Purpose-Based Management in Education Post COVID-19

Coronavirus has presented so many unique challenges to education. Moving education online at the drop of a hat, then figuring out how to continue to support students, how to support parents becoming teachers with no training, how to return to face to...
Coronavirus has presented so many unique challenges to education. Moving education online at the drop of a hat, then figuring out how to continue to support students, how to support parents becoming teachers with no training, how to return to face to face education, and how to address the digital divide has been an incredible learning curve. There is no right answer, but without purpose, we cannot create meaningful learning in education in this digital divide. With all the struggles that we are facing around the world at the moment, education is at the heart of all of them, because education is what should develop the skill to listen, to engage, to question and to grow. Whether we are looking at addressing racism, creating equality, wearing masks, whether to take a vaccine, all of these things require thought, discussion and further consideration.
1
00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.679
What's working on purpose anyway? Each
week we ponder the answer to this question.
2
00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:14.960
People ache for meaning and purpose at
work, to contribute their talents passionately
3
00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:19.800
and know their lives really matter.
They crave being part of an organization that
4
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:25.120
inspires them and helps them grow into
realizing their highest potential. Business can be
5
00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:29.640
such a force for good in the
world, elevating humanity. In our program,
6
00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:33.840
we provide guidance and inspiration to help
usher in this world we all want
7
00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:42.359
Working on purpose. Now Here is
your host, doctor Elise Cortes. Welcome
8
00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:45.200
back to the Working on Purpose Program. Thank you Tonaty Again this week I'm
9
00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:48.119
your host, doctor Elise Cortez.
Join you live from Dallas, Texas,
10
00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:50.799
which is home base for me.
If you've been tuning in for a while,
11
00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:53.880
you know this program as a thought
leadership series that enlightens, it inspires
12
00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.719
listeners with insights from distinguished business leaders
and subject matter experts. Our conversations are
13
00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:02.240
designed to make you think, inspire
you to ever reach for cultivating your best
14
00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:06.319
and take an informed approach for leadership
and business. Our guest today is Lauren
15
00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.000
Hollows. She's the director of Learning
Lifelines. She is a lifelong educator within
16
00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:14.760
the vocational education sector, and her
work and personal purpose is to empower educators
17
00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:19.920
and education institutions to support learners to
become independent, critical thinkers through purpose based
18
00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:23.239
management and language. We'll be talking
about how purpose based management serves educators and
19
00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:27.439
students and how to apply to screenwork
in the post COVID nineteen world. She
20
00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:32.400
joins a study from Perth, Australia. Lauren, Welcome to working on Purpose.
21
00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:36.359
Hello, how are you? I'm
dandy, I'm talking to you.
22
00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:41.040
What are you talking about? This
is amazing? Who's so positive? I
23
00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:42.560
am? I mean, why not? I'm vertical. I've got aaron my
24
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.640
lungcause I'm happy. I'm well,
I'm why not? I know we woke
25
00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:51.200
up this morning, so right,
we have to quickly after Actually, let's
26
00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:55.280
do this. I want you to
introduce yourself as you would. You know
27
00:01:55.319 --> 00:01:57.799
that I'm an identity researcher and I
want you to kind of presence for us
28
00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:00.519
all the things that are important to
you, to make Lauren Lauren, and
29
00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:04.239
then afterwards, I want to tell
our guests how it is that we met
30
00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:08.080
sometime ago. So go for it, Okay, sure, So yeah,
31
00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:13.520
I'm Director of Learning Lifelines which is
an organization and you not for profit,
32
00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:17.759
which kind of helps address the digital
divide which we've seen post COVID and which
33
00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:23.680
was a present long before that.
So we help repurposing computers and getting them
34
00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:29.599
to students in need to hopefully help
increase education outcomes. I am a mother
35
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:32.360
to two incredibly beautiful boys, and
I'm sure I'm not biased about that in
36
00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:38.719
any way, shape or form.
I am a volunteer firefighter, have been
37
00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:45.159
for about nearly three years now,
which is awesome. And I'm an educator
38
00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:49.240
and a learner just through and through
and through. Oh my gosh, it's
39
00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.080
so exciting and wonderful to have you
on the program. And let me know,
40
00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.000
let's tell our listeners and our viewers
how it is that we found each
41
00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:58.960
other so gosh, more than let's
call it, let's say that we're talking
42
00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:04.599
about what about twenty six years ago
when I was in Portland, Oregon,
43
00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.080
I worked with your mother, Susie, who was another amazing woman. Yes,
44
00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.360
we're a special friend of mine,
and we kept in touch thanks to
45
00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:14.840
social media over these years. When
I reached out a few months ago saying
46
00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:17.439
hey, I'm looking for women to
be a part of my anthology about women
47
00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:21.319
living their purpose. She said,
I know exactly who should talk to my
48
00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.280
daughter, and so of course I
ensnared you in that project, and your
49
00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:29.639
story is featured in Passionately Striving and
why Women who persevere in minded to live
50
00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.800
their purpose. Can't wait to share
your story with people all over the world.
51
00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.879
And then once I read that,
I want, you know what you
52
00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:38.000
need to come on the radio show
too. So here we are, like
53
00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:42.039
all these years later, it's so
amazing reconvened and so listeners. Isn't an
54
00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:45.879
amazing the power of staying in touch
and the power of an interconnected world.
55
00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.680
Yes, absolutely, And it's just
I think it's just amazing how amazing women
56
00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:53.759
bring amazing women. And you know, I know that, you know,
57
00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:57.159
I had you as an example of
growing up, and you were always so
58
00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.439
bubbly and passionate. And at the
same time, there was Connie who was
59
00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.800
another friend of moms that I know
that you guys, and she was like
60
00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:06.639
this, really, you know,
had just this massive amount of strong bravado.
61
00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:12.120
So I was so fortunate to grow
up around all of these really incredible
62
00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:15.199
women who just you know, told
me that, you know, if I
63
00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:17.199
wanted to go out and do something. I could absolutely go out and do
64
00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:19.879
something. It makes a big difference
when you hang out with let me tell
65
00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:25.120
you, all right, so let's
let's get our listeners into your world.
66
00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:29.759
I'm fascinated as an American, I've
never heard the term vocational education and training
67
00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:31.560
per se, Like, yes I
have, but but you have a specific
68
00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.920
bent on it. So first I
want to know why were you attracted to
69
00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:40.240
this field. So I had never
ever intended to work in VET. I
70
00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:46.360
initially was planning or working in psychology
and then and then got redirected into education,
71
00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.000
which I absolutely loved. I've always
been really big on education. There's
72
00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:55.560
like twenty seven thousand teachers in my
family. And so after I became a
73
00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:58.519
single mom. I was a single
mom with you know, like a six
74
00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.800
month old baby. I was trying
to get work in schools and my dad
75
00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:06.519
just happened to meet this woman who
was running vocational education and training. She
76
00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:09.800
was like, look, I need
somebody to help. But she literally worked
77
00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:15.240
across from a daycare center. So
I started working in there, and you
78
00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:16.920
know, she she kind of taught
me about what she was doing and she
79
00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:20.920
was training people in childcare. And
I had an education degree, so you
80
00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:25.399
know, I started working a little
bit more and about I think it was
81
00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.639
about nine months into it that we
are like at this point, I was
82
00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:32.920
I was training and working with the
students, and it was like one of
83
00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:36.360
our first big cohorts that went through
that i'd actually trained. And I had
84
00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:42.600
this woman who you know, came
in to collect her certificate and she finished
85
00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:45.519
her so at three, which in
Australia kind of meant that she was qualified
86
00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:48.399
to work as a childcare educator.
