There are fundamentally a few types of conflict in an organization like ours, and I think they have different ways of being handled and different optimal outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n[cets_callout_box style=’yellow’ align=’right’ title=’Context’]I’m actually not entirely sure what Riccardo was trying to get at with this question, so I defaulted to a “philosophy of arguing” kind of response.\u00a0 My hope is that it plays well, and talking about different kinds of conflicts will cover all my bases.[\/cets_callout_box]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There are conflicts of execution. \u00a0When both people agree that \u201csomething must be done\u201d, but they disagree on what needs to be done. \u00a0These are best resolved by looking at possible outcomes, and picking the one that is likely to lead to the most desired one. \u00a0If it\u2019s unclear, the person implementing the actual thing should be given authority to do what they feel is right, because if they have ownership they will be more engaged in the implementation.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
There are conflicts of goals or philosophy. \u00a0When two people both believe in a cause, goal, or idea, but the core motivations don\u2019t match. \u00a0I actually like these conflicts, because if both people have clear ideas of their philosophy or goals, oftentimes a solution or path that suits both can be found. \u00a0These lead to synthesis solutions and force us to think about why we want what we want. \u00a0I enjoy working with people to find common goals when there is a conflict like this. \u00a0This is also the space where compromise lives, and compromising in a shared goal is the heart of how we should be learning and growing.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
There are conflicts of personality. \u00a0When two people just don\u2019t get along due to history, or ways of interacting, or some other reason, they fight even when they agree. \u00a0These are the most problematic, and I think what this question is driving towards. \u00a0The optimal way I\u2019ve found to deal with these is to give up \u201cface\u201d, let the other person \u201cwin\u201d encounters, and work to try to make them an ally. \u00a0I would term something like the way Justin Turner and I sometimes interact like this. \u00a0We both like to fight people sometimes, and when one or the other of us is in a fighty mood, we get some heated back and forth. \u00a0I try to apologize a lot when things like this come up, because I\u2019m an adult and should know better. \u00a0The real long-term solution is to understand politeness and giving way for others, because those are the social lubricants that make long-term interactions work.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
3) What are your personal motivations on wanting to be a Program Coordinator?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Over the last two years, I have had a growing dissatisfaction with the top end direction of the judge program. \u00a0I keep increasing the scope of things I end up caring about, because I keep having them impact my region and my friends in the program.<\/span><\/p>\n[cets_callout_box style=’yellow’ align=’right’ title=’Context’]This is the most honest answer to any question.\u00a0 I’m frustrated, and want to fix things.\u00a0 If CJ gets the PC role, and fixes things, I’ll be super happy.\u00a0 I hate saying “somebody else should fix this” and standing by, though.\u00a0 So, I’m fueled by frustration and an inability to stand by and do nothing.[\/cets_callout_box]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This has really sharpened over the last six months, especially with the problems with the Program Coordinator selections of 2017 and the recent problems with Jeremy Hambly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve felt like I had to step in and help the Program Coordinators on several occasions because they were just not accomplishing things that needed to be done or were representing the program poorly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
My friends, my companions, and the people I care about in the program have been likewise frustrated, and I\u2019ve heard a lot of their opinions privately or publicly about the feeling of disconnection and problems with direction. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I want to try to solve these problems.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Fundamentally, my core emotion related to program direction over the last year has been frustration. \u00a0I\u2019ve felt like I could help, could do better, or have needed to actually step up and do some work that was not getting done or not getting done to my satisfaction. \u00a0This is really similar to why I became a Level 3 judge – I was frustrated that judges that I thought were worse than me were getting that recognition and I was not.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
This seems like a weird motivation to me, but it works. \u00a0It makes me accomplish things – when I see problems, I scowl, get growly, and then work on them. \u00a0This is no different, for me.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
4) What do you believe your scope as PC should be? How are you going to manage your time between being a PC, your other Magic tasks and your personal\/non-magic life?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
I answered this pretty heavily in my first set of questions. \u00a0Right now the Program Coordinators don\u2019t have a great amount of representation from the US judges (who are the majority of the program by volume). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[cets_callout_box style=’yellow’ align=’right’ title=’Context’]Not much to say here, I addressed this in my plans in the Wave 1 questions.[\/cets_callout_box]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I would want to bridge into the US community, where I am well-connected and well-regarded. \u00a0I would also act as a problem solver. \u00a0I get things done, as demonstrated by my work on Exemplar and within the old Midwest and current USA-North regions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I have a pitch for things I want to accomplish in my Wave 1 questions – refer to those for my schedule plans and desired contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
