Chpt. 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the main focus of the chapter ‘Lending a Helping Hand’?

A

Enhancing professional practice, quality services, and the work environment

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2
Q

What individual choices do practitioners face in an organizational setting?

A

When to take action, how mentoring influences attitude, and deciding when to move on

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3
Q

Why is it not realistic to tackle every source of dissatisfaction in the workplace?

A

It is neither realistic nor productive to take on every issue

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4
Q

What should practitioners determine regarding organizational issues?

A

Which issues are high priority and amenable to change

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5
Q

What is a key strategy for practitioners to focus on meaningful organizational change?

A

Choosing areas for intervention wisely

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6
Q

What are the potential consequences of acting on every concern in the workplace?

A

Burnout, misjudgment of situations, less client interaction

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7
Q

True or False: Practitioners should engage in meaningful organizational change.

A

True

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8
Q

Fill in the blank: By choosing the areas in which you wish to intervene wisely, you will be more able to focus your energy on the change efforts that most _______.

A

[matter]

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9
Q

What is the role of a change agent in an organization?

A

To be part of meaningful organizational and social transformation

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10
Q

According to the chapter, what is a risk of spending too much time on organizational dynamics?

A

Spending less time working with clients

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11
Q

What is the consequence of complaining about multiple issues frequently?

A

Individuals who complain frequently may be discounted and not taken seriously when they raise important issues.

(Leigh, 2019)

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12
Q

What should you ensure before suggesting that an issue is serious?

A

Make sure the sky is indeed falling before you suggest that it is.

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13
Q

How does being perceived as negative affect organizational change?

A

Being perceived as constantly negative impacts your ability to connect with, organize, and empower key allies.

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14
Q

What should you reflect upon when bringing up an issue?

A

Reflect on the actual importance of the issue, the timing, and how you will be perceived by others.

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15
Q

What is a critical aspect of being an effective change agent?

A

Being a reflective practitioner aware of how you are perceived is critical.

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16
Q

What should you do when an issue is important enough to take action?

A

Follow the official lines of authority, starting with your supervisor.

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17
Q

What happens if you skip talking to your supervisor?

A

Skipping the supervisor may annoy or anger them, harming the worker/supervisor relationship.

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18
Q

Why is it important to cultivate relationships with respected individuals in the organization?

A

Cultivating relationships with respected individuals can facilitate the resolution of workplace problems.

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19
Q

Who might be an informal leader in an organization?

A

An informal leader may be a member of the support staff who knows how to get things done.

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20
Q

What is important when dealing with all agency staff?

A

Treating all agency staff with dignity and respect is important for obtaining influence.

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21
Q

What types of difficult colleagues might you encounter in the workplace?

A

Difficult colleagues may include clock watchers, constant complainers, gossipers, and antagonists.

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22
Q

What is the ethical responsibility of social workers towards their colleagues?

A

Social workers have an ethical responsibility to treat all colleagues well and value their strengths.

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23
Q

What does the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics stipulate regarding colleagues?

A

The Code of Ethics mandates that social workers should not engage in unwarranted negative criticism of colleagues.

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24
Q

What constitutes unwarranted negative criticism?

A

Unwarranted negative criticism includes demeaning comments about a colleague’s competence or attributes such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, and more.

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25
Q

How can a pleasant work environment be fostered among employees?

A

A pleasant environment can be fostered through individual and collective efforts, avoiding gossip, and promoting positive dialogue.

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26
Q

What is the difference between gossip and professional banter?

A

Gossip pertains to personal matters and pits employees against each other, while professional banter relates to work and is not mean-spirited.

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27
Q

What are the consequences of engaging in people bashing?

A

Engaging in people bashing may cause others to view you as unprofessional and untrustworthy.

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28
Q

What is essential for good social work practice?

A

Good social work practice requires careful assessments of clients and organizations, recognizing when problems stem from external sources or internal issues.

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29
Q

What should social workers understand about their own contributions to problems?

A

Social workers must have good boundaries and understand what they can and cannot control in their environment.

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30
Q

What wisdom should social workers remember when confronting agency problems?

A

Social workers should remember the wisdom of twelve-step self-help programs when addressing agency issues.

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31
Q

What should you strive for when facing problems?

A

You should strive for the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

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32
Q

How can the informal environment of an organization help?

A

It can be a factor in resolving small problems before they become systemic, especially in day-to-day annoyances that affect morale.

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33
Q

What influences one’s attitude toward the job?

A

Relationships with colleagues are a potent influence on one’s attitude toward the job.

34
Q

What is an example of a common workplace issue?

A

Michelle’s situation with the refrigerator thief is an example of a common workplace issue that can adversely affect collegial relationships and morale.

35
Q

What options does Michelle have regarding her cream?

A

Michelle can keep the cream in a thermos at her desk, hide it in a different container in the refrigerator, or post a sign on the refrigerator door.

36
Q

What larger opportunity can arise from Michelle’s situation?

A

Michelle can publicly raise the issue at a staff meeting to find a better way to safeguard refrigerated items.

37
Q

What is the main annoyance Michelle faces at her workplace?

A

The main annoyance is the refrigerator thief, who steals items from the refrigerator.

38
Q

What action did Michelle take out of frustration?

A

Michelle purposely put spoiled milk in a container to catch the thief.

39
Q

What may require management intervention in an organization?

A

Interpersonal issues among staff that cannot be resolved collegially, such as theft by an insider.

40
Q

How can workplace community affect staff?

A

Efforts to promote community can provide personal satisfaction.

41
Q

What should practitioners have realistic expectations about?

A

The organizational setting of practice and its impact on personal fulfillment.