And she came in and I gave her
87
00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.959
this piece of paper and she just
burst into tears, and I was like,
88
00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:54.959
you know, what's the matter.
You know, are you're okay?
89
00:05:55.639 --> 00:06:00.800
And she goes, she said,
I never thought I could something. She
90
00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.639
goes, she said, you know, she didn't know my history, like
91
00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:06.240
I've come from a really bad place, and she'd come from a really abusive
92
00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:10.839
past, and you know, she
had two very young children. She goes,
93
00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:14.680
she does, I don't have to
worry about providing for my kids.
94
00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.680
I've got a job now, she
said, And I know that I can
95
00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.639
do that. I don't know.
And it was this value that was attached
96
00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:28.360
to this six month training course that
she'd done and because there was a similarity
97
00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:30.480
in histories. Like I was just
sobbing by the end of it. She
98
00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:35.240
was sobbing by the end of it. And so you know, she kind
99
00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.959
of she finished up and I handed
her out to her and everything, and
100
00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:43.600
I just kind of went, it's
great teaching kids, but like, this
101
00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:48.759
was the second chance that you know, only vocational education could provide. You
102
00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:53.360
couldn't get this in university, you
couldn't get this in you know, in
103
00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:59.399
high school. This was just this
incredibly unique space to give people a second
104
00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:05.879
chance and show them how education can
create an incredible new sense of value and
105
00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:10.600
opportunity for them, which I just
fell in love with. Right, how
106
00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:13.560
could you resist this? I mean, I'm completely with you, completely with
107
00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.439
you. How exciting. And by
the way, in my view, if
108
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.560
a conversation produces tears that come from
being moved, it's good anytime, right,
109
00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:23.839
anytime, anytime, I'll take it
every day, all day long.
110
00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:29.600
All right, So now let's get
let's let's get into the conversation about purpose
111
00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:33.279
based language. And I'm so interested
in talking to you about this because you
112
00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:38.600
your focus is on education, so
your work is focused on linking purpose based
113
00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:43.120
language to good management practices to create
intrinsic motiv motivation for educators, which is
114
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:48.360
fascinating. Tell us more why does
it work? So, look, I
115
00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:53.000
education is one of these areas,
particularly in Australia. We have got a
116
00:07:53.120 --> 00:08:00.279
lot of legislation that kind of controls
how we educate and who we educate and
117
00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:03.839
how all the funding works and everything
like that. So it is a really
118
00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:07.240
highly regulated industry and people who get
into the industry get in for the same
119
00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.680
reason that I got in, is
that they want to make a difference.
120
00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:15.079
They want to change people's lives,
they want to impart all of their skills,
121
00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:18.079
and so this is really kind of
pure purpose to it. And then
122
00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:22.240
they get into it and it's like
and there's all this paperwork, and then
123
00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:26.800
there's all these really hard moments of
working with students that can be emotionally exhausting,
124
00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:33.519
and then there's more paperwork and more
paperwork and more paper work. And
125
00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:39.519
so for someone who is like a
trainer and who is focused on relationships and
126
00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:45.080
working with people, the paperwork side
of it is really really difficult. So
127
00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:50.120
I think that if a business is
really really focused on compliance, which we
128
00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:54.440
have to be in order to operate
in our sector. That can drain the
129
00:08:54.960 --> 00:09:00.519
kind of I guess, it can
drain the purpose and it can drain the
130
00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:05.240
life out of a person if they're
not careful. Whereas if we when we
131
00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:13.200
introduce purpose based management as opposed to
like a compliance based fear environment, it
132
00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:20.080
moves it back into a quality focused, student focused space that kind of aligns
133
00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.279
to their own purpose. So we
go, yeah, we've got to do
134
00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:26.039
this. But the reason why we
have to do this is because we want
135
00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:28.919
to make sure that we're giving the
right experience to our student. We want
136
00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:31.879
to make sure that everyone's being consistent. We want to make sure you know
137
00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:35.200
X, Y and Z. So
it just because they have that why it
138
00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:39.919
helps them understand that they've just got
to give that little bit more extra and
139
00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:45.440
it doesn't hurt as much over time. Okay, So what I hear from
140
00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.320
that, Lauren is basically what you're
doing and I because I do this in
141
00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:50.039
my word too, is which makes
sense? Right? Why why it works
142
00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:54.519
in education as well as it doesn't
in organizations that's well, it doesn't in
143
00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:58.879
nonprofits. Is really what you're doing
is by elevating the conversation back to purpose,
144
00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.759
you allow them to come back to
and draw from their passion. Yeah.
145
00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.600
Absolutely, And not enough businesses talk
about, you know, purpose,
146
00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:11.080
especially when they get bugged down in
compliance, and I mean particularly with education.
147
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.840
You know, we're not selling you
know, you know, we're not
148
00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.759
we're not selling pharmaceuticals. We're not
you know, selling insurance. You know,
149
00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:26.240
it's such a pure purpose of giving
people opportunity and growing you know,
150
00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.840
you know, growing more fully happy
human beings. Yeah. I was just
151
00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:35.559
thinking, what are you selling is
somebody's beautiful, precious life and the opportunity
152
00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.679
to actually live it fully. That's
what you're selling. Absolutely, that's what
153
00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:43.519
you're selling. Now. I was
very interested to you talk about in our
154
00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:48.440
one of our exchanges. You were
talking about how purpose based management helps educators
155
00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:52.960
combat the emotional fatigue that teachers and
trainers who work with this advantage students face.
