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Action Learning Associates Newsletter
November, 2003
CONTENTS:
2003 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
NEW ACTIVITIES
GOOD READS
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
- Managing Interpersonal Relationships, also titled "Building Emotional Intelligence."
For some time now we have been offering these one day programs at the national office of a
large association, and they have been well received by directors, employees, and the their
Office of Organizational Learning and Performance. Next week we are scheduled to teach
these programs from a videoconference room in Washington D.C. to employees at the national
and some state offices. We are excited about using technology to reach more people at the
same time. If you are interested in developing the emotional intelligence of yourself or
your work group you may like the article I wrote at
http://www.bizmonthly.com/1_2001/page4.html.
- Leadership Training Program.
At the University of Maryland, College Park, we rolled out another 13-day program
of the Leadership Development Institute. The program is called "Foundations of Leadership"
and was designed for new supervisors within the University. Unlike any other
University-based Leadership Program in the United States, we spent over a year
developing original content for that program based upon an extensive needs assessment.
ALA was a co-founder, working with three other external consultants, and a talented
team from the Office of Organizational Development and Training. Our specific role
was to develop the opening and closing sessions, two ropes course based sessions,
plus a program on Emotional Intelligence that is central to the training model.
Despite 10% budget cuts at the University, this program continues to be very
popular, well appreciated by all stakeholders, and now occurs two times each year.
Testimonials, photos, and training schedules are at www.LDI.umd.edu.
- Team Building Training programs.
ALA has continued to provide several different kinds of teambuilding training programs.
We have had a number of rock climbing expeditions. We have had several multi-day
expeditions that have included rock climbing, rappelling, whitewater rafting,
orienteering, and camping. We have continued to use the ropes challenge course
at Sandy Spring Friends School near Silver Spring, MD. We have done several
portable ropes course programs at other locations. And we have offered several
teambuilding training programs using an adventure race theme. You may know that
adventure racing is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. Like an off-road triathlon
for small groups of people who stay together, adventure racing combines outdoor
activities in any terrain, in any season. Activities have included an obstacle
course, trekking, orienteering, rappelling, high ropes challenges, and biking.
And we continue to offer a number of teambuilding training days that are indoors
and designed for adults to succeed while developing problem solving skills.
- Team Action-Learning.com.
Team Action-Learning.com is a non-profit sports club committed to supporting teams of
multi-sport athletes attain their goals. These could be groups of individuals who
are doing something like a relay for life, team triathlon, or an adventure race.
We want to support these teams of people because these are the people -- like you --
who are changing the world.
NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH
Team Action-Learning.com placed 7th in the US Adventure Racing National Championships
November 7-8, 2003 in the Sierra Nevadas, CA. Team Captain Doug Gray qualified at
the Mega Dose in July, but none of his teammates on the east coast could attend.
So he found three fast Californians and together we created a powerful, fast team
that raced together for the first time. Melissa Coombes (24) is a Naval helicopter pilot, Ken
White (42) runs Chaordic.org, and Jon Owens (37) is a hydrologist and national mountain
bike champion who had never before done an adventure race or "run for more than 2 hours."
We mountain biked or pushed our bikes through 6" of snow, climbed to 11,000 feet,
kayaked for 3.5 hours, and ran for over 6 hours for a finish in 21 hours. For a witty race
report written by Ken, please contact us.
How can we support your commitment to your next goal?
- Assessment Inventories.
Are you wondering how to target your training or coaching? We have continued to use the
DISC and PAIV and MBTI inventories with several work groups, to help people increase
their self-awareness about behavioral patterns. To help develop specific competencies
in emotional intelligence and physical intelligence we have developed 5 related inventories.
They can be taken online at www.intelligent-development.com. A free online assessment
is available in pdf format at Training and Coaching Services.
- Coaching.
In the past few years the coaching profession has emerged as one process that can lead
to groundbreaking change for anyone. We have been coaching all sorts of people, leaders,
educators, athletes, small business owners, parents, athletes, sales people, professionals,
anyone wanting to move to the next level. There are many types of coaching, the best place
to go for information is the International Coaching Federation (www.coachingfederation.org).
And I am delighted to announce that they have accredited a 3-day program open to the public
called "Building Intelligent Development." If interested in those details please visit
Intelligent Development.
We have spent over three years developing this content and we are thankful for the accreditation.
The models and practices are useful to anyone in the business of serving others. If you are
interested in a free coaching session I invite you to
contact us.
Many thanks to our associates!
These programs could not have existed without the countless hours of support from
over 20 Associates working with me! There is a good reason why our company name is
"Action Learning Associates." The creativity, intelligence, flexibility, and professionalism
demonstrated by our group makes me all proud and warm and tingly inside. We make this company
unique. Thanks to each one of you!
Many thanks to our customers!
