Masculinity is in crisis! It's time to rethink it. We need aspirational and inspirational leadership that supports me individually, in the family and in business.

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MAKING GOOD MEN GREAT
by Gunter Swoboda, MAPS

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What’s ailing MEN?

3. THE SURVIVAL STAKES
• Nearly one third of boys die before birth (Wilson et al., 1992).
!
• More boys than girls die of birth disorders and diseases in infancy
!
• Boys show greater susceptibility to family stress, especially in the
development of conduct disorders, and they continue to be more
susceptible to both physical and psychological problems throughout
the lifespan (Wilson et al., 1992).
!
• Aged 12 to 24 years there are three male deaths to every one female death,
with accidents and suicide accounting for most of this difference
(Moon, Meyer, Grau, 2000).
!
• By the age of 65, females in Australia outnumber males by 25 per cent, and
by the age of 85 females outnumber males by 50 per cent (ABS, 2006).
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4. SOME OF
THE ISSUES • Changes in roles and expectations of men.
• Changes in life expectancy and the impact
on later life.
• Lack of awareness and understanding of
the health issues men face.
• Men do not openly discussing their health
and how they’re feeling
• Reluctance to take action when men don’t
feel physical or mentally well.
• Men engage in risky activities that threaten
their health
• Stigmas surrounding mental health.
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5. WHAT
ABOUT
YOUNG
MEN?
• nearly one in five young men in the past 12
months have felt that life is hardly worth living,
• nearly one in 10 young men have thought
about taking their own life,
• unemployment and moderate to very high
levels of psychological distress predict suicidal
thoughts and behaviour,
• 42 percent of young men experiencing
psychological distress.
• For every woman who commits suicide, three
men die.
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We are surviving.

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But… we are not thriving.

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We need to rethink Masculinity.

9. TRADITIONAL:
• territorial
• hierarchical
• acquisitional
• competitive
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10. ALIGNED:
• inclusive
• democratic
• distributive
• co-operative
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11. WHAT DO I
MEAN BY
‘ALIGNED’?
The integration or
harmonisation of physiology,
psychology, values,
behaviour, desires, beliefs
etc. in an individual and
within relationships.
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Being male is a matter of birth.
Being a man is a matter of age.
Being a Gentleman (Great Man) is a matter of choice.
Vin Diesel

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What are the choices I need to make?

14. THE GOALS
ARE:
• emotional regulation
• behavioural flexibility
• physical and emotional
resilience
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Focus Relationship Values Wellbeing
Inspiration Aligned Co-operation 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄 😄
Communication Aspirational Respect 😄 😄
Engagement Attached Love 😄
Action Anxious
Emotional
Vulnerability
😒 😒
Tension Ambivalent
Emotional
Courage
😒 😒 😒 😒
Unaware Absent Awareness 😒 😒 😒 😒 😒 😒
THE RELATIONSHIPS MODEL

16. 4 Spheres of Masculine Evolution
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‣ Physical: Live healthy.
‣ Mind-ful: Be rational,
reflective and resilient.
‣ Authentic: Be emotionally
courageous to be
emotionally vulnerable.
‣ Soul-ful: Be wise.
Evolved to:
Physical
Soul-ful
The Great Man
Mind-ful
Authentic

17. Living in Alignment
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Psychological
Social
Physical
Good Physical Health: Nutrition, Exercise,
Relaxation, Sleep
Think well and Feel well.
Relationships that are attached, aspirational, and aligned.
Having purpose, meaning and intention.
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”Spiritual

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We need a Curriculum for change.

19. MENTORING,
COACHING,
FACILITATING AND
SPEAKING
• Individual
• Family
• Work
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We need a NETWORK for support.

21. THE NETWORK:
• Groups for Men by Men
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Gunter is a psychologist, speaker, author, mentor, coach and facilitator with over three decades of
counselling and organisational development experience. His passion for people, philosophy and psychology
has allowed him to forge a curriculum to assist his clients to move beyond simply surviving in this world and to
learn how to truly thrive within it. !
!
In a world where the demands on the individual and the family has become more and more challenging,
Gunter’s focus is on getting things back on track in three key areas: !
1. Individually!
2. the family and!
3. at work. !
His expertise, experience and who he is as a person has benefitted teenagers, young adults, and adults in
overcoming serious psychological and social challenges, whilst the parents he has worked with have found a
new sense of vision and purpose in raising their children through realigning their relationship with their child. !
Gunter has also been involved with small businesses as well as with large multinationals and public
service organisations where he has provided executive and business coaching that has assisted many clients to
achieve a high level of professional success.!
!
In recent times, Gunter’s interest in men’s health issues has led to him to develop the project ‘Making
Good Men Great’ that aims at helping men to rethink masculinity, provide a way to help men step away from an
outmoded way of being, and become an inspiration to others. !
!
Personally, Gunter has been successfully married for the past twenty-five years and has two adult
children. He is a keen surfer, and when time allows likes to indulge his passion in percussion and creative
writing. !
!
He is the author of a historical action/adventure novel ‘Mountains of the Sea’ as well as short plays and
stories.!

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Gunter O. Swoboda, MAPS!
Psychologist, Author, Speaker, Mentor & Consultant!
Swoboda & Associates Pty. Ltd.!
1801 Pittwater Road!
Mona Vale, Sydney, NSW 2103, Australia!
+61 2 9999 0429!
+1 0412 371 503! ! !
Email: gswoboda@bigpond.net.au