156
00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:56.320
Say more about that. That's really
interesting. Yeah. So, I
157
00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:01.000
like one of the rtos that I
work with one of the colleges that I
158
00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:05.799
work with, we have a focus
on probably like fifteen to nineteen year old
159
00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:11.759
young males who are and they train
building and construction, so it's all really
160
00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:16.240
like hands on sorts of trades and
things like that. The vast majority of
161
00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:22.240
the kids that are coming into this
are coming in because traditional education pathways didn't
162
00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:26.559
work for them. We've got kids
that are coming in as a referral from
163
00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:31.840
DCP, which is the Department of
Child Protection. We've got high proportion of
164
00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:37.600
kids who have got add ADHD,
dyslexia, and a lot of them come
165
00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:43.360
from really difficult home backgrounds. So
education has not been valued in the workplace,
166
00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.679
literacy has not been valued, sorry
in the home. Literacy has not
167
00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.480
been valued in the home. And
so these kids, this is kind of
168
00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:56.000
like a last ditch opportunity to get
them into education and to do it in
169
00:11:56.039 --> 00:12:03.120
a way that is really hands on
and it's really focused on building and you
170
00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:07.279
know, as part of that,
our teachers, our trainers are dealing with
171
00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.200
kids that are you know, just
dealing with a huge scale of emotional issues
172
00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:16.360
and even like having a psychology background. And we're very lucky when I set
173
00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:18.200
this program, when we set the
program where we've got a mentoring program that
174
00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:22.000
kind of operates alongside of it.
So we've got a full time counselor on
175
00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:26.559
site as well. And then we've
got students who are studying their social and
176
00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:31.039
family and youth work degrees that also
volunteer on site or to help support the
177
00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:37.159
emotional and psychological support of the students. But that burden on the trainers as
178
00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:39.919
well, you know, to have
to come in and you know, a
179
00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.399
couple of weeks ago, it was
dealing with a fifteen year old whose girlfriend
180
00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:46.360
had full and pregnant, and you
know, he was going to have to
181
00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.480
go home and tell his parents and
he thought that he was going to get
182
00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.000
kicked out of the house. A
couple of weeks before that, we had
183
00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.080
a kid that had kume himself up
the night before, and so we had
184
00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:58.519
to take him to the hospital and
go through the whole process of you know,
185
00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.960
he's trying to commit su us.
I know, all these sorts of
186
00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:05.600
things. So there's just a lot
of really harsh emotional issues that they've got
187
00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:11.120
to kind of deal with when their
focus is on building skills. But then
188
00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:16.279
they've got all of this other stuff
that they've got to I guess address just
189
00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:18.919
in order to engage the student and
keep them focused. And it's like,
190
00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.120
well, how can you focus on
school when you're worried about going home and
191
00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:26.559
telling your mum and dad that you
know, you've made this incredibly, incredibly
192
00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:33.360
life changing mistake, you know.
So to be able to deal with all
193
00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:35.799
of that, you know, again, bringing that focus back to I'm doing
194
00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:45.679
this because I am these kids' last
chance to move forward really does kind of
195
00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.320
help center them at the end of
the day. And knowing again that there's
196
00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:52.600
an entire team there, every one
of whom supports that goal. So we
197
00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:56.960
can then all share that burden together
of like, yet, here's what you've
198
00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:03.080
had to talk with and go through
today. We all share that experience with
199
00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.639
you. We all share the purpose
of this is where we want to get
200
00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.919
these kids too. And again,
you know, it's just about talking about
201
00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:13.759
that shared purpose. Everyone knows that's
what we're working towards, but everybody knows
202
00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:18.519
the payoff at the end of the
day as well. So what I want
203
00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:22.000
to presence further for our listeners and
viewers is that really to do that kind
204
00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:26.960
of work really takes something from a
human being. It takes an enormous,
205
00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:31.120
profound amount of effort and focus and
dedication, and so being fortified with purpose,
206
00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:35.360
which is really that ability to see
beyond the day to day exchange what's
207
00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:39.600
happening in the moment with a student
is really the polling force. Yeah,
208
00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.399
and not have to burden that yourself. I mean, I think it's great
209
00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:46.639
when people, you know, when
people know their purpose and they can go
210
00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:48.480
home at the end of the day
and go, I'm doing this because of
211
00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:52.039
this. You know, I'm doing
this because it makes a difference. That's
212
00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.840
fantastic, and there's a lot of
people that don't even have that. To
213
00:14:54.960 --> 00:15:00.480
then enhance that by sharing that,
by knowing and talking about the fact that
214
00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:03.399
you're sharing that with a team,
by having your manager come and say,
215
00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.600
this is why you're doing this,
and I really appreciate you, and I
216
00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:09.720
know the emotional burden that it's taking
on you, but this is what we're
217
00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:11.919
all working towards together. And you've
had a bad day today, You're going
218
00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:16.080
to have a better day tomorrow again. I just I think that that's just
219
00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:20.519
really reaffirming of like, I am
allowed to be exhausted about this, but
220
00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:24.919
it's okay because other people understand that, and I know that that I'm going
221
00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:30.159
to have a better day tomorrow.
And it's that constant presencing of that language.
222
00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:31.159
It's so important. It's not enough
to say it, hey, once
223
00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.279
at the beginning of the quarter,
when don't you first come on board the
224
00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.039
job. It's going to be sprinkled
throughout the course of that person's work journey.
225
00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:39.240
Yeah, yeah, all right,
and on that. No, let's
226
00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:43.279
grab our first break. I'm your
host, Elise Cortez been on here with
227
00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:46.039
Lauren Hollows. She's a director of
Learning Lifelines due to today from Perth,
228
00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.159
Australia. We've been talking a bit
about why she's doing the work that she's
229
00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:52.919
doing and why it's important to her. After the break, we're going to
230
00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:56.519
talk about how purpose based and learning
serve students. Stay with us, We'll
231
00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:00.639
be right back. Doctor release Cortez
is a management consultant specializing in meaning and
232
00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:07.600
purpose and inspirational speaker and author.
She helps companies visioneer for greater purpose among
233
00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:15.360
stakeholders and develop purpose inspired leadership and
meaning infused cultures that elevate fulfillment, performance
234
00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:19.399
and commitment within the workforce. To
learn more or to invite Elise to speak
235
00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:25.320
to your organization, please visit her
at Eleascortes dot com. Let's talk about
236
00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:34.320
how to get your employees working on
purpose. This is working on purpose with
237
00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:40.279
doctor Elise Cortes. To reach our
program today or open a conversation with Elise,
238
00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:47.879
send an email to a lease Alise
at Eleascortes dot com. Now back
239
00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:52.720
to working on purpose. Thanksteresting with
us, and welcome back to working on
240
00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.600
purpose if you're just joining us.
My guest is Lauren Hollows. She's the
241
00:16:55.639 --> 00:17:00.000
director of Learning Lifelines. She is
a lifelong educator with a vocational education sect.
242
00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:03.359
Her and her work and personal purpose
is to empower educators and education institutions
243
00:17:03.400 --> 00:17:08.200
to support learners to become independent,
critical thinkers to purpose based management and language.
244
00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:11.720
I'm your host, doctor Release Cortes. So before we get into how
245
00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:17.519
purpose based learning serve students learn,
I know that you've just recently launched your
246
00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:22.720
nonprofit learning Lifelines. What is that
all about? Yeah, it was very
247
00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:29.559
exciting. I've come from a very
highly regulated background and apparently my desire was
248
00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:36.039
to get into one that was even
more regulated, so I chose not for
249
00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:41.160
profits. No. So during during
COVID, one of my roles in the
250
00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:47.079
very early stages was to work with
learning organizations to basically, within like a
251
00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:51.440
two to three week period, transfer
all of our training from face to face
252
00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:59.920
delivery to completely online delivery for a
very high needs cohort and so you know,
253
00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.960
obviously as part of that and in
my work with a lot of different
254
00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:08.920
other learning organizations, this huge issue
of learners not having access to technology,
255
00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:12.519
and we kind of made an assumption
that, like, well, everyone's got
256
00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:15.880
a smartphone, you know, so
we thought, if we can get it
257
00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.920
working through a smartphone, we'll be
fine. But you know, like you
258
00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:23.799
can't have Zoom open and have a
smartphone open at the same time. Even
259
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:27.200
if they even if they did have
a smartphone, whether or not they had
260
00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:33.799
the data to support you know,
actually participating and downloading that type of video
261
00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:40.240
or even live streaming videos was very, very difficult. So we came into
262
00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:45.480
all of these barriers really really quickly, and I at that point I was
263
00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.160
kind of like, oh, like, how is this like this particular group
264
00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.799
of students that I was hearing it
from more and more training organizations that kind
265
00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:56.400
of worked in similar spaces to us, but you know, for international students
266
00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:02.960
and for you know, for job
secret students, and for young young students
267
00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.720
under the age of eighteen, you
know, where all of a sudden,
268
00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:08.359
there was one laptop in the household, but there was now six people that
269
00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:14.000
needed to use that laptop. Simultaneously. You know, they just there was
270
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.559
just no access, and so they
were kind of like, look, I
271
00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.559
just I don't have it. I
don't have you know, I can't access
272
00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:22.680
it on my mobile because I don't
have data. I don't have a laptop.
273
00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:27.240
We don't have internet in our household, and so, you know,
274
00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:32.839
I kind of started looking at what
our options were and within our particular space.
275
00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:37.480
There was a big rought a couple
of years ago where these a bunch
276
00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:41.720
of colleges went around kind of promising
laptops for people in trade for signing up
277
00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.759
for this free qualification that actually came
with like a ten thousand dollars debt,
278
00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:52.279
and so it's now very like taboo, and it's actually like illegal and against
279
00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:59.200
several of the funding contracts to provide
technology to the students. So we've got
280
00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:03.079
a situation where we can provide this
online training, but we actually can't provide
281
00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:08.720
you with the tools that you need
to access that technology. So as a
282
00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:12.519
result of that, I started talking
to colleges and they were like, well,
283
00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:15.640
you know, like we've got all
of these laptops here, and I
284
00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:18.720
was like, okay, so we've
got laptops, We've got students that need
285
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:22.920
laptops, What do we need to
do to get one to the other.
286
00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:26.680
And I started looking for organizations that
were doing that, and there just wasn't
287
00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.799
anyone. And the more I started
learning and reading about this kind of growing
288
00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.640
digital divide, it was kind of
like for those students that had like plenty
289
00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:37.960
of laptops and plenty of Wi Fi
and Internet in the house, they were
290
00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:41.440
coping okay, and they were still
able to participate in education. But for
291
00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:45.720
those that didn't have that opportunity,
it was just like, well that was
292
00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.240
it. Education just went out the
window. And so you know, in
293
00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:52.559
relation to kind of this resource of
the classes and things like that, it
294
00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:56.079
was just amplifying the issue ten times
over. And that's kind of how life
295
00:20:56.200 --> 00:21:02.640
Learning Lifelines was developed. So we
now take laptops and we're taking our first
296
00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.000
fifty laptops in the next two weeks, and we're going to refurbish them and
297
00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:11.319
we're partnering them with Internet, and
then we're basically going to start furnishing them
298
00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:15.240
to students who don't have the means
to have that sort of resource. And
299
00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.960
by putting an internet and laptop into
a household, that means they've got access
300
00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:23.400
to telehealth. It means they've got
access to mental health support services. It
301
00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:27.559
means they've got access to online counseling
services, and a whole range of other
302
00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:34.799
like free online courses in digital literacy
and financial literacy and things like that.
303
00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:40.279
So the first concept is just to
get the laptop and the internet into the
304
00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.519
household, and then that's going to
open up all sorts of other opportunities from
305
00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:47.839
there in relationship to digital literacy and
really starting to make sure that people can
306
00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:52.200
use that technology to improve their lives. That's off, my dear, really.
307
00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.319
That is so talk about making a
difference in the world at a profound
308
00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:59.359
time. So we're going to talk
more about what's happening in the post COVID
309
00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:02.240
world after this next segment here,
but I just kind of wanted to position
310
00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:07.200
that first. That is amazing,
Lauren, congratulations on launching that. So
311
00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:10.440
we're very excited. It's beautiful,
all right. So what I want to
312
00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:14.240
do next for our listeners and viewers
is talk about how purpose based learning serves
313
00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:18.200
students. So we were talking before
about how it helps educators, but if
314
00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:22.519
you could contrast course the experience of
students in a learning environment not anchored in
315
00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:26.319
purpose, what was what's it like
for them to try to learn in that
316
00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:32.200
environment and then bring us into one
in purpose anchor. So I guess probably
317
00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:36.000
the two areas where I see this
the most is in what we would call
318
00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:41.720
international education, so that's international students
coming into the country for the purpose of
319
00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.839
study and also in job seeker education, and they're a little bit different,
320
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.880
but they're also very much the same. And you've got two very different classes
321
00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:52.319
of students. And when you go
into a classroom, you can peek it
322
00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:56.240
out in about five minutes. There
are those students that are there because they
323
00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:02.960
want to gain the particular skill that
that course offers. And then there are
324
00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:06.880
students that are there for an alternate
reason, and it's not necessarily the wrong
325
00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:11.720
reason, but the purpose of them
being there is not aligned to the purpose
326
00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:18.640
of the course, and that creates
all sorts of conflicts. So you know,
327
00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:22.759
with international education, there are specific
courses that students will come in and
328
00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:26.640
study because it will lead them to
a visa outcome. And again that's about
329
00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:30.799
them gaining opportunities and wanting to come
and live in this amazing country of Australia
330
00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:34.920
where we are so very, very
fortunate and the same applies to the United
331
00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:41.559
States. However, the experience that
they have as opposed to the students that
332
00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:45.559
comes into the course because they want
to learn the skills of a chef,
333
00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:49.920
as opposed to the student that actually
wants to be a bricklayer or they want
334
00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:53.200
to be an IT specialist, but
they've come in because this is going to
335
00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:57.319
be the quickest pathway to getting a
visa. For them to then go on
336
00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:03.279
to do what they want, really
want to do, makes the entire learning
337
00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:07.920
experience completely different because one's doing it
because they want to, so there's an
338
00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:11.799
intrinsic motivation and there's you know,
so from a compliance perspective, they're like,
339
00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:15.079
yeah, I'll do that because that's
what I've got to do an industry,
340
00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.960
and that's what I have to do
to learn this skill that I really
341
00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:21.400
want to learn. And for others, it's like, I don't really even
342
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:25.599
want to be here. I have
to be here, so it's compliance and
343
00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:30.319
you're forcing me to do something,
and therefore, you know, I don't
344
00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:33.279
because I don't see the intrinsic value
because we don't share that that same purpose.
