So the question is “how are organizations handling the modern trend of fluid & multiple identities?”
From my personal experiences, I have seen that majority of the schools, colleges, and universities are providing proper platform for young generation to understand their true selves, including their behavior pattern, decision making pattern, likes, and dislikes. For example, SJSU’s Career Center offers various personality tests, coaching, and counseling to students to identify their core life values to prepare them for their multiple roles in their professional and personal life. Many companies also offer similar instruments to their employees to better orient their fluid and multiple identities and establish horizons of significance. This kind of support helps individuals to properly deal with the complexities and stress that may arise as they juggle their identities to live authentically.
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Interesting blog! I had no idea that SJSU career center offers that kind of counseling. Being a 23 year old in college, I struggle sometimes with my identity. I’m one person at home, school, and work. Although I remain having the same morals and whatnot, my personality can change with different people. I nanny so at wk I’m talking with younger kids all day, then adults and my peers at school, and my friends and family for my personal life. It can get tiring trying to juggle the various identities in our daily life.
ReplyDeleteHello there,
ReplyDeleteI also think that this is a very interesting and educational blog. I didn't know either that the Career Center had these tests to determine what career would be best for you and also to help you prepare for different careers.
Just like G's comment above, I also work with younger kids all day (I work in a classroom in an elementary school), but with adults for almost all other aspects of my life. Even with the adult roles, they are very different. For example, in this class I play the role of a student and I also play the role of a wife with my husband.
Your post really made me think about how organizations allow people to assume and manage different identities and wow, it's complicated.