An Ombuds Journey: Growth Within

By Janie Tanner,

Greetings from Texas! I am Janie Tanner and I currently work as a part-time contractor supporting the Chevron Ombuds organization. Prior to retiring from Chevron in 2016, I was a full-time Ombudsman for three years. Chevron kept me around for a total of 39 years and even now, years later, I have this great part-time opportunity. I know that I am blessed.

Most of my Chevron work background was in the Human Resources function as an HR Generalist role (15 years) to provide day-to-day HR support to a client group or as the HR Manager (10 years) to supervise and mentor other HR professionals. The HR Generalist role sometimes meant managing employee issues and finding workable solutions between parties. Mid-career, I transferred into Chevron’s Employee Relations department (8 years) and my responsibilities included conducting interviews, investigations, mediation, and leading facilitated discussions to find agreeable and workable solutions. In each of these roles, I was able to help employees and found great satisfaction in providing that service and support. In some of the employee issues, I was contacted by a Chevron Ombudsman as a resource or for counsel and the position always intrigued me.  

After years of having an excellent work reputation in multiple large organizations across Chevron, having a strong work ethic, finding successful solutions for management and employees, I posted for the rare opening of Chevron Ombudsman and was successful in 2013. 

One of the challenges that I have encountered as an Ombudsman includes managing my own stress while listening to employee concerns. I have found that completely turning off work at a pre-determined time and taking vacations to truly step away from the role was helpful. 

As an Ombudsman, I drew from my HR experiences of listening to employee concerns and offering options and support. I found that time spent with the employee was invaluable. The responsibilities of the Ombudsman and an HR professional are different and the transition to Ombuds took time. But for me, my background of working in Human Resources set me up for success as an Ombudsman. Lots of employee training and a little luck helped too.

One of the challenges that I have encountered as an Ombudsman includes managing my own stress while listening to employee concerns. I have found that completely turning off work at a pre-determined time and taking vacations to truly step away from the role was helpful. 

For new Ombudsmen, I suggest finding a mentor or buddy that you can speak with and bounce ideas on a regular basis to keep you aligned with the IOA Standards. 

For seasoned Ombudsmen, I challenge you to continually share your experiences and mentor others in this great profession.

Best of luck all,

Janie Tanner



How to Submit

This post is the first in our series representing the various pathways one may take in their journey as an ombuds. If you would like to share your journey, please email your narrative to [email protected]. We will be collecting stories throughout the month of June and we encourage both members and non-members to submit and share their experiences here on IOA's Blog. 

Requested Details

  • Name
  • Job Title
  • Organization
  • Years Active
  • Narrative
  • Please include a photo of your self for the post.

Need help getting started?

Here are some prompts to help you frame your narrative:

  • What first inspired you to fulfill the role of an ombuds?
  • How has your educational background helped you succeed in this role?
  • What professional experiences helped shape your path?
  • What allows you to stay prepared for success in your role?
  • How do you care for yourself to ensure your sustainability in this role?
  • What guidance would you give others that are interested in starting their journey?

 

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Comments on "An Ombuds Journey: Growth Within "

Comments 0-15 of 4

Liz Hill - Friday, June 18, 2021
2001231189

Thanks for sharing, Janie! What a wonderful journey. I love hearing other people’s stories. This is a terrific idea, IOA.

Liz Hill - Friday, June 18, 2021
2001231189

Thanks for sharing, Janie! What a wonderful journey. I love hearing other people’s stories. This is a terrific idea, IOA.

ION ANGHEL - Friday, June 18, 2021
2001249523

Thanks for sharing your own story. Regarding mentoring you are fully right. Good tool when you start a new role.

Sam Zhou - Thursday, June 17, 2021
2001240938

Thanks a lot for sharing your own story Janie, especially the way your manage your own stress, very helpful!

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