How physicality impacts the way we work creatively” with Dr Ralph Kerle | Monday December 12, 2011 | 5.30pm

All human movement is conditioned by a set of psychological states according to Choreographer Rudolph Laban who developed a system of movement notation called Labanotation. Laban surmised if we could recognise and explore those psychological states psychically, we could learn to change the way we experience work and interact. In this session, Ralph Kerle will introduce us to the 3 psychological states of movement proposed by Laban to explore and reflect on how we might change the way we think and work creatively.

What does Laban offer facilitators?

Laban as a process offers very specific insights about our physical state and how it affects our behaviours. Facilitation contains physical as well as cognitive processes. Facilitators in the moment often recognize behaviours within a group such as uncertainty, stress, tension, elation, euphoria etc. The question is how do states such as these affect the physical and cognitive state of the facilitator in her/his role? If as facilitators, we can understand and recognize our preferred physical states when facilitating, we can use this recognition to move to a facilitative equilibrium in the face of whatever the group may be expressing or experiencing and with practice over time, to enhance our total facilitation performance.

In this short workshop, we will explore the physical framework of Laban and how you can bring that to your facilitation practice creatively. .

About Dr. Ralph Kerle

Dr. Ralph Kerle, MCI, DADA, h.c. is an internationally respected thought leader, creative facilitator and writer on organizational innovation, creative leadership and behaviours. He has a specific interest in designing creative leadership and creativity workshops framed around arts based processes as a way of recognising and developing creative practices at work. His belief is organizational innovation is the outcomes of creative behaviours that occur in practice in a work context. If we can understand how we behave creatively in a work context then we can begin to improve, develop and be creative around our work practices regardless of our profession or position.

Venue: [Our usual venue]

University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street.

Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

Time:

From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up

[afterwards for our traditional end of year dinner at a fine Vietnamese restaurant in Broadway opposite UTS]

So what are you actually doing? When you say you're doing facilitation (or something else)? With Claire Jankelson (PhD) | Monday Nov 14, 5.30pm

A session that will work towards defining the kinds of questions that are invigorating our work; a clarification of our leadership; of the individuality that we each bring!

Are you intrigued by the notion of what you are actually doing? Work in this context can be whatever it is that you do – or that you spend a lot of time, doing.

This session will be an opportunity to hold a dialogue with our work.

· How do we shape the 'substance' that is our work?

· How are we 'in sympathy' with our work?

· And what are those moments in our work where we feel amazed? Amazed to be alive!

Using short exercises, we will notice the moments of our work that ‘flow’ and through playing with the words and sentences that form, we’ll shape or articulate what we (actually) bring.

We hope this event will clarify and invigorate what we (actually) do.

Claire Jankelson (PhD)

With teaching as a primary role, Claire has a particular interest in the nature of learning. In the last 2 years, Claire has been teaching Transformative Leadership at UWS, conducting research at the Metavision Institute and supervising PhD's at Macquarie Graduate School of Management. Claire has also been president of nonprofit organisation Spirituality, Leadership and Management (SLaM) with conference in September 2011 and ongoing SLaM cafes.

Venue: [Our usual venue] University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up Blog www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com

Emergency contact this meeting | Greg Jenkins greg@tincanlearning.com | 0418 486 501

“Trust Wildcard” – Short processes for fun, energy and reflection that build, maintain or restore trust | Monday Oct. 10, 5.30PM

At a typical 'Wildcard' meeting, volunteer facilitators step-up on the night to run a short session of between 5 and 20 minutes.

This month we are experimenting with a themed wildcard. Bring either:

a) a trust based process to showcase, or

b) a situation involving group trust (or lack of trust). - the collective wisdom of the group can suggest a process.

c) Come and enjoy a variety of useful processes

Wildcard meetings often provide the best opportunity for facilitators of all experience levels to either refresh and hone their skills or get some new ideas and tools for working with groups.

“Trust Wildcard” processes may include ice breakers, opening and closing rituals, energisers, thought provokers, trust building, experiential activities, games, simulations, conversations, Q&A sessions, reflections, conversations - anything at all that can be done between 5 and 20 minutes.

The “Trust Wildcard” will be hosted by Sharon McGann and Leona Casanova. Venue: [Our usual venue] University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up

Collaborative Change – Is this a once in a generation opportunity for Facilitators? with Greg Jenkins | Monday September 12, 5.30pm

Collaboration is the word on everyone’s lips as it seems that collaboration is a desired ingredient in current business, government and social change initiatives. Collaboration is the key trend in change for the foreseeable future and along with climate change is one of the great challenges of our time.

According to change guru John Kotter, Change Management doesn’t work 80% of the time. If this is so there is huge potential in filling this yawning gap. Is this the once in a generation big break for facilitators?

