Knowledge management, the role of guidance?

When considering lately, what is guidance and where is guidance going, it occurred to me that it is all about knowledge management. Raising people’s vision enhancing ‘knowledge’ of self, facilitating opportunity awareness through encouraging people to learn, research and network, developing ‘knowledge’ base of opportunities, broadening peoples horizons, empowering decision making through reflecting abilities, potential and individual ‘knowledge’ systems, facilitating action to apply ’knowledge’ for chance opportunities!

... guiding individuals, sharing and enhancing knowledge, driving change and chance!

dot, dot, dots!

At an event at the Career Transition Partnership celebrating 10 years of partnership working between Right Management and the Ministry of Defence, I was watching everyone mingling and networking.

There it was before me, everyone sharing their ‘story’ of how they came to be involved in the partnership. How they them-’selves’ embarked on the ‘opportunity’ to be involved in the partnership and what ‘decisions’ they had taken since and where they are now ‘transition’.

Time and time again, it is before us, ‘Narrative’ playing its part in DOTS as everyone networks and shares their stories, there is now a new venture looming as we approach the transition stage, we are coming to an end of an era, where will we end up... dot, dot, dots!

Career Consultancy or Employability Consultancy or Community Coach......the future

My future vision of Career Counsellor is one who actively participates in and encourages others to interact in the community, to derive confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

The basis of my theory is built around the Scottish Governments ‘Future Skills for Scotland’ an agenda which puts careers education and guidance central to the curriculum from early years and secures employability awareness and skills development through partnership working. Through new teaching and learning methods, young people are able to relate and identify with suitable employment options, in-line with rewarding experiences, interests, values and skills.

This partnership working agenda is the responsibility of local government who should develop strategies in collaboration with Skills Development Scotland, Schools, Further and Higher Educational establishments, Local and National employers to develop individual awareness of employment options, build confidence to facilitate motivation for placements, develop practical learning opportunities, to enhance knowledge of work activity, for Scotland’s sustainable economic growth.

My vision of how this is delivered is through guidance practitioners facilitating client’s awareness of ‘self’ through modern therapeutic approaches, enhancing learning and empowering individuals ‘belief’ to exercise new activities in the marketplace. The Counsellor will understand the clients motives,through clients meaning and reasoning in decision taking. The counsellor will reflect on both tradition and modern theories of how clinet shapes their lives. clients will be encouraged to take up volunteering, networking with others, seek placements or participating in project roles, to generate chance opportunities. ‘Project Scotland’ offer opportunities for all walks of life to participate in community activity, thus developing skills and knowledge for advancement.

Employers should be encouraged by the local authority to mentor people in the community and offer work experience opportunities either within the workplace or local environment, where partnership projects improve services and facilities within society. Counsellors will support clients to identify with projects of interest and develop awareness of ‘self’ for opportunities. Counsellors will coach individuals in decision-making to identify action for personal development, broadening horizons, facilitating learning and networking opportunities for transition stages between school, further education and the world of work.

Through partnership working a greater awareness will be evident of economic skills and knowledge requirements for re-generation activity in the local, national and global economy. Partnership working in the local community will therefore drive developments in programs of study and employability initiatives to meet the demand for skills and knowledge, for Scotland’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Guidance will shape and enhance opportunities therefore, through coaching and mentoring partnerships in the community, facilitating networking to develop ‘Skills for Scotland’ - happenstance key to the success of individual and economic growth!

Follow your dreams, don’t be afraid to fail! - extracts from Dr. J.D. Krumboltz, Luck is no Accident!

‘Fear from making mistakes keeps some people from doing what they really want to do! The origin of the fear is understandable, so much of schooling involves getting the right answer, (Krumboltz, J. D ‘Luck is no accident’ 2004). Through life we strive to make the right choices; right job, right house, right partner all in pursuit of happiness, being fulfilled. Reality is things change and evolve over time, so there is no One right job or right choice.

‘Making mistakes is normal; they are valuable, teach you important lessons and sometimes lead to outcomes that are even better than the outcome you hoped for. Making mistakes is a learning opportunity in itself. There is something much worse than making a mistake – doing nothing out of fear that you might make a mistake, as doing nothing leads to missed and unused opportunities’ (Krumboltz, J. D ‘Luck is no accident’ 2004). Careers counselling is often sought by clients who are not living as full a life as they would like, unaware of ‘self’ with little esteem or ‘belief’ in abilities to progress or change direction. Counsellors will raise vision of the client, request they re-author their ‘stories’ to consider alternative outcomes, discussing small steps to motivate action, facilitating clients chance opportunities – happenstance!

‘Good luck tends to happen to people who are engaged in constructive activities, by trying something new, they are meeting new people, ‘networking’, this opens doors to allow you to learn and develop, creating chance opportunities for new and unplanned events’(Krumboltz, J. D ‘Luck is no accident’ 2004).

