Brief description of your role:
I have been an academic for almost 30 years and part time for the last six years. I have also been doing change consulting work since 1974.
1. Why did you become a learning and development professional?
Making a difference and working with people who make a difference. Plus the growth of my own learning.
2. What do you enjoy most about your role?
One of the key portfolios I carry in my company is that of introducing leading edge personal development ideas and practice to client organisations. The innovative ideas ‘out there’ are exciting and mind-bending. The enjoyable challenge is turning these into practical material that has impact and can be used across a wide range of sectors.
3. What do you find most challenging?
Working outside the margins of my ability – I find most challenging and exciting. I work with the ever present knowledge that my next step may take me out of my depth. This is when I do my best work.
4. What do you do to be recognised as a valued business partner?
I try to be true to myself and to be honest with the people that I am working with. Because I am external to the organisations that I work with, I can afford to say the things that need to be said and what others might find difficult or risky to share.
5. What is the best advice that you would give to someone new to this line of work?
Work with colleagues that are different to you and who you respect. Take on assignments that are challenging.
I have been lucky to have exceptional mentors. I look opportunities to co-consult with others. I make a practice of always setting enough reflection time to learn from my experiences. And when I am wrong I try to be honest with myself and others.
6. What's the best advice that's been given to you that has helped you in your career?
The best advice was more in the form of a question. One of my mentors was a director of a theatre who asked me to direct a production, which did not work well and I was seriously considering was producing right for me. After reflecting with my mentor on what went well and what didn’t, she asked walking out the door...
“What are you going to do for your next production?”
7. What's the best career help book that you've ever read?
The book that has had the most influence on my practice is ‘A Theory in Practice’ by Chris Argyris and Don Schön.
8. What's the best event within the training community that you've ever attended?
A training event for conflict resolution professionals. It was being in presence of Adam Curle. He travelled the world sorting out conflicts in the world’s trouble spots. At the time he was an 80 year old Quaker. He radiated such warm and passion and didn’t judge people - it was just a pleasure to be in his company.
9. Who do you think is the most inspirational member of the training community and have you ever met them?
This is hard to pick. I have been fortunate to work with many highly skilled change people - like Fred Emery and Dexter Undhy, Peter Hollis, Ed Shine and I attended a workshop by Don Schön. These are quietly and modest people who are very good at what they do. I have not met Chris Argyris but I am impressed by his theories and processes.
10. What else would you like to share with our readers?
Action research - I find it enormously useful as a philosophy and a set of concepts and processes, and yet it is simple – you plan before you act, you act with intention, you notice what happens, you learn from it and then you apply the learning within the next cycle. And that can moment by moment, day by day or even year by year.
