Monday, July 16, 2012

What's in a name?

Job titles are tricky things. In one museum you are called Manager - but in another, the same job and pay is a coordinator. Do titles matter? Its very easy to say "No, my job is my job, regardless of title." And to a certain point, that is true. But titles do matter to us.

For example, I'll freely admit that during my recent job search, I was hesitant to move backwards from department director to manager. Of course this was mostly because of pay scale, but there was some ego involved too. Not ashamed to admit that!

But what I wanted to talk about today, is the title by which we refer to our museum leaders. In the past, a museum Director was the top dog. If you ran a museum, you were a Director. Conversely, if your title was Director, you had to be in charge of it all. There were not many Directors of XYZ. Now, there are still quite a few Museum Directors, as well as Presidents. And a huge increase, at least in the past 20 years, of CEOs.

From the Oxford Dictionary (online) -

Director - a person who is in charge of an activity, department, or organization
President - the head of a society, council, or other organization:
head of a college or university. the head of a company.
CEO - No definition given. Abbreviation for Chief Executive Officer.

So we go to Investopedia (yep, that's a real place) -

Definition of 'Chief Executive Officer - CEO'

The highest ranking executive in a company whose main responsibilities include developing and implementing high-level strategies, making major corporate decisions, managing the overall operations and resources of a company, and acting as the main point of communication between the board of directors and the corporate operations. The CEO will often have a position on the board, and in some cases is even the chair.
On the surface, these all seem fairly similar, but my experience is a little different. I've worked for 3 museums. 2 President/CEOs and one Director (who actually reports to a President). Here are my observations, for better or worse.

As museums become increasingly driven to earn revenue and run a successful business, it is vital that those in leadership have a good business sense. I agree with this belief 100%. I've met museum leaders who were experts in their field, but when it came to business sense they were sorely lacking. Those museums can still survive if the leader is a strong fund-raiser, but they cannot rely on earned revenue increases to support the institution. Because of this need for a revenue-based mentality, there has been an increase in the number of Title/CEO's in the business. And not just in large museums, but even in new/emerging or small museums, the title of CEO is becoming the norm. Likely boards see this title as a way to communicate to the public that this museum is a business entity, despite its non-profit status.

The following is based PURELY on my own experiences with both Directors/Presidents and CEOs that I've known from museums.

Directors/Presidents
* Generally have strong content knowledge in the field - often come "from within the ranks" moving from lead curator to museum director
* Generally have a more scholarly and diplomatic approach to management
* Often seek advice on business from other staff
* Often seek help from consultants
* May or may not have strong business sense
* Often are business minded - but may not know how to "do it"
* May preference research and collections over revenue
* Serve the board
* Generally use structures that allow some autonomy in work - let people make decisions, but expect to be informed
* Generate big ideas, but are often more trusting in how those ideas manifest in reality

CEOs
* Strong business leaders
* Often preference increases in revenue or reputation over collections/research
* May have a strong content in field (hopefully) but often also have business experience
* Often recruited in national search
* Have a more hierarchical approach to management
* Will seek advice, but generally have a good idea of how they want things to go
* Use consultants for major projects
* Generally use highly structured hierarchy in organization, but may be effectively flat in practice. Like to know everything and have a hand in it all.
* Generate big ideas and very clear on the details
* Manage the board

Again, this is from my personal experience. I've met some CEOs who are exceptional at letting their staff do their jobs. Likewise, I've met some Directors who micromanage a museum into the ground. But there IS something behind your title, and the authority you feel you have over the institution. For most of us, a president is a leader who is strong, but doesn't have free reign. A Director is there to push ideas, but may serve another. And a CEO is there to make the company fiscally strong, and is rewarded for it.

What are your thoughts? Am I just still in honeymoon phase with my current Director? Am I still suffering PSTD from CEOs? (Answer: yes to both, likely) If the trend in museums is towards CEOs, what does that say for where we are going as a profession?

Friday, July 13, 2012

Not dead...at least not now...

Back from the dead, as it were! It seems its been a year+ since I've blogged. Terrible. Let me catch you up on whats been happening.

I stopped blogging here, because my day to day work life was not really conducive to time spent thinking about museum philosophy. I was spending far more time trying to make felt food that was washable and bacteria resistant, and trying to find the best price for paint smocks for toddlers. Oh the joys of being an education director!

Fast forward a bit, to February. Due to budget constraints at my museum, I was laid off, along with some others over a few months. Which sucked. And I didnt want to blog, because my focus was on my empty wallet, my resume, and the soon-to-be additon(s) to our family. Yep, unemployed, homeless and pregnant. American dream, folks.

And another jump, to today! All better, y'all! I am back in exhibits - where I should be - and working somewhere that challenges me to think about museums in new ways. I am lucky to be in an institution that is trying to navigate the 21st century despite a 19th century culture of working and thinking about museums. Its a fascinating time, and a wonderful time for me to be here. So, toes back in the water. Upcoming post ideas:

  • Mistakes museums make - based on recent personal experiences!
  • The role of the director - and how what your title is does make a difference
  • Great ideas gone bad
  • Pounding the pavement in a sucky economy

I'll sneak some stories from the trenches and from projects. And if no one is reading, all the better, because I'm rusty in writing, so this is a nice practice.

