SDS Delegate Debate: Difficult People or Our Lack of Skills and Confidence?

Dear All

I am writing to discuss with you the recently released Boorman Report (August 2009) - the latest in a series of analyses suggesting that NHS staff suffer from ill health and self esteem problems as a result of bullying at work. It follows on closely from Unison's campaign of "Speaking Up For Social Workers" which highlighted similar pressures and stresses in the social care field.

It always seems ironic to me that "the caring organizations" are often populated by people who create stressful difficulties for their colleagues and where low self esteem and confidence issues abound. A culture that values submissiveness and uses guilt and fear as motivators is partly to blame. However, what is interesting is that some people seem to survive these pressures better than others, and in some instances actually thrive.

Stewart Collins' 2007 work on social workers suggests that using strategies that develop resilience, optimism and positive emotions may be key skills for "caring professionals" to develop in order to thrive in stressful work environment. Developing interpersonal skills for handling challenging colleagues and for boosting self esteem are also key.

SDS' courses on MANAGING DIFFICULT PEOPLE AT WORK (http://www.skillsdevelopment.co.uk/seminars.php?courseid=4) and PERSONAL CONFIDENCE & ASSERTIVENESS AT WORK (http://www.skillsdevelopment.co.uk/seminars.php?courseid=55) are deliberately designed to address these issues and boost delegates' skills and self belief. The courses are not designed as a "feel good" training days but are evidence based and get to grips with the practical problems of "doing things differently" when you return to the workplace.

These training days will give us an opportunity to discuss these and many other issues. I am sure they will be stimulating events for all of us. However, I welcome any of your thoughts on the topic prior to then. Please, email me and let me know your thoughts or share your ideas with other SDS delegates on SDS Forum (http://sdsmedia.blogspot.com/). It will help us to shape the discussion on the courses around the most practical issues as perceived by you.

Looking forward to hearing from you and working with you on these training days.

Kind Regards

Paul