Episode 66: More Workplace Tales of Caution!

Guest Host: Stan Markotich, former News Director at CJIV Radio

Guest: K.P. Wee, Author and Podcast Host

SUMMARY: When looking for a job, remember that it’s about a lot more than the title or description of responsibilities. On this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast, Guest Host Stan Markotich is prompting all kinds of reflections on the role our workplace cultures play, not only in our ability to succeed but also in defining our quality of life. Will you be going into a space that is safe, supportive and (ideally) fun? Or will it be lonely, toxic and ego-driven? Based on his personal experience in the realm of teaching, K.P. Wee shares red flags that are worth paying attention to, including whether your interview process (professional and courteous?) and the atmosphere (collegial and positive?). He and Stan have all kinds of practical tips and thoughts to bear in mind for jobseekers who are new to the market and eager to avoid some of the rookie mistakes so many of us frequently make! You’ll hear about frontlines experiences of inappropriate break room behaviors, competitive (and unhelpful) colleagues as well as a big misunderstanding early on in his career that left K.P. panicked – followed by a sigh of relief and a laugh! Whatever line of work we choose to pursue, there are certain inevitable forks in the road that most all of us will encounter. Our outcomes are ultimately a lot likelier to be favorable if we’re armed with the humor, clarity and framework for problem-solving that this lively discussion provides! Stay tuned for future chats in which Stan and K.P. will take up important topics such as how to cope with discrimination and manage through incompetent leadership.

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KEY TOPICS:

• About K.P.’s teaching perspective and the value in commiserating/sharing notes with others interested in the topic of workplace experience.
• K.P. explains why athletic coaching has never felt like the right fit for him, despite the fact that he has a depth of knowledge on the topic.
• Sports psychology is a great avenue for sharing expertise but further advanced studies would be necessary to master skills such as analytics or scouting techniques.
• Why wins, losses and championships are big – but not the defining element when it comes to cultivating team cultures and legendary achievement in the big picture.
• About red flags when it comes to workplace cultures:
• • Does the interviewer exhibit professionalism (preparation, timeliness, courtesy)?
  • Does the environment foster inappropriate or demeaning comments/interactions?
  • Are anger and raised voices part of the way people interact?
  • Are racist, sexist or otherwise derogatory “jokes” commonly accepted?
• Workplaces can vary tremendously based on the vibe – as K.P. and Stan have both noted in different circumstances. One school’s insensitive jokes can be taken as camaraderie while another’s limited socializing might simply be a function of scheduling.
• Reflecting on differing teaching cultures: Stan appreciates that there are times he needs to be mono-focused on his students, but he also finds it helpful to work in a collegial atmosphere where he feels free to bounce questions like:
• • Are student changing in any ways? 
  • Do they respond to different kinds of lessons in different ways?
  • What strategies might there be for reaching a student who is failing?
• Different types of workplace environments produce (and require) differing dynamics – ranging from running jokes to studious silence.
• K.P. summarizes the overall ethic he most values in a healthy workplace culture: It supports learning, development and mutual growth. He also shares examples of what it looks like to experience the opposite of this kind of positive approach!
• The best teachers are willing to evolve and adapt. They’re also inclined to share notes, teaching techniques and encouragement through whatever challenges.
• Stan Offers Sports as Metaphor: Teaching is not like a competitive individual athletic pursuit, but rather a forum for coaching and mentoring. It’s not about being on the court or field scoring points. You are enabling team members to reach the top of their game. 
• Back to the Future: Stan shares a colorful anecdote about how a substitute teaching experience reaffirmed that know-it-all teachers aren’t necessarily the most effective!
• You’ve accepted a new job whose workplace environment is not what you expected. Perhaps it’s toxic or alienating or sloppy. What to do now? K.P. offers advice:
• • Talk to someone in authority. Perhaps they are out of the loop or not conversational with the staff dynamic. 
  • If you find that management principles simply don’t align with your own, it may mean that remaining on the job will require tolerance and adjustment because making cultural change (or changing people) is extremely unlikely.
  • If it’s an environment in which finding any joy is impossible, it may be imperative that you reconsider the job and go elsewhere. 
• Stan echoes K.P.’s advice: If you find yourself in an unhappy work situation, discuss it with someone in charge, monitor for the possibility of change, then decide whether an accommodation is tenable or it’s time to move on.
• The episode wraps up with a memorable story of K.P.’s very first teaching job – which he mistakenly thought he got under sketchy circumstances. Hilarity ensues! 
• Stan closes the loop with a reflection that builds on K.P.’s point: The best workplace environments are open, communicative and collaborative. 
• Two areas for future exploration: Discrimination (as separate from the hiring process) and what it’s like to work for chronically incompetent owners or managers. 

KEY QUOTES:

• “If you realize that somebody else can do a better job than you can, then focus on what you’re more passionate and have more knowledge about.” (K.P.)
• “It takes a lot to get to the top. There can only be one champion and, of course, injuries happen, contract disputes happen. You don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.” (K.P.) 
• “If someone is willing to brag about something that is negative or toxic in one workplace, I’m pretty sure the odds would be high that they’d be bragging about similar things in other workplaces.” (Stan)
• “I do like the idea of having a dynamic and exchanging ideas and that can lead to having fun with your colleagues as well, but there are times when the lesson plan calls for needing assignments and needing to really focus on my students and not be distracted by conversation. So ideally I like a balance.” (Stan) 
• “I’m not a robot. I’m a person, a human being. I always want to learn new things. If you feel like it’s time to stop learning I think you’re basically retiring or waiting for death.” (K.P.)
• “Some teachers believe that as teachers we compete in the way that individual athletes compete against each other and I don’t see any value in making that connection to sports.” (Stan)
• “It’s teamwork amongst the teachers to be on the same page, getting students to do their best; to get the most out of students.” (K.P.)
• “You cannot change people if they are unwilling, so if it’s a big enough problem and you’re uncomfortable, you have to make a decision … If it’s not something that drives you or makes you happy, then you might want to consider looking elsewhere.” (K.P.)

About Guest Stan Markotich: Born and raised in Vancouver, Stan completed his undergraduate work at Simon Fraser University in 1985. From there, he went on to receive a master’s degree from the University of Victoria. In 1987, he moved to Indiana University, earning his doctoral degree in history under the supervision of Dr. Barbara Jelavich. Upon graduation, Markotich accepted an appointment with Radio Free Europe, serving as Serbian analyst and remaining in Europe for roughly a decade. He is the main author of White Paper of the Independent Media Commission: Media and Democratisation in Bosnia and Hercegovina (2000). Markotich is currently revising a memoir that deals with his years in the Balkans. Now based in Greater Vancouver, he teaches classes at a private school, lectures for Brock House Society, and offers courses on the Balkans through SFU Continuing Education.

Stan @LinkedIn 

About K.P. Wee:  K.P. is the author of multiple books and a regular contributor to sports radio programs and websites. In addition to hosting The K.P. Wee Podcast, he also enjoys writing sports and psychological fiction with a twist of romance. He spent a decade working as a program developer and instructor for a private school before joining the Vancouver Canadians baseball club’s media relations department. 

You can find out more about books by K.P. Wee here.

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Additional episodes of the K.P. Wee Podcast are available here.