CASPer

What are the steps I should follow before answering a question?

BEFORE

• Read the question twice.
• Gather the facts.

DRAFTING

• Remain purely objective. Your response should be non-judgemental, non-confrontational, and you should not jump to conclusions. "First, I will remain objective, non-judgemental, non-confrontational, and not jump to any conclusions."
• If applicable, mention holding a private conversation with the individual to gather all facts. This should be done in a non-accusatory and polite manner.
• Have a general concern for the wellbeing and safety of all people involved.
• Act accordingly based on the evidence presented.
• Final decision will solely be based on the evidence and my expertise, and not based on personal backgrounds.

Husband wants to get a promotion, wife wants him to take paternity leave. He believes work may not be understanding of his leave and he'll lose his chance at promotion.

1. Would you recommend he take paternity leave? Why or why not?
2. What strategies could you offer to help him make a decision that he feels comfortable with?
3. Maintaining a work-life balance can be challenging. Why do you think people struggle to find balance?

1.

• As a friend offering advice on the situation, I would first make sense of the substance that is presented to me before jumping to any conclusions.
• I would simply gather all the facts that I could on the matter by holding a private conversation with xyz, asking a series of questions regarding the policy and culture around paternity leave at work, his home life and if his spouse can accommodate such changes if he were to get the promotion, as well as his opinion on the matter and where his priorities lie.
• Does he want to work his way to obtain the promotion to further support his family or would he rather spend quality time with his newborn and spouse than obtain the said promotion?
• Based on his response to any of my former questions, I would then be able to provide a firm answer on whether or not he should take paternity leave.

2.

• I would encourage xyz to gather facts than listening to hearsay. Instead of assuming that the same outcome would occur based on someone else's individual experience, he should take it upon himself to collect as much information on the matter as possible before jumping to a conclusion. Some circumstances can be very different from how others perceive them to be, so he should make an informed decision.
• A possible activity for this strategy could be creating a graphic organizer with a table depicting the pros and the cons of both scenarios. From there, he can visually see which option brings more pros than cons and vice-versa.
• Further, he should consult his priorities. In the grand scheme of things, he has the liberty to choose the life he wants to pursue. It is solely up to him to decide whether he wants the promotion or to take paternity leave on the behalf of his spouse. He needs to take the initiative to talk to both his employer and spouse regarding the situation to

Consider a time you faced a difficult situation.

1. What was the situation and why was it difficult for you?
2. What would you do differently if you experienced a similar situation again? Explain your answer.
3. Do you prefer to deal with difficulty alone or by involving other people? Explain your answer.

1. - During one of my high school exams, my friend decided it would be a brilliant idea to sit beside me as they "felt more comfortable around me which would help their anxiety" from what they justified, so I accepted.

• However, halfway into the exam, I noticed my supposed friend peeking at my work, attempting to copy my answers.
• Promptly after noticing what they were doing, I started to cover my work with my arms. Yet, it was not enough for them to stop. They continued to copy my work by occasionally turning their head when I moved down to a different question.
• I could not verbally tell them to stop as talking during an exam is prohibited. I also did not want to risk my friendship with the said individual if I mentioned the incident to my teacher. Thus, I shrugged it off and suffered in silence.

1. - I would most definitely speak up for myself and let my teacher know about the incident.

• Also, my friend's poor judgement call could have potentially jeopardized my education since plagiarism is not permitted -- both of us would suffer the consequences, although I was unaware that it was premeditated.
• This would be a valuable life lesson for my friend to not cheat in the future, and hopefully, it might prepare them for what is in store in post-secondary or the work field where such behaviour is not tolerated in the slightest bit.

3.

• If there is enough information or resources for me to solve a difficult situation on my own effectively, then I prefer to proceed on my own.
• If I am struggling to overcome a complex situation, however, then I prefer drawing in unique perspectives to consider multiple ways to solve the problem.

Co-worker Taylor seems sad/keeps falling asleep at the desk, but says "he is fine."

1. What advice would you give to your co-worker about his team member, Taylor?
2. Do you agree that taking any additional action in this situation would be considered "overstepping boundaries" Why or why not?
3. Imagine you heard rumours that Taylor was being bullied at work, would this change your reaction to the situation? Explain your response.

1. Validate concerns, warn against jumping to conclusions, encourage him to have a confidential conversation with Taylor to find out his perspective.

2. Depends on intent (curiosity vs genuine concern) if genuine concern, not overstepping boundaries as just exercising empathy and humanity. Looking out for the well-being.

3. This would not change how I approached the conversation. It is still just hearsay. Would need to gather more information, approach Taylor to have a confidential conversation to validate rumours, demonstrate genuine concern.
   Would change what I did with the info gathered -- if rumours were true, would encourage Taylor to ask bullies to stop, if they did not, encourage him to report bullying to put it to a formal stop. If Taylor was not comfortable, I would inform him that I would act in this situation to stop bullying -- must always act to reduce toxic working environment.

Group member Paul has a medical condition so he can no longer contribute to work, but then you see a photo of him on a beach.

