Seeking Out Difference

In developing our organisational values and competencies I was working in a matrix group with a senior manager from our Business Development area. We were discussing how to engage people in a process of development, honing and embedding. The path we had initially thought we would follow was somewhat linear, but she challenged the group to think more systemically about how to engage and suggested cross organisational groups running activities concurrently which could then be cross correllated. This was a really interesting approach which I felt would create a much greater level of collaboration and reflection and as she was chair of the reference group she would be an excellent chamption. This challenged me to think about how I might be being influenced by a legacy culture which assumed people's resistance and what they were prepared to do being limited. It also reminded me not to fall into the trap of always needing to have the answer. It also caused me to reflect further on the need to address what felt like rehearsed patterns of working which felt restrictive and would not support the organisation to work in a collaborative and dynamic way.