Follow your dreams, as dreams create energy and passion, motivate yourself by taking small steps, volunteer, trial new opportunities and evaluate the outcome. Give meaning and reasoning to goals, taking action will generate results, which drives new challenges and more opportunities - learn new skills, always do your best work, build knowledge, develop and re-invent ‘self’ along the journey to success in pursuit of happiness and dreams!

‘Don’t let self doubt keep you from trying, and make every job a learning experience, don’t under-estimate your skills, learn the skills in the job you desire, expect to make mistakes as they create learning, you will create your own unplanned lucky events. ‘Beliefs’ that keep you open to new ideas and experiences will help you overcome internal obstacles – make life rich, engage in conversation with new people, volunteer for experience, take a course, be of interest to others by actively participating in life’.

‘Always learning; always trying; always wondering? - Wherever you are, whatever your work, whoever you meet, there is always opportunities to demonstrate who you are, your ‘self’ share ‘stories’ learn from and support others, creating your space in time – happenstance’!!!(Krumboltz, J. D ‘Luck is no accident’ 2004).

HR @ Stirling Council, enhancing knowledge for employability through Careers Counselling

Today Stirling Council hosted an event for graduates thinking about employment in local government and particularly within Human Resources. Students attended from Stirling University to gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day role within HR whilst reflecting on what they have learnt and achieved in their studies.

It was fascinating to watch how the HR team delivered the session and encouraged students to engage in conversation to further expand their knowledge of the field. As an introduction students were invited to introduce themselves and tell their ‘story’ in terms of what they were doing and what they wanted to progress onto in employment. The HR team next invited students to tell them what they thought a HR professional did in their role and what skills were required for this, bringing reasoning and meaning to their consciousness, of why they may choose this occupation.

Four advisors each in turn told students about their background their life ‘stories’ a narrative approach in terms of employment choices and how they came to be working within HR. They then followed on to explain to students what was involved in their roles within Stirling Council and HOW these duties were achieved. Each advisor would take questions from students following their ‘story’ to ascertain points and further explain these, to raise awareness of roles within HR. Here we had narrative, facilitating learning, raising self-awareness and opportunity-awareness within HR and the Council. Advisors reflected on skills being transferable and demonstrated how various work experience including volunteering was relevant to the HR field and how HR experience was relevant to a number of other occupations, their focus being skills and competencies for transitions. They raised student’s awareness and broadened their horizons, for choice of occupation, thus to aid decision making through building students self-esteem and self-belief; the driver of transition and progression.

Not only demonstrating and building knowledge of the function of HR but unconsciously utilising theories of Careers Counselling in their practice ‘DOTS’ being central to facilitating the event, through the concept of narrative.

Guidance for Scotlands Talent's

On placement I was introduced to ‘Talent Scotland’ at an event, they are a branch of Scotland Development International a government agent who aim to development growth in the Scottish economy through encouraging fresh talent to study, stay and enter Scotland from over-sea’s, to close the skills gaps in our economy. They aim to sustain wealth in the marketplace and pioneer skills, and talent, encouraging inward investment, business expansion overseas and foreign investment in the Scotland; to broaden the international appeal and increase diversity in our marketplace.

I realised that this was part of the ‘Skills for Scotland’ agenda to develop strategies to enhance learning and development of the Scottish nation. The agendas aim to develop education frameworks and school curriculum to advance education and guidance for ‘fresh talent’. Innovative teaching and partnership working including careers education, where reference will be given to practical planning and application of knowledge and skills for the labour market, enhancing employability.

The role of guidance in our society will facilitate awareness of ‘self’ through ‘narrative’ where practitioners will reflect characteristics and motivation to clients and identify talents. The practitioner will establish direction of interest from the client and facilitate learning, research and further analysis of ‘self’ and ‘opportunity’ to support transition stages. This will broaden the client’s awareness and understanding of social structures and how to make decisions with regards potential employment opportunities for transitions, volunteering, work experience, placements, internships, participating in group activity and events, networking for opportunities - skills for work and wealth!

.....the guidance profession at large facilitating fresh talent, through fresh approaches, partnerships and knowledge sharing activities.

In pursuit of happiness...

Avoid interactions with people who drain your energy and are always miserable. Surround yourself with people who enjoy life and have a positive happy vibe. Give yourself some ‘me’ time and do something that makes you happy! Smile, it sounds silly but evidence states that psychologically you will begin to feel happier! Get some fresh air or exercise it releases positive energy. Write down 3 things from each day which were positive and only one negative. Remember karma, what to give out you generate back!

Think ahead, and explore the possibility of speaking with someone who has a career you think will make you happy. - to beat the crunch, plan ahead, write to desired employers, volunteer, ask for a work placement…you never know, this could give you, your lucky break – your chance opportunity, luck is no accident!

Stay happy, network and think positive - positive thoughts, reap positive rewards £££