Catching the Wave
CILIP training day at Glasgow Metropolitan College 23rd May 2006
Sponsored by NHS Education Scotland Knowledge Services Group
Paul Herbert
I attended my first CILIP training day called ‘Catching the Wave’ which was held at the Glasgow Metropolitan College. The day was aimed at improving assertiveness skills for those hoping to move into management. There were a variety of library sectors represented in the study group with staff attending from public libraries in Dundee and Aberdeen as well as Glasgow University.
The day began with the trainer Helen Ross asking around the group what we hoped to gain from attending the study day. There were a variety answers ranging from increasing confidence at work to handling change or stressful situations in a better way.
The first exercise was to draw a shield on a large piece of paper and divide it into four sections under the headings of experience, skills, values and management aspirations. We were asked to give three reasons or examples under each heading. We then each had to give the group a small presentation explaining the contents of our shields which were then pinned up on the wall.
Helen then taught us about Berne’s Transactional Analysis and how it applies in the workplace. As a theory of personality, transactional analysis gives a picture of how people are structured psychologically using a three-part ego-state model. Transactional analysis also provides a theory of communication that can be extended to analyse systems and organizations. For our purpose we looked at relationships within the workplace and how staff communicated with each other.
Transactional analysis portrays three ego states: Adult (behaving, thinking, feeling in response to what is going on in the here and now), Parent (behaving, thinking, feeling in ways that are a copy of one of a parental figure), and Child (behaving, thinking, feeling like a child).
I found this theory very interesting and in the next exercise we looked at situations drawn from the personal experiences of the group. We were able to identify the ego states in each scenario and gave suggestions on how these situations could be dealt with effectively.
After lunch we took part in role playing exercises and were given cards with common workplace themes to act out in our work groups. I’m not usually very keen on these types of exercises but I found this one to be rewarding and not to mention a bit of fun!
All in all I enjoyed the day and it did change my view of how people communicate with each other in a working environment. This applies to not only interactions between staff but library users as well. The enthusiasm of the group and trainer Helen Ross contributed to a worthwhile experience.
Paul Herbert
Assistant Librarian
North Glasgow Library Service
Stobhill Hospital/Glasgow Royal Infirmary
0141 211 1239
paul.herbert@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk