Transforming Experience Framework

Crossfields Institute’s Grubb School of Organizational Analysis hosted a 1 day Seminar on the 5th of April in Central London, with the theme Leading in Turbulent Times for 24 participants representing business and public sector organisations, consultancy and trusts. There were participants from the UK, Netherlands and Sweden. A Grubb School faculty team, including John, Olivia, Rebekah, Marjoleine and Janet as an MA year 3 participant hosted and worked with participants on the day.

Working with and applying the Transforming Experience Framework (TEF) was at the heart of the seminar, as a framework for taking effective leadership actions in the complexity and turbulence of organisational life today. After the opening, Susan Harrison shared stories of 3 poignant and practical case studies in which the TEF informed her understanding and effective role take up. Participants then engaged with the TEF literally moving through the domains and linking with their own organisational challenges and dilemmas.

The afternoon was spent in leadership clinics, in which Organisational Role Analysis was applied to specific situations brought in by participants.

The final plenary reflection brought together some of the important questions about role and leadership, change and transformation, collaboration as opposed to competition, purpose and human values and the particular relevance in times of turbulence.

Overall the energy in the room was dynamic, critical, reflective and highly engaged and generated serious interest in joining the next MA cohort.

People interested in the Alanus/Crossfields MA in Social Innovation: Organisational Analysis and Leadership should contact jane.tyler@crossfieldsinstitute.com

Book Launch

51PCkcoFwPL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_Most participants stayed for the celebration of the TEF book : Transforming Experience in Organisations, edited by Prof Susan Long (Karnac). They were joined by about 30 other guests, from professional and personal circles around the Grubb and its late Executive Director, Bruce Irvine. The reception opened with a video message from Susan Long explaining why this book was needed and why now, followed by Rebekah and Olivia who presented a powerful example of the application of the TEF in practice with a large client organisation.

John Bazalgette (GSOA Honorary Fellow) provided insights into the journey of the Grubb’s thinking, the various contributors and commemorated in particular on Bruce Irvine’s role to whom the book is rightfully dedicated.

The formal part of the evening was closed by Marjoleine and followed by a lively reception, attended by former Grubb colleagues and associates, ISPSO members, Tavistock colleagues, friends and family.

Karnac has confirmed that the book sales are so high that it is currently the #1 bestseller book on their website and a second edition will need to be printed soon. It is also available in print and as Kindle version on Amazon. We strongly invite you to write a review on Amazon and welcome any discussions and questions.

Crossfields Institute Honours Bruce Irvine

“Crossfields Institute would like to express its deep regret and sadness at the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Bruce Irvine.
Bruce was a warm, intensely intelligent and witty colleague, and it has been our great pleasure to work with him in the last few years.
We send our deepest condolences and support to all staff and students of the Grubb School.
From the Trustees and Executive Group, on behalf of all colleagues at Crossfields Institute.”

Charlotte Von Bulow
Chief Executive of Crossfields Institute

John Bazalgette on Context Conditions Consciousness

I came across a phrase recently, attributed to Marxism, but of wider significance than that philosophy.  “Context conditions consciousness.”  

My encounter with it also appeared around the same time that discussions were rife about corruption, malpractice and professional weakness in relation to the world of finance, banking, child abuse, police misbehaviour and much more in our society.  In that discussion someone on BBC Radio 4 said “The problem is not that there are a few rotten apples in the barrel:  the barrel itself is rotten.” 

While this could be about the whole of society, which would burden us all to wanting to leave this planet, it does challenge us to look at how we understand the organisational structures in which we all take roles.  That faces us with the way our moment to moment micro-decisions and micro-actions are the co-creative process that shapes the barrels in which we find ourselves meeting and affecting others.  So, the cleansing of our own barrel is in our hands.

John Bazalgette is a Senior Organisational Analyst and Director of the Grubb Institute.

Leading Organisational Transformation – Thoughts on the Seminar in Cambodia

Following on from previous blog post The Grubb Institute: Leading Organisational Transformation – a Week Long Seminar:

In conclusion, the state of the system at the end of Seminar 4 is of grappling with consequence of maturation, which has led to a sharpening of the realisation of personal responsibility and systemic accountability. The fear to choose new responses to old behaviours leads to the diminishment of fullness rather than excitement and exhilaration at the potential impact that taking up roles effectively in the world can be met.

This is because there is a lingering doubt about whether maturing and leaving the family idea-in-the-mind will mean leaving old patterns or reinforcing them in new ways.

This hypothesis will be tested through the evidence of the capacity of participants to effectively take up their roles in the OLS, and in making effective transitions from Role Consultants to Project Consultants.

Rebekah, Olivia & Bruce
Seminar Faculty – Leading Organisational Transformation

The Grubb Institute: Leading Organisational Transformation – a Week Long Seminar

The Grubb Institute’s/The Guild’s Global Masters L7 Programme

Leading Organisational Transformation
Siem Reap, Cambodia

A WEEK – LONG SEMINAR
September 22nd – 25th, 2014

Seminar Aim:
To understand and develop our capacity discovered through connection for the purpose of mobilising all available resources to listen, lead and transform the systems we serve in the contexts we inhabit.

Click image to open flyer as a PDF file