Keynote Speaker - Judy Hatswell

Leader is not just a word on a Business Card

Judy was the first Australian Senior Faculty with The William Glasser Institute and continues in this role and is a Past President of Glasser Australia.

Judy is recognised Australia wide for her outstanding knowledge in the areas of student welfare, behaviour management and whole school approaches enabling students to be responsible for their behaviour.

Having worked for many years as a specialist school psychologist for severe behaviour disorders she has trained staff, parents and specialist personnel in the concepts and techniques for effective management.

Judy Hatswell is both a teacher and registered psychologist who has held managerial positions at state-wide and regional levels in student welfare, guidance, and behaviour disorders.

‘You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?’ is most appropriate for this keynote.

Most Leaders have a sound knowledge base of leadership, have the experience and have been to courses where they learn the skill of working collaboratively with others, however, many leaders fail when it comes to behaving respectfully, responsibly and co-operatively in stressful situations.  

Internalising Choice Theory enables many Bosses to become Leaders. When she/he really understand that the only person they can control is them self.  Leaders can reduce personal stress and focus on how they are behaving rather than trying to control others.  When a leader internalises the Psychology of Personal Freedom, she/he can empathise with others but do not own their fears, the leader can step back and look at the bigger picture and asks what can I do to build trust and assist all my staff to succeed? To build a team where psychological safely is paramount and where staff feel supported to take risks that aim to improve the outcomes for everyone.

Leaders may not be the CEO, Manager, Principal or other Executive.  Leaders emerge from all different levels of an organisation.  The traits of good leader, no matter what their position is in the organisation, is that they gain trust and respect through listening and connecting with others.  They understand and accept others quality worlds and differing perceptions whilst still maintaining everyone’s focus on the positive outcomes to be achieved by the organisation.  They work from a value base of integrity to build cohesion.  They understand the qualities required to be a good leader. They build positive trusting relationships, listen, accept others, value difference, negotiate and provide a safe environment conducive to a joyful work place where staff can show initiative and task risks.

An important lesson I learnt from  another Senior Faculty, Barnes Boffey is that when you are looking at a problem it is not what you are looking at but what you are looking through. When a leader understands internal psychology, the solutions will be very different than if the leader has an external psychological approach. As Einstein said, “if I had 1 hour to solve a problem, I would spend 55 minutes looking at the problem and 5 minutes on the solution”.  It is our belief systems that guides our focus. Choice Theory enables the leader to focus on  basic needs, the quality world and the perceptual system which puts him/her on the comparing place where the creative system will automatically start coming up with a variety of solutions.

Brene Brown has a quote in  her book ’Dare to Lead’ reported to be from a tribe in New Guinea that says.  “Knowledge is only information until it gets into your bones”.  

True Lead Managers have the tenants of Choice Theory and the strategies of Reality Therapy in their bones.

“What difference would it make to your mental wellbeing if you felt a greater sense of personal freedom?’’  Dr William Glasser.