Of course, the bottom line belongs to each one of our clients. You represent a tremendous
range of people working in countless environments. However, for the time that we were
together you each wrestled with some questions or challenges about yourself, or about your
work. That is the essence of action learning. If you recall, the Action Learning Cycle
is an endless one with four points: Deciding, Doing, Reflecting, and Connecting. We
thank each of you for the opportunity to connect and we hope that you continue to do good work!
Called "It is Possible…"
Last week I was working with a group of people who felt constrained by negative messages such as "We've tried that before" or "That just won't work here." These are Killer Phrases for anyone interested in exploring possibilities. I believe that we need to explore the possibilities, encourage them, like a gardener or a parent would nurture growth in others. So I developed the following activity.
What percentage of people's potential, on average, is manifest in the workplace? 90%, 70%, 50% or less?
The answer is that only 40% of the time we work up to our potentials. (Whitmore, Coaching for Performance, isbn 1-85788-303-9, p.16)
Consider how well you work when you respond to a crisis, or what you do outside of the workplace, or when you know you could be more productive. People cited external contributors for this statistic, such as restrictive structures and practices in your company, a lack of encouragement and opportunity, or the prevailing management style of the company/ my boss.
But the single most important internal contributor for not performing up to your potential is the self doubt associated with self-confidence, self-belief, or a fear of failure.
In other words, 60% of the time we convince ourselves that we cannot perform up to our potential!
Let me repeat that, 60% of the time we convince ourselves that we cannot perform up to our potential!
What if we used that awareness to practice a different belief? Here is a quick activity that targets actions filled with possibilities.
Pair up with someone. Share something simple such as "Something I am good at that is not on my resume." Once you have built some trust with each other, move onto a series of prompts.
- Consider the category of gadgets, and imagine a world with James Bond-like or Star Trek-like possibilities. Imagine whatever a new gadget could possibly do. Take turns making statements to each other that complete the prompt, "It is possible…" For instance, one person may state, "It is possible for a gadget to recycle used engine oil into human food." The other person's response may only be supportive or affirming or silence. Exchange ideas for at 1-2 minutes.
- The next category is physical possibilities. Imagine the physical world and all its possibilities. Take turns making statements to each other that complete the prompt, "It is physically possible…" For instance, "It is physically possible for individual people to fly." Again, the other person's response may only be supportive or affirming or silence. Exchange ideas for 1-2 minutes.
- The next category is professional possibilities. Imagine the other person's strengths and gifts and think large possibilities! Take turns completing the prompt, "It is professionally possible for you to…" This time, the other person's only response is "Thank you." Exchange ideas for 1-2 minutes.
Applications to a specific problem that require brainstorming are endless. Key elements: positive support for any ideas, enthusiasm, open thinking, ability to make declarations. Anchor the activity with writing, affirmation statements, or repeated conversations with your colleague.
Excerpts from A Guidebook to Intelligent Development (to order see
Intelligent Development
"Every day people make millions of decisions, both large and small, privately and publicly, based on
awareness of ourselves, others, and the natural world around us. These decisions either take us closer
to or farther away from safety, dignity, and sustainability within the human community. The sensitivity
of our judgments, actions, and inactions cascade outwards and affect generations to come. It is an exciting
time to be alive, aware, and engaged.
"Intelligence is developed in two basic steps. The first step is to raise awareness-about ourselves
and others-in four domains: physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual. Not just two or even three
domains, but all four. The aim is to be congruent in mind, body, heart, and spirit. With a fully
expanded awareness comes a spectrum of new insights, and with those insights a more intelligible
story about yourself and the world you live in. The second step is to adopt intentional practices,
based on your newly expanded awareness, that explore more beneficial behaviors. Taken together
these two steps create a more intentional, full-bodied, and whole-hearted way of living and
contributing to the common good.
"When systematically applied, ID is a process that supports growth, coherence, and meaning in life.
It is an integrated diagnostic and developmental model, aligning and attuning your human intelligence
with that of others. And with that alignment comes the potential for rejuvenation and sustainability
over time. You need that and so does every living thing in the world. Finding ways to tap, conserve,
and sustain energy is core to life for us as individuals and for the earth we inhabit. It's an
intentional process." (by Lloyd Raines, Diane Hetherington, and Doug Gray)
Late fall is a season of preparation and change. And so it is with my work. You may have noticed
the new look in this website. That reflects some changes in the recent past, as I have been doing
both coaching and training programs. The coaching field is exciting and often a medium for profound
change. What are some things you would like to change? If interested in a free sample session I
invite you to contact me.
The average professional currently changes their career five times. For the past eight years I
have developed Action Learning Associates while working fulltime as Director of Summer Friends
Day Camps at Sandy Spring Friends School. That program has grown over 900% and last year
served nearly 1000 campers, with 43 different programs. We had 120 staff, mostly adults,
their average age was 31. I learned a tremendous amount and remain thankful to my colleagues
there. But at this point I have embraced another change. I have resigned as director so that
I can develop my other interests, such as this company.
This is the season of changes. I am being strategic, because of my coaching and collaborative work.
I would love to work with you, because you are important to me.
I invite you to contact me soon!
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