Edition November 2011 - Content

Edition Topic
Bullies in leadership roles
Seldom talked about – often occurring

I recently read the following description of a classroom incident that really made me think:

‘His teacher had urged him all year to be more organized, but he still had trouble keeping his work area neat. The boy’s papers and other materials were often scattered around, and when his classmates were ready to move on to the next activity, he lagged behind—trying to corral the clutter. On this particular day, the teacher had lost her patience: “Your area looks like a pig sty. Piggy, piggy! Oink, oink!” Exactly what happened next has been difficult to pin down. But by the time another teacher entered the classroom, the boy had been surrounded by his classmates, who taunted him with “oinks” and other pig sounds. Alone in the center, the boy was sobbing. By some accounts, his teacher—a veteran of 38 years— encouraged the children to join the chant. She told district officials she didn’t notice when they began to taunt him, although she did agree it wasn’t appropriate behavior. The children themselves turned out to be somewhat

Hello Everybody

It feels like such a long time since I sent out the last newsletter but it has only been four months. Four really exciting months during which I had lots of great opportuntties and experiences. Not forgetting my (hopefully) once in a lifetime visit to the toilet in a prison cell! If you want to know more about that one give me a ring. I hope you agree that this edition of the newsletter represents diversity and that you continue to share it with others. I was told that one subscriber receives FOUR copies; one from me and three from her networks. That is what I like to hear. Happy reading!

unreliable witnesses. They were just kindergarteners.’
The article made me reflect on incidents that I have experienced/observed, or have been involved with over the years that constitute mistreatment of others by individuals in leadership roles – whether you call it disrespect, harassment or bullying. I was shocked to realize that I could recall a great number of examples fitting into this category. Having facilitated lots of workshops around anti-bias curriculum; leadership, supervision and cultural intelligence over the years, I have to admit that there has been little content about or interest relating to the bullying of those in roles of ‘power’. We are talking about CEO’s, managers, teachers, educators. The focus of desired changes in behavior is often on those being lead (the children, the clients, the workforce). Want to know if you are the bully or if you have tendencies towards bullying? Through my work with Cultural Intelligence I have realized that all the PD on Emotional Intelligence etc in the world will not work if we focus on the ‘other’ and encouraging change there. The crucial component that is often missing is who we are, our way of being and knowing.
Take this survey  - aimed at teachers but easily adapted - to find out.

Collaborations
Expanding horizons through alliances

During the months of August and September I had the opportunity to work closely with Professor Tim Mazzarol who I have known since I participated in the Small Business Excellence Program (SBEP) at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Professor Mazzarol invited me to partner with him to evaluate the Business Growth Centre (BGC) and the Small Business Smart Business (SBSB) programs on behalf of the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD). The programs provide small business owners with support and access to business related learning opportunities. What an experience this was! The evaluation brought together my interests in small business, training and quality assurance while hugely expanding my knowledge relating to the learning needs of those owning and managing small and medium enterprises. If you are interested in this topic you might want to check out the following reports - Overcoming I am too busy and Training and Learning for Small Business.

A New Role in School Aged Care
Specialist online contributor

I have accepted an invitation to be a specialist online contributor (cultural competence) for the ‘My Time, Our Place’ online discussion forum (www.mytimeourplace.com), funded by DEEWR and managed by the Network of Community Activities as part of their secretariat role for the National Out of School Hours Services Association (NOSHSA). The forum provides an online space where school aged care educators can interact with peers and school aged care experts to reflect on their practice and strategies for engaging with the National Learning Framework, ‘My Time, Our Place’. This is a great extension of previous work that I have been involved in such as the management of BISS
(2007 to 2011) and the Out of the Dark project. I will be meeting the discussion forum team and participating in professional development in Sydney to ensure that I know how to work blogs and contribute effectively in the discussion forum. I posted my first contribution last week - ‘Mixing it up for Diversity’, and am currently developing a factsheet to be posted on the website. I hope lots of educators will take this great opportunity for an online discussion forum to debate the challenges and opportunities of the learning framework and seek advice and tested ideas.

Service Development Project
Return to the Disability Sector

As of September I have taken on a role in service development with Senses Foundation (Inc.) with a focus promoting Senses as a provider of supported accommodation options and the development of innovative individual and group options. It has been great to return to my roots and re-connect with the many people that work in the sector as well as with people with disabilities and their families that I have known since my days as a coordinator of respite services and as a Local Area Coordinator (LAC). In addition, this role brings me closer to the service delivery level, which can only enhance my awareness when evaluating Disability Services Commission funded and provided services. Through this project I am able to demonstrate that Outcome based service delivery can be achieved and that collaborative approaches between service providers and service recipients are the way to go. I am hoping to use person centred planning as a part of our service development strategies.

With a little help from me
Cultural Intelligence is spreading

After years of trying to promote the concepts on which Cultural Intelligence is based I am now at the point where I am being sought out by organisations and individuals because of the work I have been doing in this area since 2007. In the past three months I was contracted by the Murdoch Executive Education Centre (EEC) to facilitate a whole day workshop with management staff of the Department for Corrective Services (DCS), been invited to Singapore to explore opportunities to create forums around the topic and asked to present at an Aged Care and Community Services Forum here in Perth. For those of you who want to know more about what kind of workshops, assessments and forum presentations I offer, have a look at the following materials: CQ Multicultural Workforce; Organisational Health Check: Diverse Workforce and the 1-Day Cultural Intelligence Program

Wow, I am all written out, but as usual I had a lot to say! In order to get this newsletter out I will stop here, some of my other ideas will have to go into the next edition, such as the ’The intricacies of being a regular Sherlock Holmes’. Want to know what all that is about? Well, continue subscribing to my newsletter which, I am proud to say, is still attracting new subscriptions with amazing regularity.

Until next time, and enjoy all the festivities ahead!

Gudrun

Director - GoodRun Solutions
Phone: (08) 93901922
Mobile: 0415 886 413
Skype: goodrun.solutions
Web: www.goodrunsolutions.com.au
E-mail: gudrun@goodrunsolutions.com.au