Response 1: Leader/Follower Relationships

I’ve been working as a part-time intern at the Office for Sustainability since January, so I have already had the opportunity to develop relationships with my bosses and coworkers. It was nice to begin my internship without it being completely new and already feeling comfortable and confident. After my first week, however, I can already tell how much different my experience will be as a full-time summer intern, and how much more involved and collaborative it will be as compared to my internship this past semester.

I am one of two interns, working alongside the Communications Specialist and the Director of Sustainability. It is a very small office, so collaboration and teamwork are essential to getting work done and creating innovative solutions to the problems and tasks we face. Rob, the Director of Sustainability, creates a supportive work environment that empowers us to take responsibility and interest in our work. Our work is primarily self-directed – we are given a lot of freedom to develop our schedule how we like and move through tasks as we see fit. On almost a daily basis, however, Rob commits time to checking in with each of us individually to discuss what we are working on, what we’ve accomplished, goals to be reached, and any other concerns either of us has. During these meetings, he takes time to discuss our lives outside of work, investing time in getting to know us and showing that he cares about who we are and what we need as human beings. The care and encouragement he shows us all really contributes to the atmosphere of support, hard work, and dedication in the office. He evidently puts a lot of trust in us and really believes in us, which motivates us to challenge ourselves and be productive members of the team. I’ve always valued relationships that go beyond the mundane and necessary tasks of a day-to-day work schedule. Being a part of an office that emphasizes supportive and strong relationships, effective communication, and that values and respects every employee has directly contributed to my desire to produce my best work. It makes me very excited to be involved in everything we have planned for this summer and I genuinely enjoy going to work every day.

I’m interested to see how relationships develop over time and the goals and plans we make when we start our weekly meetings this upcoming week. I am curious to see if this type of leader/follower dynamic will create any challenges for us and whether the emphasis on real relationships will cut down on our productivity at all. It will be exciting to further develop my skills with the support, encouragement, and responsibilities given to me by my boss.