In First Person - About Koreen

Hi, I'm Koreen Kimakowich, a former police officer and Founder of Awakening Wave, Organizational Evolution. I am a Catalyst, CODE Model Coach™, Quantum TLC™ Facilitator, and NLP Master Practitioner and Facilitator, certified through the WEL-Systems® Institute. I am also a co-author of Sekhmet Rising, The Restlessness of Women's Genius.

My company is based on the notion that when we notice individually that we are much more than we've been taught to believe we are, and we trust that, collectively we create a workplace that is a welcoming and healthy one for current and prospective employees. As per Cellular Biologist, Dr. Bruce Lipton, the biological imperative of the human living system (you and I) is growth. In my view, it is a way of living that is to be embraced and celebrated, whether at home or in the workplace.

Bill 168 - An Act to Amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention

Workplace harassment,and discrimination is a pervasive issue. As long as human resources register a pulse there is potential for undesirable behavior to permeate the workplace, whether by a colleague or a client. Not because we're inherently "bad", rather, that we all possess an individually held belief system, we're predisposed to bring the experience of our history into the events of our present day. Harassment has many faces, inclusive of threats, humiliating, harassing, and or demeaning another. In some cases the behaviour may develop into a violent situation.

Bill 168, an act to amend the OHSA, if passed, would compel workplaces to which the OHSA currently applies to take specific steps to protect employees within the workplace against harassment and violence. The amendments address harassment and violence in the workplace, perpetuated by a stranger, client, colleague, customers, and domestic and or intimate partners.

Organizations have thus far focused their attention on the behaviour alone in their attempts to prevent workplace violence and in so doing, have been remiss in recognizing the impact of the drivers of behavior, specifically, our individually held, beliefs, values and attitudes (BVAs). We can no longer embrace solely, "after the fact responses" holding them as preventive in nature. Indeed, behaviour needs our included attention and I suggest that the start point for that is with our BVAs, aka our permission points.

While undesired behavior requires attention in the context of reporting, investigating and disposition; standing alone it bears no preventive qualities. In the context of prevention, to address the behavior alone, while giving little to no consideration to what drove the behaviour is akin to putting the cart before the horse and expecting the cart to move. The cart is inanimate until the horse is hooked up to it and begins to trot. Undesirable behavior is inanimate until such time as individually held BVAs, combined with giving one's self permission to express them join forces, setting the behavior in motion. Like the trotting horse that sets the cart in motion, BVAs will always precede and then set the behavior in motion. It's for that reason that we must shift our focus accordingly in the prevention effort.

To raise one's level of responsibility to behave respectfully, desirably in the workplace, we must raise their level of response ability. Addressing the individually held BVAs that drive the behavior creates a real opportunity for this. There is no requirement to change the sacredly held BVAs, rather, to notice that BVAs, whatever they may be, are indeed showing up in every interaction.

Awakening Wave, Organizational Evolution, specializes in Harassment / Discrimination Workshops and training programs. In addition, we offer Diversity in the Workplace, and Personal Wellness workshops for all levels of personnel. These training opportunities offer that news lens through which to see and realize your potential and that of your human resources, using innovative, cutting edge learning models. In turn, organizations and their human resources have the opportunity to grow and evolve, exercising their personal and professional potential each day that they report to their workplace, your organization.

However it was that you happened upon my website, it was no accident, and welcome! I invite you to take a tour inclusive of the training and workshops offered. As it calls to you to do so, I encourage you to contact me at koreen@awakeningwave.ca