Maintaining wellbeing (including mental health) and balancing work with other aspects of a manager’s life (work/life balance) are two important concepts embedded in organisational cultures across the Victorian public sector and provide a foundation upon which to build resilience. The topic outline overleaf starts with this as its focus.
This is followed by building the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to manage aspects of a manager’s role that can commonly cause stress, anxiety and an inability to achieve. These include working with complexity, ambiguity, change and risk; dealing with set-backs; having to make decisions; and prioritising both time and tasks.
There is also a focus on understanding stress and on addressing unproductive stress patterns.
What should a development activity cover?
The checklist that follows outlines the core content that development activities focusing on this subject area ought to cover in order to build the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for success in any Victorian public sector management role.
Accompanying the checklist is a list of resources. Use of these resources in the design and delivery of a development activity will help build knowledge, skills and behaviours that are of immediate and clear value in any management role in the Victorian public sector.
Some of these resources describe specific knowledge, skills or behaviours, while others provide information about the context in which Victorian public sector managers operate. In most cases, the resources do not address the topic in full. Additional material will still be required to provide comprehensive development in the relevant content area.
Most resources listed are freely available as downloads from the websites indicated.
Core Content / Resources
Establishing the Context
Understanding the importance of building resilience and strategies for ensuring achievement, especially in the changing and complex environment in which the Victorian public sector operates.
Understanding Resilience
Undertaking common theories about resilience.
Balancing Work and Wellbeing
Strategies and actions for addressing the demands of the job while maintaining personal health and wellbeing, and non-work commitments.
Laying the Groundwork for Achievement
Techniques for:
- Making decisions with confidence
- Time management
- Prioritising tasks.
Being Comfortable with Complexity, Ambiguity, Change and Risk
Techniques for acting confidently, productively and appropriately in situations that are characterised by complexity, ambiguity, change or risk.
Dealing with set-backs
Techniques to return to performance and wellbeing as quickly as possible after set-backs, mistakes, failures, disappointments or frustrations.
Strategies and actions for using set-backs, mistakes or failures as a catalyst for new strategies and behaviours.
Understanding and Actively Managing Stress
Techniques for:
- Identifying, objectively, situations that lead to unacceptable levels of stress
- Responding to stress and signs of stress with productive and sustainable stress management practices
Resources
- Victorian Public Sector Commission, Welcome to Management
Seeking Assistance
Understanding when and how to seek assistance with the management of stress, decision making techniques and building resilience.