About Mindful Work
As Headteacher of a secondary school for five years with experience at all levels over a 21 year career in the teaching profession,
Simon Blackburn is ideally placed to understand the pressures at every level of
management and leadership, particularly in schools. He was forced to seek help
himself for burnout and depression following the simultaneous diagnosis of lung
cancer in both his parents and mounting work pressures. Following CBT, he made
a full recovery and a successful return to work. He felt he had more to offer
in helping others to overcome similar difficulties. He is now a Cognitive
Behavioural Therapist, speaker, educator and trainer seeking to make a
difference to the lives of anyone striving in pressurised environments.
Story
of the Geese
Wild geese always fly in a V formation and travel as a
community. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an 'uplift' for the birds
that follow.
People who share a common direction reach their destination
more quickly and with less effort than those who travel alone. That's because
they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag and
resistance of flying alone and promptly moves back into formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
By receiving support at crucial times, we get the opportunity
to regain control and to offer support ourselves in turn. Sometimes we accept
their help and at other times we offer help in turn. When the lead goose tires,
it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point
position. It pays to take turns at the hard tasks.
Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to
keep up their speed. We all need to make sure our honking is encouraging in
nature, and that our internal honking is equally positive. When a goose gets
sick, is wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it
down to help and protect it. They stay with it, until it is able to fly again or
it dies. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the
flock.
We should also aim to stand by one another in both good and
bad times.