Blog (16)

Where do you allow dissent?

by Tony Quinlan on Jul 4, 2008 12:59:00 PM

I've recently been in a number of environments where everybody has been so keen to encourage positive discussions that I've ended up coming away with a flat, slightly unreal feeling - interesting conversations that never really reached any depth. It's reminded me of the big "hoorah" s …

Topics: Culture Organisational culture Leadership Communications dissent tony quinlan

Undiverse diversity

by Tony Quinlan on Jul 3, 2008 3:17:53 PM

In recent weeks I've spoken at or run workshops at conferences on knowledge management, employee engagement and change communications. Very few moments in those that excited, but one over-riding element that depresses me.

Topics: Organisational culture Complexity Communications Employee engagement change communications tony quinlan knowledge management diversity

Is the Tipping Point Toast?

by Tony Quinlan on Jun 6, 2008 3:26:55 PM

In the last couple of years, there's been a lot of interest in social networks - and (somewhat belatedly) communications professionals are starting to look at greater use of informal networks and word-of-mouth. There's still, however, the temptation to look at the model Malcolm Gladwe …

Topics: Organisational culture Complexity Communications Employee engagement social networks

Newton vs free will

by Tony Quinlan on Mar 28, 2008 10:59:00 AM

From Scarlett Thomas' The End of Mr Y:

Topics: Complexity Recommendations

The dangers of facilitation

by Tony Quinlan on Mar 3, 2008 2:45:00 PM

An interesting experience last week in one of my other identities as a school governor. There’s a debate going on regarding whether or not a Trust is formed in Mid-Beds under Samuel Whitbread Upper School and whether we join it or not. So, mindful of wanting to understand different pe …

Topics: Organisational culture Complexity Communications Cognitive science Recommendations

Patience that produces common sense

by Tony Quinlan on Jan 30, 2008 6:15:00 PM

Last week, as part of a visioning/future planning exercise for local education, I ran a Future Backwards exercise with Year 4 – a group of 8-9 year-olds. It reinforced the power of the exercise – but also that if you create the conditions for discussion, allow time for that to happen …

Topics: Organisational culture Complexity Communications

Change requires innovative, intelligent and energetic practitioners

by Tony Quinlan on Jan 9, 2008 4:00:00 PM

How highly do you rate changing your organisation?

Topics: Organisational culture Communications

Boxing up complex concepts

by Tony Quinlan on Jan 7, 2008 1:15:00 PM

Narratives and story in organisations Tomorrow should see the publication of Melcrum’s Practitioner’s Guide to Employee Engagement – in which I’ve contributed the chapter on using stories and narrative. It’s been an interesting experience – having abandoned the attempt to fit a gallon …

Topics: Organisational culture Narrative Narrate news Complexity Communications Cognitive science

My (ineffective) life as a categoriser

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 28, 2007 11:15:00 AM

I realised a couple of years ago that, although I love the concepts of working more with relationships rather than objects and categories, my natural instinct is still to categorise and try to put things in boxes. (Reading Fritjof Capra’s “The Web of Life” opened my eyes to the possib …

Topics: Complexity Cognitive science

The complexity of youth violence

by Tony Quinlan on Nov 27, 2007 9:45:00 AM

I spent last Tuesday afternoon volunteering with WAVE Trust at the conference on Working to Reduce Serious Youth Violence.

Topics: Complexity

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