Creative Learning Academy 2.0

I wrote in earlier posts about the work we did last year as a team to develop a Creative Learning Academy approach. This included reading a book a month, a set of workshops and other activities. This helped to inform the developments in the Releasing Potential Programme which we are now running for R&D Managers in the region. We deliberately put on hold the CLA when we had so many changes in the team. Now that things are settling down again, we have moved things forwards again with the second phase of developments. Initial ideas include:

• A further workshop via skype with Michael Bungay Stanier on the subject of ‘focus’. Michael’s book “Do More Great Work” outlines 3 principles for great work – courage, focus and resilience. Last year we looked at courage. Now it is time to look at focus.
• A follow-up workshop on Myers-Briggs, typology and team working to ensure that all the team are aware of their type and understand ways in which this influences working with each other.
• A workshop with Manchester Camerata using music as a medium for creative working
• A writer in residence to work with us to tell our story

We are also going to revive the “read a book a month” process again. We want to start with Robin Sharma, then possibly read a book by Margaret Wheatley. We would then like to explore the possibility of other workshops possibly via Skype again to reinforce the learning from the reading.

Of all these initiatives I am particularly interested to see how the writer in residence idea works. Watch this space!