345
00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:38.200
I you know, everything is going
to be forced upon me and therefore
346
00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:45.519
it makes the experience far less enjoyable. Yeah, so you know what I
347
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:48.480
get is the resistance factor, you
know, the crossed arms, like you
348
00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.640
know, Okay, I'll do what
if I have to, but I really
349
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:53.640
don't want to. And it's so
interesting for me, Lauren to talk about
350
00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:57.519
the world of purpose because underneath that
there are lots of things like meaning and
351
00:24:57.559 --> 00:25:02.519
motivation, which are very closely related, of course, but I can't help
352
00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:06.200
but go to the poll motivation when
you're pull to something bigger and beyond yourself,
353
00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:10.559
and the push motivation, right,
so the poll is intrinsic and the
354
00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:17.079
pushes is extrinsic. So I'm fascinated
with really just how to position this and
355
00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:21.240
help and help your students get present
to why they're here, how important that
356
00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:25.440
is. Yeah, and look,
I think it's it's very interesting, and
357
00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:27.759
I've been I've been really lucky I
work. I've worked across schools that teach
358
00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:33.960
so many different things, and so
when I've talked to chefs that really want
359
00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:37.000
to be chefs, they are not. It's you know, for a lot
360
00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.559
of them, it hasn't been I
want to do this because I really love
361
00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:42.039
cooking food. But it was about
you know. I love being able to
362
00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:45.480
create this experience where someone comes in
and they sit down and they have a
363
00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:49.720
meal together and they share this connection. And you know, I was kind
364
00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:53.000
of like, oh, I didn't
really like you know, I just thought
365
00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:56.599
you must like really like food.
And they're you know, they're like,
366
00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:00.079
no, it's not a pay you
know, it's about this, and that's
367
00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:03.200
my purpose. And it was.
It was. It was a very selfless
368
00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:07.680
purpose of wanting to give this beautiful
experience and allow moments where families and loved
369
00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:12.400
ones could create and connect to each
other, you know. And when when
370
00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:15.960
we were talking about wanting to be
a brickie, I want to be a
371
00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:19.039
bricky because I want to create.
I want to create the place that somebody
372
00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:22.680
is going to call home one day, you know, and I want to
373
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.559
make sure that that home is safe
and I want to make sure it's secure,
374
00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:29.240
and I want to make sure that
it's going to protect them from the
375
00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.799
elements, and it's going to be
done in a way that it's going to
376
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:33.599
allow them to stay safe. And
I go, oh, I didn't,
377
00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:37.480
you know. And so you just
when you start talking to people who were
378
00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:44.200
really passionate and purposeful about the industry
that they want to be in, there
379
00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:49.640
is always this kind of more ultruistic
cause, which you know, and being
380
00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:53.640
able to talk to the trainers and
the students about that. And then once
381
00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:57.519
you've kind of found that way of
I want to say, selling it,
382
00:26:57.240 --> 00:27:00.400
it's not selling it, but when
you in that way of describing it,
383
00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:04.680
and then you start elaborating that for
students, so when they kind of go,
384
00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:07.440
well, I want to I think
I want to be a chef.
385
00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:11.200
I don't know why, and I'm
like, you know, what is it
386
00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.200
that you like about being a chef? And they're like, oh, you
387
00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:17.400
know, You're like, I just
I've got really fond memories of you know,
388
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.559
I said, so it's not you
know, and you kind of lead
389
00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:23.640
them slowly to this sort of path
of self discovery of like this is why
390
00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:26.480
they've enrolled in the course and this
is and then they kind of go,
391
00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:33.640
yeah, that's it, like that's
that's why I love it, like that's
392
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.359
what I want and then they kind
of go oh, and you see this
393
00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:41.359
kind of like clicking moment and then
that then from then on it's easy because
394
00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:47.680
it's like, that's why I want
to do this. And when you can't
395
00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:52.799
make that connection like when the connection
is not there because the ultimate goal is
396
00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:56.000
something that is just not related to
the industry. It's just it's a very
397
00:27:56.039 --> 00:28:00.000
it's a different approach that you have
to take, and it's still very important
398
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.960
to find out the purpose. But
you can see the level of joy,
399
00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:07.119
the level of engagement for the learner, and this for the trainer is just
400
00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:12.240
very, very different in relation to
the way that they engage in the level
401
00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:18.559
of enjoyment that they that they have
through the process learn Learning is uncomfortable,
402
00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:22.759
you know. Learning requires putting yourself
out there, requires being wrong, it
403
00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:26.640
requires making mistakes. These are all
things that are very uncomfortable. If you're
404
00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:30.759
doing that for a particular purpose,
it makes all of that stuff so much
405
00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.119
easier. I totally get this,
and I'm laughing and smiling with you,
406
00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:37.799
because of course I get to do
that same work that you do inside organizations.
407
00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:41.880
And so what you what's important for
our listeners and viewers to understand is
408
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:45.559
that there is a process that you're
taking these people through which is to help
409
00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:48.680
them get present to and discover why
this is important to them, Why is
410
00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:52.279
this kind of work important to them? And it is that discovery process when
411
00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:56.519
they discover their why, their connection. That makes it so powerful. All
412
00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:59.720
right, So the next thing I
want to talk about here, and I
413
00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:02.359
want to just get this from our
exchange because it was so beautiful the way
414
00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:06.519
that you said it. In your
email. You mentioned that education does not
415
00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.759
that is not purpose based, is
a piece of paper with some fancy words,
416
00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.559
but no skills, no substance.
Rather, you seem to align with
417
00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:15.640
the words of the late Martin Luther
King, who said, quote, the
418
00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:19.480
function of education is to teach one
to think intensively and to think critically.
419
00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:25.319
Intelligence plus character. That is the
goal of true education. Could you expand
420
00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:30.000
a bit on that and why that's
important to you? Yeah. So it
421
00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:33.839
was like he was a seer,
right hey, just he saw things and
422
00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.079
he was so beautifully eloquent about it. And I think if he was here
423
00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:41.559
today, you know all of this. I feel like he would look at
424
00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:45.839
all everything that's happening today and go
like it's okay, and this is how
425
00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:52.039
we fix it. Yeah. So
education is fantastic, and it is really
426
00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:56.759
really important to build knowledge and skills. But I truly believe that the core
427
00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:07.200
purpose of education is to create learners
lifelong learners critical thinkers, because it literally
428
00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:11.640
doesn't matter the industry that you're training
people up for the job that you're training
429
00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:15.079
people up for what it is going
What it is today is not what it's
430
00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:18.200
going to be in five years,
it's definitely not what it's going to be
431
00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:22.599
in ten years, and it's not
what it's going to be in twenty years.
