Lisa,
I too concur with the previous replies your question has received.  One
thing I can add is a strategy for improving the chances of getting decisions
from superiors that you can live with.  Of course the first step is to get
to know the superior and their management style.  Also you need to
understand the forces that act on that supervisor both within and without
the organization.

Then when a decision is desired, you can craft 2-3 alternative solutions or
courses of action.  If you do this and take into consideration what you know
about the supervisor's likely response to each, your discussions then will
likely be limited to the relative merits of each alternative rather than
having the supervisor casting about for other solutions that you'd rather
not see implemented or having the supervisor make a yes or no decision about
a single plan.

Another thing to keep in mind when some office politics wonk does something
to really set you off is to wait one day before you respond (I thank our
recently departed museum director for finally getting me to practice this
one - yes, I can be volatile!).  Of course you can vent by immediately
writing the memo/e-mail that you'd like to send the SOB but, don't send it
and be sure to destroy it after you've writen a second more thoughtful, less
inflamatory one the next day.  And again always offer alternatives.  You'll
be seen as a problem solver - not a problem yourself.

Ron Twellman, Collections Manager
EAA AirVenture Museum
P.O. Box 3065
Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065
920-426-5917

-----Original Message-----
From: kdclamc [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 7:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: advice


Hello Listers-

I have been in the museum field for about 10 years, working at small history
museums, private museums, and the Smithsonian.  Recently I accepted a job as
a director of three historic sites.  Most of my previous experience was in
Curatorial/collections management.  I love my new job, but nothing prepared
me for the political hoopla and the overwhelming amount of administrative
duties.  Does anyone have any advice on how is ease into such a position???
I am afraid that I was envisioning spending more (or some) time on the
collection, interpretation, and fantasies such as these.  Any advice would
be greatly appreciated.

Lisa Mason

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