Women's Network February 2017 newsletter

Message from Louise Scott, member of the Women's Network

Building Confidence Event

January saw our first Building Confidence event, facilitated by Gillian Baxendine. We had a great turnout for the event and we got some really good feedback.

I attended the event myself and it was really insightful to hear about other people’s confidence issues that they have faced in the past which were similar to mine, regardless of their age, gender or grade in the Parliament. I particularly liked hearing about Gillian’s 7 top breakthroughs she has faced, it gave me food for thought! The 7 top tips are definitely something I will be taking on board too. I would highly recommend booking a place on Gillian's future events. The next one is on feedback (more information below).

The Women's Network is hosting some more events around the theme of coaching. The next one is called Pitch Perfect.

Three people who have taken part in the confidence building workshops will be offered the opportunity to work with a coach to develop an idea for improving the Parliament which they will present to senior management at an event in September 2017. Three more people will be selected as their coaches and get a chance to develop their coaching and mentoring skills, working with an accredited in-house coach.

For this pilot run, the opportunity to pitch an idea will be offered first to those who attended one of the Confidence Building workshops in January/February. We are pleased to say that there has already been some interest in this opportunity but it's not too late to find out more so, if you attended the course and think this might be for you, please speak to Lisanne Robertson on x85108 or drop her an email.

The opportunity to be a coach will be offered to anyone who has attended or is booked to attend My Coaching and Mentoring Fundamentals (or a similar introduction to coaching skills). They will then be matched to a coachee. Again, please contact Lisanne to find out more.

And anyone will be able to come along and hear the pitches - watch this space for more details later.

Seeing Feedback Differently

“Can I give you some feedback?”

For lots of us, that’s a heart sink moment, whether you’re the one hearing it or the one saying it. And most feedback doesn’t change behaviour anyway. What if you could see feedback differently?

What will I gain? You will learn:

  • what makes feedback work – and not work
  • what to do instead
  • how to ask for feedback – and who to ask

Facilitator - Gillian Baxendine

“Can I give you some feedback?” For lots of us, that’s a heart sink moment, whether you’re the one hearing it or the one saying it. And most feedback doesn’t change behaviour anyway. What if you could see feedback differently? Come along to this event and learn

  • what makes feedback work – and not work
  • what to do instead
  • how to ask for feedback – and who to ask

To book your place click here, click the events icon then click the + button alongside ‘Register for an event’. You can either insert the name of the course you wish to book a place on or click ‘Browse All’ to see the full list of available courses. Click on the name of your chosen course and register.

Upcoming Events

Discussion Groups on:

  • Women's Health
  • Unconscious Bias
  • Equal Pay
Women in Leadership programme attendees with Paul, Susan and the PO

We're planning to host an informal event with the women who took part in the Women in Leadership programme. Those who took part are keen to share their learning with others so this event will offer the opportunity to chat together and share ideas. There are no current plans to hold the programme again soon. Whilst we are obviously disappointed about this, we must look to the future, gauge interest in this sort of training and agree, as a network, what we can do to address what we can do in the absence of it in the shorter term.

Walking Group - we will set up a walking group in the Spring in time for (hopefully) better weather. We will keep you posted.

We would also like to hear about any other ideas, particularly topics for more 'top tips' sharing sessions. Please let Lisanne, our Chair or Mary Ann, our Vice Chair, know if you have anything in mind.

Lisanne.robertson@parliament.scot

maryann.masson@parliament.scot

External Events that may be of interest:

  • The Audacious Women Festival is happening 18-25 February in Edinburgh. It is a selection of workshops, conversations, entertainment, participation and more! It is billed as a "chance to break down personal, political or institutional barriers, and to celebrate audacious women".
  • The Women into Leadership conference will be held in Edinburgh on 25 May 2017. Some colleagues attended this last year and found it interesting and though provoking. Lisanne was there and would be happy to speak to anyone considering going this time around.

Credits:

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