How do you handle unhealthy situation's?
How do you handle unhealthy situations with students, clients or other employee's who do not see it as unhealthy??
Most people cannot see negative or unheathy behaviors in themselves. So how do you bring it to there attention with-out making it worse?
As stated earlier...every situation is different and no answer is cut and dry. It's important to remember that everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes, treat the person your talking to with respect and try and help that person understand your perspective without feeling attacked.
I have found that constant communication and clear expectations often help. In the past, like everyone else I have had one (or more) of those boses who doesn't follow the "practice what I preach" philosophy and this results in frustrated employees. So I try very hard to follow my own leadership advice. Also, trying to keep someone off the defensive by staying away from accusitory statements helps. I usually try the "I have noticed and in the past it has worked better for me if I...." type of statements. This way it keeps you from saying don't do it that way, and it helps the employee feel as if they have made a change more or less on their own. Good luck :)
I take constructive criticism and actually disect it and actually try to apply it to my next class.
One of the things I sometimes do is to comment on an article I have read; for instance, washing hands. I have now seen numerous articles stating very positive results on reducing colds and viruses by simply hand-washing. Several years ago a study was done in a school where collectively the students were directed to wash their hands multiple times throughout the day, specifically before eating and after using the restroom...I want to say they were required to wash their hands three times a day. Another school nearby was just studied in their normal procedures. The school that emphasized handwashing had a significantly reduced absenteeism...that sort of "sold me" and I try to share that - as an example.
It depends on the category of the unhealthy situation. Let's say you are talking about a person that has a personal hygiene situation. I would approach it very carefully. First, I would never say anything in a group. I would talk one-on-one to that individual. If a person has some type of contagious disease I would ask if it something that I should be concern about. Now if the unhealthy situation is simply a person's conduct (like using profanity), I would go directly to that person and ask that they not use it.
Tough question. There are so many variables including the situation, cultural differences, etc.
I would start by trying to determine if is a personal action, or an action taught or condoned by an outside influence. In other words is this person doing what appears normal to them or are they doing this on their own.
If it's a cultural difference try to show how cultures differ and how an action appropriate in one situation is not appropriate in another. Show example if you can.
If it's an outside influence such at the environment, then the environment needs to be changed. Bad boys will be bad when around other bad boys. Some good boys will be bad when around other bad boys.
Peer pressure is a good tool in many situations. (Works great with students). Let those involved in the situation know it's ok to respond to the situation in a helpful way.
Regards,
Terry