432
00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:27.559
So if we are going to train
people up for tomorrow, we need
433
00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:36.119
to be able to teach them more
so how to critically think and engage and
434
00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:41.920
adapt and give them the base skills
for that industry. But at the same
435
00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:45.279
time, I want to give them
a life long like a set of skills
436
00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:49.720
that they're going to be able to
use lifelong that are going to make sure
437
00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:53.440
that they can stay in that industry, that they can stay in an industry,
438
00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:59.960
and that they're not going to become
redundant in a few years time because
439
00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:03.480
I only learned how to do X
and I can't do you know, X
440
00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:07.200
is not being done anymore. There
are so many industries that we look at
441
00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:11.559
now where they're not going to be
industries Like nobody when it was when I
442
00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:14.160
was my age, nobody was like
I want to be a YouTuber because there
443
00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:18.519
was no such thing as a YouTuber. That was not a thing, you
444
00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.039
know, And nobody wanted to work
at Google because Google was not a thing,
445
00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:25.279
you know. So the things that
our kids are going to want to
446
00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:29.799
be in twenty years time, we
probably don't even know what they are now
447
00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:34.400
for some of these things. So
I can train them for a specific state
448
00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:38.400
of skills. But more importantly,
I think, you know, as as
449
00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:42.960
Martin Luther King said, we need
to teach them to think critically, particularly
450
00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:48.200
nowadays where we have an over abundance
of information. We need to teach them
451
00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:57.440
how to critically discuss and have a
rational and civil discourse about issues. And
452
00:31:57.480 --> 00:32:01.599
we need to help them sift through
information because you know, again, when
453
00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:05.720
I was growing up as a kid, when you went and got information,
454
00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:08.319
it was you know, you were
ninety percent confident that you were getting decent
455
00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:13.200
information. If you watch the news, you were getting good, solid,
456
00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:17.480
fairly unbiased information. You know,
when you read it. When you read
457
00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:22.599
you read it from dictionary and there
was only one definition of something. Whereas
458
00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:25.640
now we get a lot of our
information from social media. It's not validated,
459
00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:30.720
you know, it's highly biased in
either direction. So we need to
460
00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:36.559
teach kids to be critical thinkers about
where they get their information from, about
461
00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:39.400
you know, understanding how to interpret
biased about being able to have a civil
462
00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:45.000
discourse when you disagree with someone who
doesn't believe what you believe. And if
463
00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:50.480
I can impart those skills on a
student, then I know that even if
464
00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:54.519
their job changes, they're going to
be adaptable enough to find the information that
465
00:32:54.559 --> 00:33:00.480
they need, and they're going to
be able to ask the difficult questions,
466
00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:02.880
have the difficult discussions, and be
able to progress on from that point.
467
00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:07.559
And that sounds like a good education
to me, and one that is sorely
468
00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:09.680
needed. Today, let's take our
second break here. I'm Elice Cortez,
469
00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:13.599
your host b and are with Lauren
Hollows, who is the director of Life
470
00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:16.200
Learning Lifelines. She joins it today
from Perth, Australia. We've been talking
471
00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:22.559
about how a purpose based management and
language system benefit students. After the break,
472
00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:24.599
we're going to talk about education in
the new post COVID nineteen world.
473
00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:29.359
Stay with us, we'll be right
back. Doctor Elise Cortes is a management
474
00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:35.720
consultant specializing in meaning and purpose and
inspirational speaker and author. She helps companies
475
00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:42.799
visioneer for greater purpose among stakeholders and
develop purpose inspired leadership and meaning infused cultures
476
00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:47.799
that elevate fulfillment, performance, and
commitment within the workforce. To learn more
477
00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:52.599
or to invite Elise to speak to
your organization, please visit her at elisecortes
478
00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:57.839
dot com. Let's talk about how
to get your employees working on purpose.
479
00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:07.400
This is working on Purpose with doctor
Elise Cortes. To reach our program today
480
00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:14.480
or open a conversation with Alise,
send an email to a lease Alise at
481
00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:21.559
elisecortes dot com. Now back to
working on purpose. Thanks for staying with
482
00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:23.360
us, and welcome back to working
on purpose if you're just joining us.
483
00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:28.239
My guest is Lauren Hollows. She's
the director of Learning Lifelines. She is
484
00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:32.119
a lifelong educator within the vocational education
sector and her work and personal purpose is
485
00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:37.159
to empower educators and education institutions to
support learners to become independent, critical thinkers
486
00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:40.920
through purpose, space, management and
language. I'm your host, doctor Elise
487
00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:45.599
Cortes. So this last segment,
Lauren, I wanted to focus on this
488
00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:49.599
new world we found ourselves in here. We were in the pandemic still as
489
00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:52.239
we speak, and we're trying to
make our way through it. We're starting
490
00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:57.239
school here, my daughter is actually
starting school again as a senior today,
491
00:34:58.079 --> 00:35:01.599
and obviously twenty twenty as an entirely
change the educational landscape by putting it online
492
00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:06.199
and at home. So you started
by sharing some of this with the new
493
00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:10.440
nonprofit that you've launched, but share
with us some of your observations and insights
494
00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:15.039
you have about just how problematic and
maybe opportunistic the shift has been. I
495
00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:22.079
mean, he was ready for Nobody
was ready for COVID, Nobody expected it.
496
00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:30.719
And so while online education has definitely
been growing for quite a few years
497
00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:39.360
now in relationship to taking mainstream education
online, there was just very very few
498
00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:45.480
schools that were ready for it at
any level we're talking about from year one
499
00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:52.199
through the university, just nobody was
ready for it. And so I think
500
00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:59.280
that again everyone, most people made
it an assumption within the Western world that
501
00:35:59.360 --> 00:36:02.559
most of us have a smartphone,
and so therefore we could kind of take
502
00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:07.719
it online and it would work like
it did in the workplaces. And then
503
00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:12.440
of course, you know, it's
kind of the thing of like the halves
504
00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:15.280
have done better, have that they've
done really well out of this because they've
505
00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:19.400
been able to kind of they've that, you know, they're the people who
506
00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:22.239
have been able to work from home, you know, have maintained their income
507
00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:25.760
and therefore the kids have you know, had they've had time to do more
508
00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:31.159
you know, training and education with
the kids. And sorry, while it's
509
00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:37.320
been challenging, it's been manageable.
Whereas you know, as I said,
510
00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:39.719
if all of a sudden, you've
got you know, three generations in a
511
00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:44.599
household, you've got six people who
need to use the laptop that you know
512
00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:49.800
barely functioned for one person, or
there isn't a laptop at all, or
513
00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:53.000
there you know, there isn't any
internet, you know here in Australia.
