Training and Consultancy
Training
The training events that I run are all based on themes of self- or group-development. Often they will be part of an ongoing consultancy contract, where issues are being worked on at depth and over time. I like to work in a way that gives space for change to be experienced, shared and evaluated, and for strong relationships of trust to be made. My style of teaching is largely experiential. In most cases I believe we learn best by doing. However, the structure of the input will be entirely tailor-made to the needs of whichever group I’m working with.
Among my long-term training clients is the University of Bath, where I run courses for welfare staff. The themes range from advanced listening skills to handling the emotional impact of working with students who are in a state of panic or crisis.
Consultancy
I specialise in mentoring relatively small companies, groups or departments. My focus will be on the various factors that can impede healthy working relationships. Issues of communication, authority, power, delegation, responsibility, motivation and inclusion are all likely to be present.
This was the case for a recent client, the management of an organisation providing healthcare services, who asked for my help in resolving problems of low staff morale and high staff turnover. My input became long-term, and was focused on bringing about change in how authority was held across the different levels of the organisation. As a result of being given greater autonomy and responsibility through this process, the administration staff gained renewed motivation and a stronger team identity. They also regained trust in the management system, which had been masking its own lack of confidence by holding on to all the power, but somewhat resentfully. When the reasons for this were pointed out to them, the management team felt equally liberated by no longer having to do this. They also became more open and less defensive to comments and criticisms coming up from below.
Please contact me if you would like to know more about the kind of courses I offer, or would be interested to discuss how I might help facilitate change within your organisation.