Transcript
John
Hello this programme is about the skill called counselling. That’s the process by which you help a member of staff with a personal problem that is affecting their work.
Ian
Morning Barbara. Everything alright?
Barbara
Fine.
Ian
Good.
John
And there are better and worse ways of initiating the discussion.
John
I’ve noticed that you’re probably on the verge of a nervous break-down.
John
And the first hurdle you need to get them over is the feeling that they shouldn’t be bothering you with their person problems.
Jack
Well I mustn’t waste any more of your time I suppose.
Harriet
Thanks. Well that’s all sorted out then. Problem solved.
John
The next obstacle when you try to get people to open up is the closed question.
Alice
And he wants you to go to the Far East? You haven’t been together that long have you? And it will take you quite a while to settle down out there wouldn’t it?
Barbara
My sister’s husband is pretty ill at the moment.
John
Listening isn’t enough.
Barbara
Well alright.
Ian
Brother-in-law is ill, sister has to look after him, she has to take their kids to school seven miles away and it’s alright?
John
We get it wrong by giving people advice.
Harriet
Let me give you some advice.
Ian
If I was you.
Alice
I’ll tell you what to do.
John
Trying to solve their problems for them.
Harriet
Pay off the overdraft, give up smoking, leave the wife, put the kids into care, have the vasectomy, learn to tap dance and apply for a job in the Bombay office.
John
I know this isn’t easy but watch Ian get it wrong.
Ian
And anyway turning down a promotion never helped anyone, so let’s not hear any more about it.
Ian
But it’s the wrong decision, for her and for me. You know it’s just silly.
John
It may sound silly but trying to force someone into a choice they don’t believe in is even sillier. So that’s counselling.
Jack
It’s such a relief to have told some one.
Get me the police!
News and features
