Grant Stanley Consulting

What is challenging behaviour? Challenging behaviour, in the school context, encompasses behaviour that: • Interferes with the pupil’s own and/or other pupils’ learning; • Disrupts the day to day functioning of the school; • Jeopardises the right of staff and pupils to a safe and orderly environment; • Has a duration, frequency, intensity or persistence that is beyond the normal range that schools tolerate; and • Is less likely to be responsive to the usual range of interventions used by the school to address pupil misbehaviour. A perusal of the behaviour records of most primary schools will provide clear examples of different types of challenging behaviour displayed by children. These include: • Aggressive behaviour, including pushing, punching, kicking, biting, scratching, and threatening behaviour and verbal abuse; • Disruptive behaviour, including screaming, tantrums, non-co-operation, running away; • Destructive behaviour, including destruction ...

I was recently visiting an established client and saw the opportunity to “Drop In” on a potential client that I had been repeatedly trying to contact.   Why wouldn’t you, I hear you ask?   I approached reception and Introduced myself and asked to speak to the Principle of the College (Let’s call her Bernie for Anonymity sake) and was told to wait in reception.   After 2 minutes of waiting, out storms this petite lady with a decidedly angry expression and the first words out of her mouth were; “I don’t know you, I don’t know your company and I never asked to see you!” Well, the consummate professional that I am, I didn’t balk at this onslaught and asked her for 5 minutes of her time.   It was wasted by the way, but I’ll explain why.   For those who study body language or NLP I could instantly tell that “Bernie” was not giving an inch; with her crossed arms and crossed legs, coupled with the etched scowl.   It turns out that my calls to her off...

10 Reasons Why your Boss shouldn’t be Your Friend Is it ever OK for a manager to be friends with their employees? Believe me, this isn’t just a question brand new manager’s struggle with (and most of them do). It’s an issue a lot of experienced managers are questioned about as well, and many of them don’t think it’s a problem at all. The issue of “buddy to boss” might not be as black and white as you might think. Conventional management and HR 101 wisdom would tell you it’s absolutely not OK. In fact, some companies might even try to outlaw it through “cronyism” policies. However, in the real world of work, emotions and relationships can’t be governed by policy. Workplace relationships are can be extremely tricky, just as personal or family relationships can be. Managers are not robots – they have feelings and emotions. Sometimes you can’t help but like one employee more than another. Sometimes workplace romances blossom between managers and employees (that’s a whol...