5) What do you believe a PC should be?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
This is a weird and open question. \u00a0It can be a \u201clist the attributes of an optimal Program Coordinator\u201d or \u201cwhat role should a Program Coordinator take within the program\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n[cets_callout_box style=’yellow’ align=’right’ title=’Context’]This is my weakest answer, because I am actually opposed to the Program Coordinator role as it is right now.\u00a0 Soapboxing during an application is a questionable decision, but they asked.\u00a0 :)[\/cets_callout_box]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The former is weird, because the nature of the role is that very few people will want it, and very few people will be effective at it. \u00a0The real qualification is that you are one of the people that says \u201cthis thing needs doing, so I will do it\u201d and you execute on that competently. \u00a0Competently includes working with teams, having the willingness to admit fault, and being willing to give direction and take feedback in turn.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
For the second question…I have opinions! \u00a0I think the name \u201cProgram Coordinator\u201d is actually kind of incorrect.<\/span><\/p>\nStructurally, the program has three main parts, and three Advanced Roles:<\/span><\/p>\nRunning events – GPHJs<\/span><\/p>\nMentoring and Community – RCs<\/span><\/p>\nProjects and program upkeep – PCs<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u201cProgram Coordinator\u201d should be \u201cProject Coordinator\u201d and we should have a clear division between RC duties and PC du<\/span>ties, which we currently lack. \u00a0The RCs are the least-dysfunctional operating body in the program. \u00a0The PCs have functioned somewhere between “actively sabotage some parts of the program” and “not entirely dysfunctional but not getting much done” in the time since they were introduced as a role.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Having a clear division of roles and functions would give the PCs something more defined to do than what they currently do.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
6) For you, what does it mean to be transparent as a PC?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Transparency is being open about actions and about motives, and engaging with people about issues. \u00a0Being transparent is trying to communicate what is being done, why it is being done, and doing so proactively. \u00a0Sometimes life (NDAs, or wishing to limit liability) get in the way. \u00a0We should be clear about what is being done and why, so that people know if we are working within real-world constraints. \u00a0(Which is usually the case.)<\/span><\/p>\n[cets_callout_box style=’yellow’ align=’right’ title=’Context’]I really really hope this resonates.\u00a0 Responsibility never divides, it only multiplies.\u00a0 This is the nature of it, despite corporate attempts to have things be otherwise.[\/cets_callout_box]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I like transparency, but just as important is accountability. \u00a0Knowing who made a decision, and who should be pointed to as the key person is important. \u00a0We aren\u2019t a corporation with top-down leadership that can pass things through managers to remain faceless. \u00a0We are a group driven by people, and we take ownership of things on a personal level.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Hiding behind groups like \u201cthe PCs believe\u201d or \u201cthe RCs believe\u201d does not divide responsibility, it multiplies it. \u00a0Every person in that group now should have complete ownership of those decisions and actions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
This is a paradigm shift in thinking about responsibility and accountability, but I think it is key to making any kind of social-pressure driven organization like the judge program work.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
7) Do you feel able to act as spokesperson of the Judge Program in communications with WotC?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Yes. \u00a0Refer to my answer about having worked at all levels of events, at all levels of the program, in multiple roles. \u00a0I\u2019m also an RC, and do this already for my region. \u00a0The other RCs in the US trust me to represent them, and have pushed me to apply for Program Coordinator. \u00a0I also interact regularly with multiple sphere leads, including the Exemplar sphere and the Conferences sphere. \u00a0I have experience and the trust of a number of people across the program.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSo, that’s the second stage of the application.<\/p>\n
It’s a lot of words, and my commentary was probably more opaque than anything on this one.<\/p>\n
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to comment here or email me<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rob McKenzie publishes his second set of answers to the Program Coordinator application questions from the Spring 2018 Program Coordinator application.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[18,2],"tags":[],"language":[],"class_list":["post-113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advanced-roles","category-context"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":124,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113\/revisions\/124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113"},{"taxonomy":"language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/robbit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/language?post=113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}