1. What do you recommend to your group members?
2. Do you think it is okay to report a concern to a supervisor based on suspicion? Why or why not?
3. Do you believe that one false or inappropriate post on social media can have a lasting effect on someone's career? Explain your reasoning.

1. Validate frustrations, nobody jumps to conclusions, one person should speak with Paul first to understand his perspective. If Paul is being dishonest, then take further action.

2. Depends on context. If you are able to resolve suspicion/validate it prior to bringing it to a supervisor, would do this first. If you are unable to validate suspicion but you have reasonable evidence to be concerned, then it is okay to bring it to the supervisor as they often have more resources to work with to resolve the situation.

3. Yes -- social media is a reflection of your personal judgment and character. Posts are public and at the user's discretion. Reflection of personal beliefs, judgment, and moral calibre, so posting should be done using thoughtfulness and the best judgment always.

From time to time, we deal with conflict.

1. Briefly describe a time when you experienced conflict. How did you react?
2. Consider how the other person in the scenario acted. Do you think they handled the situation appropriately? Why or why not?
3. When two or more people are experiencing conflict, what factors are most important to consider before trying to solve the issue? Explain your response.

1. Working in pairs on a project in a course where we had to make a positive difference in the community. Group member wanted to host spin-a-thon to raise money for a homeless shelter, but given time and financial constraints I did not agree. I reacted by ensuring that my opinion was validated by research and then calmly and respectfully explained why I did not think this would be the best approach.

2. I believe the other person handled the situation appropriately. While at first defensive, was willing to listen to my opinion and reasoning after I approached the topic in a respectful manner. Actively listened to what I had to say and tried to understand my perspective.

3. Importance of issue - is conflict warranted
   Personal position on issue and reasoning for this position - is your opinion valid and supported?
   Other perspectives - are you missing something?
   Areas of negotiation - consider what you are willing to let go of to come to a compromise.

Father is very ill but cannot afford flight because 2-year-old child now considered an adult.

1. What advice would you offer to your friend, whose father is ill, in this situation?
2. Given the circumstances of this situation, do you think lying about the child's age would be an acceptable solution? Explain your response
3. Imagine that you are in a financial position to help your friend. In your opinion, are you obligated to do so? Why or why not?

1. Empathize with the situation and recognize that it is a very difficult decision with no clear solution. Offer alternatives for the cost of the flight - parents, siblings, charities, points? Help her identify the pros/cons of each choice - e.g., going to visit father would put an increased financial strain on the family, however, staying home may risk her not being able to say goodbye. Is she comfortable using technological methods to reach out to her father? Help her identify which option is most aligned with her priorities and values.

2. Lying is never an acceptable solution to a problem. While the situation is difficult, this policy implemented by airlines is in place to maintain pay fairness and equity among all patrons. Many people are in a place of financial constraint, but this does not mean they are exempt from the policy. I would suggest the best solution is to explain the situation to the airline and determine if they will offer and discounts for the child's ticket.

3. If I have the means to support my friend, I would. I have always been a very giving person -- a good samaritan -- so I do not mind lending assistance when I am placed in a more favourable, fortunate position than someone else. This is who I am. That said, I or anyone for that matter, should not feel inclined to give compensation simply on the basis that "you are in a financial position to help." Ultimately, we are all human beings, trying to make the most out of our lives as our days are, unfortunately, numbered. Some of us have bigger fish to fry such as maintaining a work-life balance and paying off student loans, taxes, and miscellaneous expenses, so lending a friend some money is something that is not in our nature. You cannot expect everyone to be in your favour when all odds are stacked against you. This is the stark reality of life t

Define Collaboration.

• Teamwork.
• Working together to create something.
• Enlisting others.
• Shared goals.
• Diverse perspectives.

Define Communication.

• Feedback.
• Articulation.
• Accessibility of information.
• Getting the point across.
• Active listening.

Define Empathy.

• Sense of other people's emotions.
• Imagine how another person may feel.

Define Equity.

• Fairness.
• Justice.
• Equality.
• Equal opportunities.
• Everyone is on the same playing field.

Define Ethics.

• Moral principles.
• Good character.
• Govern behaviour for what is right or wrong.
• Societal standards for conduct.

Define Motivation.

• Driven.
• Hard-working.
• Dedication.
• Reasons for acting a certain way.

Define Problem-Solving.

• Alternative solutions.
• Resolution.
• Convergent thinker.
• Considers information to come to the best conclusion.

Define Professionalism.

• Respectful.
• Competent.
• Reliable.
• Commitment to the area of practice.
• Expertise.
• Member of a relevant professional body.

Define Resilience.

• Thick-skinned.
• Adapting well in the face of adversity.
• Ability to bounce back.
• Ability to minimize stress and focus on positivity.

Define Self-Awareness.

• Critical personal evaluation.
• Identifying how well thoughts/emotions/actions align with values and personal conduct standards.
• Ask for feedback.
• Listen more than you talk.
• Look for emotional blind spots.
• Reflect on values.

What are key CASPer competencies?

Collaboration, communication, empathy, equity, ethics, motivation, problem-solving, professionalism, resilience, self-awareness.