Having been asked to run a session on the use of facilitation in the project management lifecycle and to include facilitative leadership for the Association of Project Management Special Interest Group (APM SIG) Forum (www.apm.org.uk), I reflected again on the number of people related project issues that could be either caught early, headed off at the pass or not happen at all if appropriate facilitated interventions were in place throughout a project.
At key stages through the lifecycle, bringing together all the appropriate project stakeholders to consult, identify and agree (as well as plan!) project deliverables and outcomes can minimise people related issues as well as save time, money and resource.This supported by a facilitative leadership approach where the inclusion of key project staff and those impacted by the project can also help dramatically reduce resistance to the key project changes to be implemented and speed up delivery.
Gary.
20 June 2008
12 June 2008
An Exchange on Managing Change
The Talent Foundation www.talentfoundation.com is a not for profit, networking organisation developing new thinking, undertaking practical research and creating business tools to enable businesses and individuals to adapt, grow and thrive in a world of change.
Gary’s just been to their Summer Networking Event on 11 June 2008 at the Centre for Excellence and Leadership. They use a simple approach that works – a few short inputs on the issue from a range of perspectives followed by an opportunity to give your own views and hear the views of others. The theme for this last event focused on ‘Managing Change’ and it was intriguing to see the different (or are they just the same old…) reactions to the use of the word ‘change’ and what issues/associations and opportunities this raise for people!
We were all asked to bring some change related quotes that resonated for us or represented what managing change meant for us and then in small groups we were encouraged to dialogue around one or two that stood out for our particular group.What became apparent was that actually it’s the use of the word ‘change’ itself that can often cause the most distress or problems! Which got us to reflecting on is this still the right word to use or is there something more ‘palatable’ that might help alleviate some of the people centred change issues we can face?
Gary’s just been to their Summer Networking Event on 11 June 2008 at the Centre for Excellence and Leadership. They use a simple approach that works – a few short inputs on the issue from a range of perspectives followed by an opportunity to give your own views and hear the views of others. The theme for this last event focused on ‘Managing Change’ and it was intriguing to see the different (or are they just the same old…) reactions to the use of the word ‘change’ and what issues/associations and opportunities this raise for people!
We were all asked to bring some change related quotes that resonated for us or represented what managing change meant for us and then in small groups we were encouraged to dialogue around one or two that stood out for our particular group.What became apparent was that actually it’s the use of the word ‘change’ itself that can often cause the most distress or problems! Which got us to reflecting on is this still the right word to use or is there something more ‘palatable’ that might help alleviate some of the people centred change issues we can face?
10 June 2008
Yummy Art!
On the first Friday of the month TateBritain does an event called Late at Tate as part of the Lates www.lates.org/home cultural events across London in and around twilight. The Rex Whistler restaurant www.tate.org.uk/britain/eatanddrink/restaurant.htm offers a wine-tasting menu and delicious organic, low food mileage. We’ve been twice now – and it was utterly delicious both times.
How did we find out about it? It’s all about the connections we make…Sarah, Justine and Jen went off to a networking event organised by Learnpurple in partnership with Harvey Nichols a The Oxo Tower (we do like our food…in a beautiful space…with a view!) and sat next to the sommelier at Tate Britain…we got loads more from the event too including a generous presentation on Impact and Influencing Skills given by Mary-Jane Flanagan. Learnpurple http://www.learnpurple.com/ are really good at bite-sizing learning.
How did we find out about it? It’s all about the connections we make…Sarah, Justine and Jen went off to a networking event organised by Learnpurple in partnership with Harvey Nichols a The Oxo Tower (we do like our food…in a beautiful space…with a view!) and sat next to the sommelier at Tate Britain…we got loads more from the event too including a generous presentation on Impact and Influencing Skills given by Mary-Jane Flanagan. Learnpurple http://www.learnpurple.com/ are really good at bite-sizing learning.
02 June 2008
Arc at The Malthouse
Our Sarah is a non executive directive of the amazing ARC Theatre Company. If you don’t know them – take a look on www.arctheatre.com – they’re all about using theatre for genuine, sustainable change. Recently they’ve moved home to The Malthouse in Abbey Road, Barking in to a newly refurbished warehouse, by the river Roding, in the heart of an ambitious creative industry regeneration scheme for East London. You can hire the space for (amongst other things!) meetings and workshops.
On July 8th we’re heading there to share in Barking & Dagenham Youth Theatre's annual celebration and watch a re-staging of their 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - this way we will get to experience the space in its full glory as the young people aged 12 to 21 who live, work or play in the borough perform across the whole space! We’re especially looking forward to seeing them as they recently received a great boost in funding from the Jack Petchey Foundation www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk (which focusses on programmes and projects for 11-25 year) olds via an Achievement Award aimed at 'recognising effort, endeavour and achievement in a practical and positive way'
On July 8th we’re heading there to share in Barking & Dagenham Youth Theatre's annual celebration and watch a re-staging of their 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - this way we will get to experience the space in its full glory as the young people aged 12 to 21 who live, work or play in the borough perform across the whole space! We’re especially looking forward to seeing them as they recently received a great boost in funding from the Jack Petchey Foundation www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk (which focusses on programmes and projects for 11-25 year) olds via an Achievement Award aimed at 'recognising effort, endeavour and achievement in a practical and positive way'
30 May 2008
Inspiring St.Ives
Recently on a visit to St Ives renowned for its amazing light and home to artists for many years Sarah felt deeply inspired:
‘Visiting the Tate in St Ives was amazing; the building in itself is inspiring and imaginative. From the derelict gas works which once existed there is now a beautiful building that echoes both the landscape and original architecture. The curves of the Loggia and the rotunda recall the former gasometer and I loved the views of Porthmeor beach set against the white and honey stonework.
