Gr8 Expectations

Zoë Blake reports on a stimulating evening exploring ways to develop optimistic and collaborative people and organisations.

At the beginning of December, Executive Action embarked on a programme of occasional seminars to be held in the evenings at our offices in Fitzroy Square. The plan is for these seminars to focus on a range of stimulating and topical issues, ranging from business and workplace dynamics to innovations in education.

The first of these was presented by John Corrigan under the title of ‘Is Your Organisation Red or Blue?’. This stimulating evening – we had to really think and participate, as well as listen – explored organisational behaviour and the means to develop optimistic, collaborative and committed people and organisations.

Ex-client and long-time associate of Executive Action, John Corrigan is founder and one of three principals of Group 8 Education (www.gr8management.com) , a Sydney-based consulting and training business formed to develop programmes facilitating large-scale, organisational improvement. Group 8 Education has developed a core body of culture change expertise, built upon the latest neuroscience research and extensive action research with leaders in sectors where culture is the key driver of performance.

According to Group 8 Education, in today’s turbulent economic times organisations desperately need engaged and committed people, and committed. Unfortunately, the way in which the turmoil is being addressed by most governments, organisations and individuals is designed to bring about a situation in which people are pessimistic, self-centred, and disengaged.

If an organisation’s management operates in a way that discourages and controls while giving the impression of interacting with people in a way that is artificial and superficial, it will cause its employees to be negative and disengaged. Group 8 Management call this a “Red Organisation”. This is, in turn, a negative and expensive place to be as costs increase whilst productivity declines.

Where an organisation’s management operates in a way that encourages and empowers while showing absolute authenticity and integrity in dealing with people, it will develop employees who are optimistic, collaborative, and committed. Group 8 Management call this a “Blue Organisation”. This is a desirable place to be as costs will decrease whilst productivity grows – and what organisation doesn’t need that?

Group 8’s new publication ‘The Success Zone’ is available to order from http://www.gr8management.com/book/book

Posted: January 13th, 2010 | Author: Executive Team | Filed under: Events, Personal / Organisational Development | Tags: Career Development, Career Transition, Evening Seminars, Executive Action, Group 8 Education, Organisational Behaviour | No Comments »