The Course That Changed Brett’s Professional Life

From the wilds of Africa to the food bowl of Australia, Brett Norman’s career has covered plenty of ground.

Despite an impressive CV – including playing rugby union for his nation and running a John Deere dealership in Mozambique – the Zimbabwe-born father of two has always managed staff on instinct rather than intellect.

That all changed after Mr Norman recently completed a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management at TAFE NSW Griffith, with the course dramatically altering the way he viewed the art and science of people management.

The branch manager of Hutcheon and Pearce Wagga said the course was a professional “light bulb moment”.

“I was someone with 20 years of people management experience and I had a lot of really good ideas, but no real formal training to call upon to make that experience work at an optimum level.

“I’m managing 33 people here at Hutcheon and Pearce and they all have different personalities. My job is to make them better at what they do but also more happy in what they do.

The tools I learned at TAFE NSW gave me the platform to build structure into what was previously random chaos in my head. It really defined to me what makes a manager and what makes a leader.”

The dividend of more effective management can be profound, according to a recent Gallup poll, which found an astonishing 49% of workers were disengaged in the workplace.

Mr Norman said the format of the course had forced him to challenge his views on management.

“My classmates were from all walks of life and we would use each other’s experience and knowledge to help solve common goals.” 

The Certificate IV in Leadership and Management is aimed at people in a current leadership role looking to develop their skill set or those hoping to progress to a leadership role. As well as leadership, it covers broad course areas including innovation, continuous improvement and work effectiveness.

TAFE NSW Leadership and Management Teacher Nicole Martin said the course is interactive and varied, with discussions based on the realities of the workplace.

“The course involved three days of face-to-face learning each quarter, with the rest completed online. Participants love the learning environment and being able to share their professional challenges and listen to the stories of others.”