514
00:36:53.559 --> 00:36:58.840
Have you know, to have a
computer to have internet in your household,
515
00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:02.199
you're looking at probably around you know, a few thousand dollars a year,
516
00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:07.559
maybe you know, three four thousand
dollars a year in order to be able
517
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:12.599
to have a sufficient coverage to engage
in an education and out in the rural
518
00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:16.079
areas, because Australia is a very
big, wide, diverse land and there's
519
00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:22.760
places where you know, we still
don't have phone coverage. Those sorts of
520
00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:28.719
locations were simply not able to facilitate
online education in any way, shape or
521
00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:31.920
form, and those were often in
the communities where education was needed the most.
522
00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:37.280
So, you know, it's it's
kind of amplified like it has,
523
00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:40.239
like COVID seems to have done with
everything. It has amplified the problems.
524
00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:45.239
It has amplified the divide, and
so you know, one, I think
525
00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:52.800
we desperately need to address that.
I don't see education going back to its
526
00:37:52.840 --> 00:38:00.400
traditional paradigm in the vast majority,
certainly not in the bed space. The
527
00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:07.119
majority of where we work out with
adults will remain blended education, I think
528
00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:12.559
fairly and definitely now. But it's
then getting the technology to the people who
529
00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:15.639
know how to use it. And
you know, whether or not technology is
530
00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:20.199
a right that everybody deserves, I
don't want to get into that argument,
531
00:38:20.280 --> 00:38:27.840
but certainly from an opportunity perspective,
not having technology, you know, I
532
00:38:27.880 --> 00:38:34.239
think is going to define your opportunities
moving forward post twenty two. Indeed,
533
00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:37.639
so you've already really helped us into
your world and why your lens of how
534
00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:42.480
you see education being so important to
be able to listen, to engage,
535
00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:45.599
to discern, and I think you
did that beautifully. So next if you
536
00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:50.239
would especially for those people that are
discratching ahead about how this whole purpose stuff
537
00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:58.239
works. How can interigacial institutions imbue
purpose in this new digital world. So
538
00:38:58.360 --> 00:39:02.360
again I think, firstly, they
have to connect with purpose to begin with.
539
00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:12.599
And I think, I guess my
big concern with educations moving forward even
540
00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:21.559
where they have realized their purpose is
I think because we want to create safe
541
00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:28.440
spaces within education, we're actually working
against our natural purpose. So that this
542
00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:32.039
idea of creating a safe space in
order to be able to for people to
543
00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:37.760
experience their feelings was a really beautiful
concept to begin with, but it's now
544
00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:45.039
working against the initial like the essence
and purpose of what an education institution is,
545
00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:53.000
and that is a place where people
go to ultimately create a set of
546
00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:59.840
beliefs and values and figure out what
their purpose is. And again that learning
547
00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:05.760
process is so uncomfortable, that learning
process has got to involve discomfort. I
548
00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:08.199
think for learning institutions, what we
need to do is we need to move
549
00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:13.679
back a little bit and find a
balance of Yes, wanting to make sure
550
00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:20.119
that we're providing spaces where people are
happy to express and open to expressing their
551
00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:25.920
opinions, but we also need to
encourage students to realize that in order to
552
00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:31.559
find their purpose, in order to
rationalize their purpose, in order to you
553
00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:37.440
know, refine their purpose, they
are going to need to be uncomfortable.
554
00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:42.199
They are going to need there is
a potential to be offended through that process.
555
00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:46.920
And that's okay, that's you know
again, failing sucks. You know,
556
00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:50.960
we kind of all go, you
know, like, failing sucks.
557
00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:54.960
It doesn't feel good, but it's
so crucial to learning, you know,
558
00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:59.920
it's so crucial to have an environment
where it's okay, you know, class
559
00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:02.239
rooms or places where it is okay
to make a mistake, you know,
560
00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:09.079
when we should be celebrating mistakes.
It's really uncomfortable to stand up and put
561
00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:15.039
your thoughts and your beliefs out to
the you know, out to the masses,
562
00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:19.960
you know, even to put them
out to one or two people.
563
00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:22.800
But we have to do that,
do you know what I mean? We
564
00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:30.760
cannot you cannot find your purpose if
all you do is work with people who
565
00:41:30.840 --> 00:41:34.719
believe what you believe. And I
adore Simon Sinek. I think he's amazing.
566
00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:38.599
He's definitely one of the people who
brought me into this whole concept of
567
00:41:38.840 --> 00:41:44.599
understanding the importance of purpose base.
But the one thing I disagree with him
568
00:41:44.599 --> 00:41:46.039
on is that he says, work
with people who believe what you believe.
569
00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:50.480
Yes, there is there is some
truth to that, but work with people
570
00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:53.519
who believe, you know, work
with people who don't believe what you believe,
571
00:41:53.840 --> 00:42:00.480
and if your beliefs stand up in
civil discourse, then you really know
572
00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:04.840
that you're onto something right. You
know, if you can have a civil
573
00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:09.840
discourse with somebody who doesn't believe what
you believe, and you can anecdotally and
574
00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:16.800
empirically, you know, have that
discussion and still feel confident in what you
575
00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:22.639
believe, then you know that you're
that you're onto something right. If you
576
00:42:22.920 --> 00:42:27.440
if I only surround myself with people
who believe what I believe and they tell
577
00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:30.960
me and they're constantly reinforcing what I
say, then you're going to end up
578
00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:37.280
in a position where you you're believing
something but you know it's never been tested
579
00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:42.119
before. You know, if I
say that you know that this piece of
580
00:42:42.119 --> 00:42:45.880
paper is blue and the piece of
paper is red, but everybody around me
581
00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:49.760
believes that the piece of paper is
blue, then you know I don't know
582
00:42:49.800 --> 00:42:55.239
any better. So I think education
institutions have a real responsibility in the wake
583
00:42:55.360 --> 00:43:01.199
of everything at the moment. We
almost have a responsibility to correct some of
584
00:43:01.239 --> 00:43:07.480
the wrongs being done by the mass
media at the moment in creating really critical
585
00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:13.159
thinkers who are going to sit down
and they're going to have this rational discussion
586
00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:15.840
and they're going to work on their
purpose, and they're going to keep refining
587
00:43:15.840 --> 00:43:19.159
their purpose, and they're going to
keep refining their beliefs until they go this
588
00:43:19.239 --> 00:43:21.559
is me, this is who I
am, this is what I believe,
589
00:43:22.199 --> 00:43:28.679
and I'm comfortable and I'm confident enough
in those beliefs to have a discussion with
590
00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:32.159
you, even though you think otherwise. I think if education institutions did that,
591
00:43:32.199 --> 00:43:35.679
we would just we would be in
such a better place. Oh would
592
00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:38.719
change the world well quickly. To
present this and see to bring it back,
593
00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:44.360
I have been co hosting a conscious
community online cafe with my cohort doctor
594
00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:47.760
Neha Sanguan, bringing people from across
the world to have conversations about what's meaningful
595
00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:52.039
and matters to them, especially as
we kick it off around anxiety, and
596
00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:57.039
we created a space where people from
very different perspectives, not intentionally but the
597
00:43:57.079 --> 00:44:00.159
topic of of course wearing masks came
up and two people from very different perspectives
598
00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:05.599
weighed in on the conversation and it
was respectful. People listened, They did
599
00:44:05.639 --> 00:44:10.679
it without without judgment, and they
both sides came to a new understanding of
600
00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:14.000
what it was like for the other. And to me, I was like,
601
00:44:14.119 --> 00:44:20.079
that is what a conscious open dialogue
looks like from people who are doing
602
00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:24.119
listening generously as you said before,
listening with curiosity, in an open mind,
603
00:44:24.199 --> 00:44:28.760
looking to see what they can learn
from the other side without just defending
604
00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:32.239
their own views. Wow, what
would happen if the world more commonly interacting
605
00:44:32.360 --> 00:44:37.079
like that and everyone would have taken
something away from it. They may have
606
00:44:37.159 --> 00:44:39.519
still helped true to their beliefs,
but they would have you know, like
607
00:44:39.559 --> 00:44:43.800
they there would have been that little
bit of growth, you know for everyone
608
00:44:43.880 --> 00:44:45.440
going Okay, well, you know, maybe they're not crazy. Maybe they
609
00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:50.039
believe what they believe because of this, and I disagree with that, but
610
00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:52.800
you know, I respect their right
to have that opinion, right. And
611
00:44:53.079 --> 00:44:58.039
so we were talking about how just
living and working and being educated from a
612
00:44:58.039 --> 00:45:02.599
purpose based framework really helps prepare people
for living in this more complex world we
613
00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:06.000
live in. Can you say just
a couple more things about that, and
614
00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:08.679
we're about out of time, so
if you could be brief, Yeah,
615
00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:14.320
look, I think we have a
greater capacity for change now more than ever.