It was also my good fortune that the week I visited there was an exhibition of Margo Maeckelberghe’s work called Extended Landscape. I was captivated by her paintings that displayed depth, strength and dynamism. She somehow abstracts and develops the landscapes she paints and the result is thrilling. I sat for an hour in one room and felt I could almost stay forever – this was a feeling I hadn’t experienced for a very long time.’
‘Visiting the Tate in St Ives was amazing; the building in itself is inspiring and imaginative. From the derelict gas works which once existed there is now a beautiful building that echoes both the landscape and original architecture. The curves of the Loggia and the rotunda recall the former gasometer and I loved the views of Porthmeor beach set against the white and honey stonework.
It was also my good fortune that the week I visited there was an exhibition of Margo Maeckelberghe’s work called Extended Landscape. I was captivated by her paintings that displayed depth, strength and dynamism. She somehow abstracts and develops the landscapes she paints and the result is thrilling. I sat for an hour in one room and felt I could almost stay forever – this was a feeling I hadn’t experienced for a very long time.’
24 May 2008
The Wheel of Life
Justine’s mostly been reading The Wheel of Life an autobiographic account of the life of Elisabeth Kubler Ross:
“As we work a lot with the transition curve as a tool for supporting and enabling people through change – I have some appreciation for the theory behind it, but I wanted to take this further and so read The Wheel of Life by Elisabeth Kubler Ross from whose work with death and dying the transition curve was developed. I was moved and inspired. Her whole life was filled with compassion, courage and challenge. One theme that stood out was that the greater her commitment to the task in hand – the greater it seemed was the resistance she encountered…in part, her approach seemed to be to find supporters and work with them and in seeking to overcome the obstacle she was able to unlock new ideas and solutions. And she didn’t always ‘win’. And she felt defeated at times. Having the luxury of viewing her overall life it was clear that obstacles and resistance were integral and essential to the journey… Also however much love, generosity and kindness she gave – always more was needed and unlocked for the next person and the next project…”
“As we work a lot with the transition curve as a tool for supporting and enabling people through change – I have some appreciation for the theory behind it, but I wanted to take this further and so read The Wheel of Life by Elisabeth Kubler Ross from whose work with death and dying the transition curve was developed. I was moved and inspired. Her whole life was filled with compassion, courage and challenge. One theme that stood out was that the greater her commitment to the task in hand – the greater it seemed was the resistance she encountered…in part, her approach seemed to be to find supporters and work with them and in seeking to overcome the obstacle she was able to unlock new ideas and solutions. And she didn’t always ‘win’. And she felt defeated at times. Having the luxury of viewing her overall life it was clear that obstacles and resistance were integral and essential to the journey… Also however much love, generosity and kindness she gave – always more was needed and unlocked for the next person and the next project…”
18 March 2008
Beware of Batter!
I recently drove late at night to reach the venue for a one day workshop – how fantastic to realise by morning that the hotel conference room not only had natural light – it overlooked the sea. Wow, what a good space....but a bit of a distance to travel to find a good room mind but this room was a find!
It was a really energising workshop…in an inspiring space…ruined by the FOOD….I should have realised when the morning snack was apricot flavoured yoghurts and cold bacon. When lunch arrived everything was deep fried with some brown lettuce for decoration. What sad participants I had: they had worked so hard to be rewarded with batter!!!
HUGE note to self and top tip for all - don’t underestimate the importance of good food and water!!!
It was a really energising workshop…in an inspiring space…ruined by the FOOD….I should have realised when the morning snack was apricot flavoured yoghurts and cold bacon. When lunch arrived everything was deep fried with some brown lettuce for decoration. What sad participants I had: they had worked so hard to be rewarded with batter!!!
HUGE note to self and top tip for all - don’t underestimate the importance of good food and water!!!
13 March 2007
Using Large Graphics
More and more of our clients like to see and keep all their workshop outputs in one place and one way of doing this is to create and use large wall graphic templates (like those from Grove Consulting) and capture the outputs as you go on large sheets of paper.
We use different templates and tailor them specifically to fit workshop outcomes, output and of course what the client wants to see!!!
It's a great way to combine outputs from different processes and methods on to one memorable output that can be taken away or digitally photgraphed like the one here!
We also try to use as many small graphic images to enliven, stimulate and draw attention to workshop outputs, again have a look at the examples above!
09 March 2007
Women in Project Management (WiPM)
One project Justine is currently working on is the Women in Project Management (WiPM)conference coming up on the 27th June. Themed ‘new ways of working’ the event will be an inspiring and engaging one.
Stimulated by great speakers, the whole group will have the space to draw out and share insights...as well as to explore tools to enhance good project management…not forgetting the chance to connect and network galore, the event will end with an evening of celebration!
More information will be on their website in the coming weeks – keep your eyes on www.wipm.co.uk
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