Question 1: What’s the real challenge for me here? Thanks to Michael Bungay Stanier for that question from his latest book, “The Coaching Habit”, which is a brilliant read. It’s a quiet time and I have a few minutes to think about this big awesome question. I’m spending too much time stuck in busy at … Read more
I said to him, “It’s all about the techniques that were common in Renaissance time, when people like Leonardo da Vinci weren’t artists or scientists. They showed a great appetite for all learning and understood the way these things all connected together, or could connect as a process of discovery.” It was one of those great … Read more
There are eight people in the team that I lead. Last summer it was feeling like we were flying around and hardly ever having time to reflect, time to work together and to plan our future. We were so busy in delivery mode that we had little time to see the bigger picture. Tentatively I … Read more
I read a couple of really interesting blog posts today. The first one was by Julian Stodd who worked with us a couple of months ago. In it he was talking about the way that we ‘meet’ with people being much more flexible these days. Having so many options to connect in virtual ways with … Read more
The team I work with had a fantastic workshop a couple of weeks ago with Margaret Wheatley. She was visiting the UK and whilst here she spent a day with us looking at how we build meaningful community. It was an inspiring day. One phrase has lingered with me long after the workshop: Edge Walkers … Read more
A while back I wrote about the usefulness of writing to those who inspire us to ask for advice and guidance. Instead of sending the letter, we then write in the voice of that guide to give ourselves a response. Earlier today I wrote a pair of letters in this form to tackle problems I … Read more
In the last blog post I talked about the work I have been leading over the last few years and the way in which this has been underpinned by a set of core values. I also referred to two reports that we commissioned which looked at the impact of our work. As part of that … Read more
I have the sort of job where the best comes from conversations with people I come across in the day to day muddle of meetings. A lot of the meetings I have with people are very focused and clear. There is a set agenda of items or issues to be discussed. But sometimes – when … Read more
Sometimes we can feel as though we spend our entire lives looking for clues, looking for paths well trodden. If only we can work out the model that has worked for others who are successful, we should be able to use the same approach and come up with success. This type of thinking can make … Read more
Isn’t it just great when you have a team of people working together who are incredibly productive? Together they generate great ideas, they are full of enthusiasm and everything goes up a level. New things almost seem to be created every day and everyone is a part of it. You can see this happening if … Read more