Dealing with a Colleague - Change in Behaviour (#411)

This simulation was developed in collaboration with Alan Faigal from the School of Early Childhood Education, Toronto Metropolitan University.

A recent change in a colleagues behaviour prompted a team member to confront them. Directness and sensitivity will both be necessary to discover the truth.

• Asking effective questions 
• Active listening 
• Building trust 
• Setting collaborative goals

Douglas was away ‘sick’ four days in the last month and up to an hour late for at least five mornings and one afternoon shift. This is unusual if not a drastic change in his behaviour. On one hand you are concerned about him; but, he is letting the team down and you need to find out what is going on. There is a critical issue: the team needs to initiate an intervention for a child and Douglas, as an advocate for the child, is an integral team member. His absences and lateness affected staffing schedules which impacted the intervention timeline due to postponed meetings. You invited Douglas to join you in one of the Day Care Centre’s meeting rooms to have this discussion.