In this session we will explore the following big questions and more

· What is collaborative change?

· What are the opportunities for facilitators?

· What skills are required of collaborative change agents?

· What roles make collaborative change really work?

· What tools are required to facilitate grassroots initiated collaborative change?

Who should come? Change agents, facilitators, project leaders, strategists and anyone planning or implementing collaborative change.

Facilitator: Greg Jenkins is a practicing change agent, facilitator and mentor and with more than a decade experience in facilitating collaborative change. Greg is coordinator of the Sydney Facilitators Network. www.tincanlearning.com, www.changeagent.com.au.

Venue: [Our usual venue] University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up

"What Makes People Happy at Work” - the link between happiness and performance with Jackie Smith | Monday August 8, 2011 | 5.30pm

Happiness is on the global agenda but until recently hasn’t been discussed on the employer agenda. In this context happiness is more than motivation and engagement. In the Science of Happiness at Work we have identified a direct correlation between happiness and productivity. Join an interactive, thought-provoking discussion. Come and experience the model which when applied, makes a difference to how people feel and how they perform. We will explore the following themes: · What do we mean by happiness in a work context · How do we measure productivity? How can we encourage motivation/alignment/confidence/contribution? · What are the elements in the model which identifies all the elements of happiness linking to performance? · How does the model inform your experience in organisations? · What does the model tell you about your happiness at work? This session will also be useful for Senior Leaders, Change Facilitators, Consultants, Coaches, OD Managers, L&D Managers and HR Managers. Jackie Smith has been working with Jess Pryce Jones, the author of Happiness at Work, since its publication two years ago, accrediting people to raise awareness and use the tools of this leading edge research. She worked for 7 years in TAFE NSW as a Counselling Psychologist before re-locating to the UK. Since then she has worked internationally in consulting, facilitation and executive coaching for the last 16 years for companies such as PwC, KPMG, Ernst & Young, HSBC, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Wiley, Compaq, Black & Decker to name just a few. She was owner director of an international development and coaching company for 5 years and now works freelance, preferring to do transformational work with clients than build businesses. She co-authored a book on Personal Impact: what it takes to make a difference in 2008 and has written numerous articles. In addition to working in-house with clients, Jackie is in Sydney from 1 - 20 August 2011 facilitating a 1-day public program in mid August 2011 on H@W, counting towards accreditation, as well as one on Strategic Influencing. She regularly comes to Australia. If you are curious about the topic, the research and the tools, check out: http://www.iopenerinstitute.com/ Venue: [Our usual venue] University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street. Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580. Time: From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up Emergency contact Greg Jenkins m: 0418 486 501 e: greg@changeagent.com.au

Transformational Leadership with Godwin Vaz | Monday July 11, 2011

The sphere of Transformational Leadership is where a Leader facilitates a profound, positive shift in capability, character and results for themselves, their people and their organisation.

Come and join this stimulating, interactive and thought-provoking session. We will experience and have a conversation on the following relevant themes:

· What are the multiple Roles of a Transformational Leader

· What are common Myths and Barriers to successful Transformational efforts – leader and systemic

· Core (skills and mindset) Capabilities of a Transformational Leader

· When is a system/organisation ready for a transformational journey – Critical readiness factors to assess and/or influence

· How to manage the fear of losing credibility, criticism and peer disapproval

This session will also be useful for Senior Leaders, Change Facilitators, Senior Consultants, Transformational Trainers, L &D managers, HR Managers and consultants

About the Facilitator:

Godwin Vaz has been exploring, researching and working in the Transformational space for 24 years. He has been an executive coach, consultant and leadership development facilitator in 11 countries for companies such as Singapore Airlines, Itau Bank (Brazil), Federal Express, ExxonMobil, Macquarie Bank, Singtel-Optus, Microsoft and many more. In the last 5 years he has also been an Advisor, Coach and Transformational Leadership facilitator for Partners at one of the top 3, global Management Consulting firms in the world.

In August/September 2011, for the first time in Australia, Godwin will be conducting public seminars on ‘Transformational Leadership’ and ‘Transformational Meeting Facilitation’, using his proven MLS methodology. Learn more about MultiDimensional Learning Systems™ (MLS) here.

Venue: [Our usual venue]
University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Jones Street, Ultimo corner Thomas Street.
Room 5.580 Level 5, Building 10, Take the lift to level 5, cross the atrium footbridge, walk straight ahead to room 580.

Time:

From 5:30pm to 7:30pm sharp | No RSVP - Just turn up
Blog http://www.facilitatorsnetwork.blogspot.com

Emergency contact Greg Jenkins m: 0418 486 501 e: greg@changeagent.com.au