To those of you who hung on, thanks!

Sarah

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Representing culture

I'm currently at a museum with no collection. We don't have artifacts, we don't have objects. But, I'm running into major issues with cultural representation.

How do you represent a culture honestly, without inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes? In the cultural area, there is a space dedicated to a depiction of an African child's room. I'm adamant that we make sure this space is defined as a country. However, choices have been made that are directing my selection of a country to focus on.

Do I: Theme the room based on the existing outside architecture, and inadvertently reinforce the idea that everyone in Africa lives in abject poverty? Or do I ignore the external architecture and choose a more middle class style room, and fail to be true to the diversity of the continent?

I'm honestly unsure. When I was in Indy, in the Egypt gallery, we had an urban and a rural bedroom. I often overheard "look at the poverty" from our upper middle class visitors. How do we get across the dual ideas that yes, these countries do not have as much as we do, but that doesn't mean that their lifestyle is poor. In fact, what I see is that I could really be happy with less. Seeing these spaces doesn't make me sad for them, it makes me sad for the US and our rampant consumerism.

But back to Africa.

What do you all think? Does a thatched roof drive the choice toward a rural/tribal home? Because that means the bed will be nothing more than sheets on the floor. Or should I settle on Kenya and "average" the interior decor? I'm leaning to the latter, but am concerned. I'm going to have to dig my heels in and get some cultural voices in on the conversation. Because as much as I need to move quickly, I also need to make sure this is done right.

Anyone have advice?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

New beginnings

Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes! We're nearly settled here in Tampa.

I'm now settling in at the soon to open children's museum here. I spent my first two weeks working at a temporary station in the business offices - a lovely space that was donated to the museum - and then got to move again! On Thursday, we moved into our brand spanking new building.

My mind is currently spinning with the challenge of creating an education department from scratch. Its wonderful and horrible, all at the same time.

In other news, I graduate in 2 weeks! FINALLY! I'm looking forward to free evenings, time to blog, and time to spend with my family.

I promise to have a decent blog post again soon. Hello to new readers. I hope I give you something decent soon.

S

Friday, March 19, 2010

Ch ch ch changes....

Well, its official. After 9 years at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, I am moving on. In about 3 weeks, my partner and I are packing up the car and moving to Tampa Bay, where I'll be the director of education and programming. WHEE!

I'm terrified and excited, both about the move and the job. But, its like I've got new eyes. Where 3 months ago I was looking almost solely at exhibits, now I can think programming again. I'm talking to amazing people about their programs, and about children's museums as civic and community centers.

Many changes ahead, many challenges, but I'm SO excited!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Social media and accessibility

Last week, Google rolled out auto-captioning for YouTube videos. Now, if you are like me, most of your YouTube use is spent watching OK Go videos, laughing babies, or other viral wonders. But thanks to a new focus on social media at the museum, we are now posting some fun videos of our own. So, when I heard this story on NPR, I immediately went to see how our videos faired.

Needless to say, the auto captioning is not perfect. Far from it. In fact, its hilarious in some parts.

BUT - thanks to the auto-caption, I was able to quickly and effortlessly edit the file in wordpad and set it back up. So easy! The trouble with captions is not transcription. Yes, that takes some time, but not that much. Its getting the words on the video! Without proper software, this can seem daunting, especially to those of us with great intentions and zero skill. But YouTube is doing it for us!

As the partner of someone who has some hearing loss, I usually watch movies with captions on. I now find that it helps me follow the film, especially when actors have low voices, or the sound editing preferences the explosions over the dialogue. Hearing impairment doesn't mean deaf - but it encompasses the range of hearing issues - from constant tinnitis (which can make listening difficult) to acute problems like colds!

Captioning your social media videos is vital! Most museums don't have a film crew doing these clips. Its usually us and a flip camera, or maybe a phone. Its rough. So the sound is not so great. Captioning can help your audience really get your messages.

Captioning also helps with language. At the same time as this auto-captioning, YouTube also offers auto translation of captions! If your captions are up to snuff, the translation software (way better than the Altavista Babelfish of days gone by) will translate it into one of over 50 launguages. That is huge.

So, take a few minutes, look at your videos, and tweak your captions. You'll be surprised at what good it may do. And if you still don't believe that its important, check this thank you video from the California School for the Deaf in Fremont.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The light at the end of the tunnel...

...is an oncoming train. That's how that goes, right?

So, drum roll...I'm in my last semester of school. Finally. And with this final semester comes some soul searching, and some realizations about what I want from my professional life.

I'm going to commit to blogging at least once a month for the remainder of the semester. Probably some things about my time in school - what I've learned, what was a waste, what I wish the profs knew - and some things that just pop into my head.

Thanks to the few of you who follow this blog, and who comment. You have no idea how giddy it makes me to know that you actually look at this and care enough to comment!

Welcome back to KoS. I promise, its gonna get better. :)