616
00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:19.159
Whether it's education, growth, progress, development, they all require this
617
00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:24.719
level of discomfort. But purpose is
this kind of uniting opportunity. We're at
618
00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:30.119
a precipice at the moment, for
sure where we can either reject discomfort because
619
00:45:30.159 --> 00:45:34.920
you know, it's just too difficult, or we can lean into it if
620
00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:38.639
we want to meaningfully experience life,
and we need to steep ourselves in the
621
00:45:38.679 --> 00:45:43.760
discomfort. We need to surround ourselves
and engage with people who don't believe what
622
00:45:43.800 --> 00:45:49.159
we believe. And I think that
if we can, if we can muddle
623
00:45:49.199 --> 00:45:52.440
through that mess, if we can, if we can sit in the discomfort
624
00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:58.960
and the awkwardness for long enough to
grow something and to have that civil discussion,
625
00:45:59.400 --> 00:46:05.159
we will be much more united on
focusing on the problems that we need
626
00:46:05.199 --> 00:46:12.920
to solve together and the united purpose, and less focused about the divisive how
627
00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:15.239
of how we're going to achieve it, and we can come to that middle
628
00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:19.559
ground. I like it. I'm
I'm I think that's worth getting up for
629
00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:21.880
for me, Lauren, I'm with
you. In the trenches for that all
630
00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:24.000
day long. So here we are
at the end of the of the conversation
631
00:46:24.119 --> 00:46:28.679
already, and you know this thing
to listen to across the globe, Lauren,
632
00:46:28.760 --> 00:46:31.639
and it's really designed to help people
think about how to create more meeting
633
00:46:31.719 --> 00:46:35.679
and purpose in their lives and their
work. Saying about thirty seconds, what
634
00:46:35.679 --> 00:46:38.079
would you like to leave our listeners
and viewers with, Go out today,
635
00:46:38.360 --> 00:46:44.440
have an awkward conversation with someone who
doesn't believe what you believe, take a
636
00:46:44.480 --> 00:46:47.599
little tiny bit away from it.
Organized to have that discussion again in a
637
00:46:47.599 --> 00:46:52.360
couple of days time. And if
everybody around the world did that, you
638
00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:54.320
know we did that day in day
out, I can get you we could
639
00:46:54.360 --> 00:46:59.480
absolutely achieve anything. I completely agree, Lauren. I am so grateful that
640
00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:04.119
you came on, and especially since
it's ten pm your time it's nine am
641
00:47:04.159 --> 00:47:06.519
my time. I appreciate that you
stay up for us. What a great
642
00:47:06.519 --> 00:47:09.679
conversation. Thank you for joining us. Tell our listeners the two ways and
643
00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:14.760
websites that you can be found at, please, So look, I put
644
00:47:14.800 --> 00:47:17.320
all of my stuff up on LinkedIn, Lauren Hollows, and you can find
645
00:47:17.360 --> 00:47:21.519
me on YouTube as well. But
you can also go to www. Dot
646
00:47:21.599 --> 00:47:27.440
Learninglifelines dot org or www. Dot
thrive ed dot com dot au for more
647
00:47:27.440 --> 00:47:30.400
of my personal blogs. But please
check out Learning Lifelines. We will have
648
00:47:30.440 --> 00:47:35.960
some accounts coming up soon and every
dollar is going to go towards helping students
649
00:47:36.199 --> 00:47:39.559
access education. Beautiful Lauren, thank
you so much and listeners and viewers.
650
00:47:39.639 --> 00:47:43.159
Last week, if you missed the
live show, can always catch a record,
651
00:47:43.199 --> 00:47:45.599
a podcast or on YouTube as well. We're on the air with Barbara
652
00:47:45.679 --> 00:47:51.239
Altoonian talking about her work as a
hospice biographer. Fantastic way to capture identity
653
00:47:51.239 --> 00:47:52.639
and a life and share it with
your loved ones. Next week will being
654
00:47:52.679 --> 00:47:57.239
on the Other doctor Herb Sennett talking
about his long and distinguished career as the
655
00:47:57.360 --> 00:48:00.559
encouragement Doctor. So you're there,
Remember that works at least or their their
656
00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:07.000
life. So let's work on Purpose. We hope you've enjoyed this week's program.
657
00:48:07.360 --> 00:48:10.119
Be sure to tune in too Working
on Purpose featuring your host, doctor
658
00:48:10.159 --> 00:48:15.800
Elise Cortes, each week on the
Voice America Empowerment Channel. Together, we'll
659
00:48:15.840 --> 00:48:23.199
create a world where business operates conscientiously, leadership inspires impassioned performance, and employees
660
00:48:23.239 --> 00:48:28.800
are fulfilled in work. That provides
the meaning and purpose they crave see you
661
00:48:28.840 --> 00:48:30.079
there. Let's work on purpose.





















































