Communication
Knowing when and how to appropriately communicate with your supervisor and your teammates is essential for good teamwork.
To communicate with the whole team:
- Post to the Sling Newsfeed. The Newsfeed is for sharing reminders, tips, updates, fun stuff, situations, and anything that the whole team should know about. Anyone can post, and it's everyone's responsibility to stay up-to-date with what's posted on the Newsfeed.
- Email. Emailing the whole team is reserved for making sub pleas. (See Request a Sub.)
- When to communicate with the whole team:
- Something breaks or is missing. Is the wheel on the desk chair falling off or one of the radios used for closing not working? Post it to Sling.
- Reminders and updates. Did you find a piece of equipment shelved in a strange place? Post a reminder to Sling.
- Building issues. Is the keycard reader not working? Is there a strange mechanical noise coming from the ceiling? Post it to Sling.
- Difficult patrons. Did someone give you a hard time or become upset about a library policy? Was someone behaving suspiciously? Post it to Sling so that everyone knows in case that person comes back.
- Sub Pleas. If you've tried finding a sub by making your shift available and no one has offered to take it, send an email to the team. (See Request a Sub.)
To communicate with another teammate:
- Talk, text, or email. Communicating about work with others on the team is up to individual preference.
To communicate with your supervisor:
- If not urgent: talk or email. Allison works 8am-5pm Mon-Fri. During normal business hours, you can talk to her at the library, call her office phone (x7889), or email her at vanliere@hope.edu. On evenings and weekends, email is best.
- If urgent: During normal business hours, text or call Allison's cell phone. After 5pm, text is best. Communicating urgent situations is important, but please also be considerate about what you choose to contact Allison about on evenings and weekends. Don't expect a response between 10pm and 7am.
- When you should call or text Allison:
- You are going to be late for your shift.
- Something unexpected has happened that will affect your ability to work a shift that is happening soon. This includes illness, injury, family emergency.
- She has called or texted you.
- There is an urgent situation at the library. This includes suspicious activity, a major building issue, a security breach, severe weather, etc. In an emergency, first call Campus Safety. (See Campus Safety & Emergencies).
- When it's not appropriate to call or text Allison:
- It's Saturday and you realize you forgot to submit your timesheet. Send an email.
- It's 4am. You should be sleeping too.
- It's the weekend and you have a schedule question about your shift next Wednesday. Email is best.
- You're working your evening shift and forgot how to do something. Ask the supervisor on duty, ask one of your experienced teammates, or look it up.
- You show up to open the library Saturday morning and your keycard isn't letting you in the building. Call Campus Safety to be let in, then email Allison about the issue.
Pro Tips
- Go to the Employees section of Sling and add your supervisor's and teammates' phone numbers to your phone contacts. Best to add them now so that you have them when you need them.
- Contact information is confidential. Do not give out anyone's personal contact info.
