Working alone

[mereaux]

Hi everybody,

I work since 7 months and I am doing research on a very interesting subject to me.

Most of the time I am working alone (I do research in a production place, where mostly people are product/process engineers).

It is my first experience, I am in a foreign country, I am not real confident, but working alone is the most harder for my motivation.

I spoke several times with my manager, he gave me other little projects in which I have more "communication". However in my main subject I have to work alone. And I would prefer to be in a team, and not alone.

Any advice?

mereaux

 

[PSE]

Think about aspects of your main project that you can get other's involved in. If you are allowed to solicit their input your are in effect beginning to form a team. If the aspects of your work fall outside the abilities of others then obviously you pretty much have to go it alone. If you are the only one doing research, then the "team" in a production based environment likely won't be formed until one of your projects is ready to be launched into the production environment. It would still be good to try to get some input from the product/process group as they will definitely have knowledge on whether or not they will be able to produce the results of your efforts.

Regards,

 

[HVAC68]

See if you can break-up your project into smaller tasks and if somebody else can also chip in. Two minds work much better than one. Of course, you may probably need the nod from your Manager too.

HVAC68

 

[GregLocock]

Ooh. easy one. Who is your direct customer - ie who will make use of your research? Go and talk to them. Once a week to start with. See if they can provide you with fresh insights. Ask them over to have a look at what you are doing.

Also it can be worth talking to your boss for half an hour or so each week, just to keep him up to speed (doesn't work for me, but hey).

Personally, I really enjoy working by myself, but I can imagine that working in a foreign country as well might be a bit too much solitude.



Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[corus]

In research the tendency is to be working alone, however that doesn't say that you're not in a team. Directly, the team though is your eventual customer, as greg says, and the person who gave you the work. It's also inevitable that in some areas of your work you won't be sure about and will need the help of colleagues. Discuss these things with them and see how quickly the 'team' develops.

corus

 

[APH]

Man...I wish I work alone..

APH

 

[mereaux]

Thank you for your advice!

The last weeks I tried to encourage more people to have interest in what I am doing. I get more contacts like this and it make me life better. I go every time to people who know the process. It is not really a team, but I think with perseverance I can get one... At least I involved more people…

GregLocock, I have not really a customer, the customer is the company who wants to develop an extra activity here. And it is really hard, I arrived they say me, do what you want….. (Not exactly like this), it took me 3.5 months to find a nice subject. But it is a challenge that is why I accept the job!

I begin to use to have lonely day every day. However if I think in one year I will try to get another position. I am convinced I am a team worker!

Mereaux

 

[casseopeia]

Mereaux,

If you have any flexibility in research topics, pick one that might be of interest to your coworkers, then offer to do a presentation of the information you have uncovered. Ask for input, questions and suggestions.

If it involves outside vendors, you can invite outside sales or technical representatives come in and do a lunchtime presentation. Sometime they will even provide lunch. Let everyone know ahead of time. Ask their availability. Sometimes casual conversations can be a good motivator for people, especially if you take an active interest in their lives.

 

[GregLocock]

Mereaux, who is it who will make use of your project? That person is your customer.

Cheers

Greg Locock

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