Significant Career Lesson From An Outreach Librarian At State Library
Clarisa, an Outreach Librarian, emphasizes the significant impact of empathy in her career, noting the importance of "being empathetic to people" and understanding their circumstances beyond the immediate interaction. This approach, combined with expressing gratitude—"thank people for their time"—fosters appreciation and creates a positive work environment, regardless of the specific role.
Empathy, Communication, Appreciation, Interpersonal Skills, Customer Service
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Clarisa Arguello
Outreach Librarian
State Library
Florida International University, 2008
University of Miami, 2014, Master of Arts in International Administration (MAIA)/ Florida State University, 2016, Master of Science in Library and Information
Education
Government & Public Sector
Communication and Marketing
HSI Grad, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Empathy is crucial in interacting with diverse individuals, fostering understanding and avoiding judgment.
2. Expressing gratitude to colleagues and others demonstrates appreciation and contributes to a positive work environment.
3. Showing appreciation to others, even for small tasks, boosts morale and creates a more positive and appreciative environment.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
It's definitely empathy. Being empathetic to people means being able to see what someone's going through and try to understand without judging.
Sometimes people are dealing with things, and not just at work. The cashier or the waitress might be having a bad day. So, being empathetic is important.
I've been applying this to driving in traffic. Road rage happens, but being empathetic can help. I think it's a really important lesson that has helped me.
It's also important to thank people for their time and for sharing. Just thank people and be thankful for them.
I had a boss when I started working at the library who thanked me every day. I initially thought he was thanking me for doing my job, but it was more than that. I felt appreciated, and I think when you thank people, they feel appreciated.
It’s important to know you’re making a difference, no matter what you did. It doesn’t matter if you were, for example, bagging someone’s groceries at Target. Thank the person bagging your groceries, and they will likely thank you. I think that's really important.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/clarisa-arguello