WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2016, THE HAVEN HOTEL POOLE

SESSION TWO AND THREE –COMPASS FOR LIFE – FLOYD WOODROW MBE DCM

SESSION NOTES – ALEX WILLIAMS

Floyd Woodrow MBE DCM (FW) has run these sessions with Y1 up to adults in education and business.

The compass is:

  • North – North Star – your goals
  • South – Strategy
  • East – Ethics/Values
  • West – Warrior

NORTH STAR – GOALS

FW asked the group: if all your members of staff were isolated, would they give the same answer when asked what the goals of your school are?

He said: do basic things well. Do basic things EXPLICITLY well.

FW talked about ‘Magnets’ – the things that distract us from our goals and having the self-discipline not to be attracted to magnets.

STRATEGY

Have your journey written down.

Adapt, and have contingency plans.

Communicate plans to your team.

This part of the session outlined setting down your plan on paper – FW showed examples of these ‘road maps’ then asked delegates to put down on paper their plans for the next 3-5 years both professionally and personally. FW explained that the exercise helps to focus you, to help you think about where you want to be, see what you need to do to get there and look at what the blockers could be.

ETHOS

Fairness, Reliability, Hard Work, Accuracy.

FW asked if team members:

  • openly admit their mistakes.
  • Acknowledged their weaknesses to one another
  • Ask for help without hesitation
  • Ask for input in their area of operation
  • Acknowledge each other’s skills and expertise w
  • Willingly apologise to one another
  • Are unguarded and genuine with one another

FW outlined the Myers Briggs Type Indicator tests ( Myers Briggs Website Ctrl + click)

FW explained how different personalities look at things differently. We were asked as series of questions, divided into two groups according to our answers then asked to describe a picture. The differences in answer highlighted how different people see things differently.

The Myers Briggs theory expands on Jung’s Theory of Psychological types.

FW used this to illustrate how leaders need to understand how different personalities tick, and adjust communication style to match.

WARRIOR

FW outlined the importance of positive attitude which will ensure resilience.

Warriors have: Tenacity, relentlessness, resilience, values, make sacrifices, and know the importance of balance to ensure you have the energy to achieve your goal. He quoted the Dali Lama, who says that you need to exercise ‘Wise Selfishness’ to achieve this balance. If you forego your own needs too much, this weakens you so that you cannot achieve what needs to be achieved. (eg. no breakfast, 6 cups of coffee before a late lunch is not going to make you an effective member of staff!)