42
Q

What is the nature of organizations?

A

Organizations are complex formal systems designed to accomplish specific purposes.

43
Q

How does a practitioner’s attitude affect their work?

A

It determines the fit between the practitioner and the organization.

44
Q

What can enhance the overall culture and climate of an organization?

A

Enthusiasm, commitment, and a willingness to pitch in.

45
Q

What is the role of social workers within organizations?

A

To build good working relationships, be empowerment-oriented, and draw out strengths in others.

46
Q

What mindset can hinder organizational effectiveness?

A

A ‘do nothing’ mindset where individuals perceive issues as outside their concern.

47
Q

What does the Code of Ethics require from practitioners?

A

To work on improving the employing organization’s policies and the effectiveness of services.

48
Q

How can practitioners show commitment to their agency?

A

Through collaboration, cooperation, and an orientation to positive change.

49
Q

What is a central theme of the book regarding social workers?

A

The expertise social workers bring to their work with clients can be applied to their own work within the organization.

50
Q

What skills can social workers apply to organizational growth?

A

Skills include advocacy, open communication, fact-finding, needs assessment, evaluation, negotiating, mediating, and team problem solving.

51
Q

How can practitioners influence organizational improvement?

A

Their perspectives can help managers make the right decisions.

52
Q

What establishes the boundaries of one’s role within an organization?

A

Boundaries are established by the organization and the aspirations and initiative of staff.

53
Q

What is self-advocacy?

A

Self-advocacy is a way to increase job satisfaction within the agency context.

54
Q

What should practitioners avoid regarding job performance discussions?

A

Practitioners should avoid waiting for their supervisor to initiate discussions about job performance, expectations, or career opportunities.

55
Q

What role do mentoring programs play in organizations?

A

They facilitate the socialization of new employees and guide their career development.

56
Q

What is the significance of mentoring in the workplace?

A

Mentoring promotes a positive attitude and helps achieve success on the job.

57
Q

How is mentoring defined in this context?

A

Mentoring refers to a cooperative and nurturing relationship between an experienced person and a less experienced person aimed at development.

58
Q

Who typically engages in mentoring relationships?

A

Usually, it occurs between a senior staff person and a new staff member.

59
Q

What factors contribute to successful mentoring?

A

There is no one formula; success is idiosyncratic to the individuals involved.

60
Q

What should you do if your organization lacks a formal mentoring program?

A

Find a mentor anyway by approaching a colleague or manager.

61
Q

What should you do before asking for a raise?

A

Prepare yourself before you ask for a raise, added responsibility, or a different job assignment.

62
Q

Why is it important to get informed before asking for more?

A

Save yourself the embarrassment of asking for more money when the board minutes indicate that your agency is running a large deficit.

63
Q

What should you do to gauge support for your request?

A

Talk to colleagues to find out what they think about your asking for more responsibility.

64
Q

How can you practice your request before meeting your supervisor?

A

Rehearse with a friend to practice what you want to say and get feedback on your delivery.

65
Q

What should you do to ensure a productive meeting with your supervisor?

A

Make an appointment instead of dropping in unexpectedly.

66
Q

What kind of expectations should you have when making a request?

A

Have realistic expectations; resistance should be expected.

67
Q

How should you prepare for potential objections from your supervisor?

A

Be ready with answers to your supervisor’s doubts and anticipate problems or questions.

68
Q

What are the benefits of mentoring for social workers?

A

Gains more knowledge about the organization and work done, learns about the organization faster, receives feedback from senior staff, has an advocate for their interests, develops skills in managing priorities, gains specific knowledge through tutorials, and accesses a roadmap of roles and relationships.

69
Q

What are the benefits of mentoring for organizations?

A

Provides faster socialization of new staff, increases staff loyalty, informs new staff about career development, promotes morale and a positive work climate, augments formal orientation and training, enhances supervisory processes, creates a politically savvy staff, and develops motivated staff for future roles.

70
Q

What is one way to prevent burnout in social work?

A

Continuously work on developing personal capacities and professional skills.

71
Q

What is the relationship between personal issues and professional work in social work?

A

There is often a fine line between personal issues and professional work, as social workers are the tool of their profession.

72
Q

What should social workers do when their work brings up painful emotional issues?

A

Find mechanisms for personal growth and change.

73
Q

Why do many social workers find counseling or therapy valuable?

A

Therapy allows human service workers to process their emotional issues and develop personally.

74
Q

What is the importance of self-care for social workers?

A

Self-care is essential for social workers to manage personal issues, develop strengths, and enhance their capacity for empathy towards clients.

75
Q

How can social workers develop their existing strengths?

A

Social workers can develop their strengths by working on areas of excellence, which adds value to their agencies and improves client services.

76
Q

What is a skills journal?

A

A skills journal is a tool for human service workers to document their current skills and explore ways to enhance these strengths.

77
Q

Why is taking vacations important for human service workers?

A

Taking vacations helps human service workers feel rested and rejuvenated, which is crucial given the taxing nature of their work.

78
Q

What are ‘mental health days’?

A

‘Mental health days’ are days taken off for emotional well-being, though their acceptance varies by agency policies.

79
Q

Why is balancing self-care with client responsibilities important?

A

Balancing self-care with client responsibilities is vital because an emotionally volatile worker is less effective in serving clients.

80
Q

What should workers consider if they find their work environment oppressive?

A

If the work environment is oppressive, the intervention may need to be systemic rather than individual, addressing broader issues.

81
Q

What impact can evidenced-based self-care methods have?

A

Evidenced-based self-care methods can significantly improve emotional well-being, stress management, and service to clients.