Working behind the scenes, helping leaders achieve things they never dreamt they could

E gw@grahamwilson.org / T 07785 222380

Affiliations

Member BACP

CCC Registered

Churchill Fellow

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Please check out my presence on ecademy.com too - you can join the clubs that I lead there and join in the debate.

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Each month, I hold an 'informal drink with Graham' in Oxfordshire - the next is on Monday 1st June from 18:30 to 20:00 in The Royal Oak, on the Woodstock Road, just 200yds out from St Giles, in Oxford.  Anyone is welcome.

For over 15 years, I've worked with the leaders of organisations, and their people, helping them create a vision of what their world could be like, and then to achieve it.

Believing in the enormous potential of people, I love to see them discover and tap into it in every aspect of their life.

While I am a futurist and strategist, my work began with a PhD in behavioural science, has its roots in organisation development and is shaped by my training as a psychotherapist, sports coach, and minister.

I work in four ways: conversations with leaders, engaging with organisations, regular leadership-related writing, and through public speaking.

Hopefully you'll find something of interest here, and will ask me if you think I can help!

Best wishes

Nurturing Leadership talent...for the future: If you aspire to greater things, then I could be the person to help you achieve them.  My clients are usually frustrated in their present role - perhaps they've outgrown it and they'd like to do more, perhaps they feel their organisation hasn't recognised what they have to offer, perhaps they've encountered a ceiling and need to break through it.

If this could be you, then I may have the answer.  Monthly, one-to-one conversations, typically lasting 1½ to 2hrs, held in complete confidence, for leaders (actual, aspiring or potential) from a wide range of different organizations and industries.

Drawing on my own corporate experience, professional background in the human side of organizations, and training as a behavioural scientist and psychotherapist, I help you look at your role, yourself, your drivers and attitudes, your impact on those around you, constraints you impose on your success and the potential you could aspire to.  We deconstruct situations and use a variety of models to help you understand yourself and evolve alternative strategies for the future.

Working in this way for over a decade, most of my clients see our conversations as a significant part of their ongoing personal and professional development.  Naturally this depends on creating the right sense of trust and confidence.  New clients find me almost entirely by personal referral.

Trust is most important if we are to work together effectively.  To help this begin to develop, I always offer the first session together at no cost.  It is an opportunity for you to assess whether I am going to be able to offer you anything.  You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain; give me a call NOW.

Engaging with organisations

Helping to create better places to work: After 15 years of working as a mainstream management 'consultant' in organisation development (OD), usually providing the human dimension to a multitude of change initiatives, I began to work primarily one-to-one with key leaders in industry.

This was far more rewarding to me, as it meant that I was engaged for the long haul rather than one off, ad hoc, projects and so got to see the impact of the work I was involved in. Then, out of the blue, Sodexho UK, asked if I would take on the role of Group HR Director on an interim basis - that became two years! Again, I found the longer term nature of involvement far more satisfying.

Born out of the same melting pot as humanistic psychology, OD differs from OB (the science of managing change through people) in that it has certain premises about the kind of workplace you are trying to create. (For a more detailed explanation, check out my article on the topic {HERE}.)

So today, I work on a retained basis supporting OD initiatives in a very small number of organisations at one time.  I have just completed three years as:
4 Workplace Chaplain and Joint Coordinator of Chaplaincy Services - QinetiQ, Farnborough.

The two roles that I have at the moment are:
4 Leadership development counsellor - Stockholm Environment Institute, Oxford.

4 Corporate Alumni coach/mentor - Informa, Worldwide.

PLEASE NOTE: I would like to add another role within this aspect of my work, and am always interested in discussing creative ways of working together, so if you think you have an exciting opportunity, I would be very pleased to chat.

Leadership-related writing

Over the years, I have written several books and a couple of hundred articles on various management-related topics. Instead of providing copies of 'slides' to accompany talks, I produce short Executive Guides. To support my OD interventions, I often provide case studies, and briefing notes. Every few days I add more material to my blog.  In recent months, this has moved towards more researched and in-depth items.  These materials are always FREE and carry no advertising.

4 Click here to go to a list of some of these items, FREE articles.

4 Click here to go direct to my blog, minorquestionsoflife.blogspot.com.

4 If, every month or so, you would like to be told what is new, just sign up to my Yahoo Group.

MY MOST RECENT BLOG ENTRIES

Click the title to go to the full item.

JUNE 18, 2009

Why climate security affects us all...

In almost every part of the world, there are unique circumstances, that individually appear local, and of limited impact. However, the underlying trend of climate change exacerbates these to the point of significant social unrest which in turn accelerates the impact of climate change by making efforts to reduce it impossible and undermining those efforts that are made...

MAY 27, 2009

When leaders fear to lead...

We have reached the point where, whether in the voluntary or paid employment sectors, leaders are afraid to lead, trustees are afraid to trust, and directors are afraid to direct, simply because of some exaggerated sense of fear that they will be prosecuted and held liable for some petty infraction of an over-sensitive individual's rights. [Wow! I'll start reading the Daily Express soon!]

We now face a situation where employees are bombarded with the potential for compensation, where they can engage a solicitor on a 'no-win, no-fees' basis, and get 'anonymous' support for their legal case to reach ludicrous levels of appeal. Meanwhile, companies and charities need to retain the services of lawyers and insurers to protect them from exaggerated, nefarious claims from morally-outraged, fortune hunters...

As a result of a case today, I think/I hope, that we see a small sign that society has turned a corner. That these ridiculous nerds who hide behind the facade of loosely interpreted legislation, obstructing progress, cramping exploration, denying experience, and generally forging a path towards dullness and despondency, will see that their days are numbered and a new era of vitality and excitement lie ahead!...

JUN 08, 2009

What does climate security mean to 'real' people?

At the UN Security Council debate on climate security in 2007, the Ghanaian representative, LK Christian, spoke of growing evidence that nomadic Fulani cattle herdsmen were arming themselves with sophisticated assault rifles. They were doing so in order to confront local farming communities, who in turn were threatening their cattle herds. The cause that he gave for this increasing tension was climate change which is expanding the Sahara desert.

Only the day before, the Security Council had been discussing the crisis in Darfur. This is a conflict in which 200 000 people have already died. It is a conflict in which there has been that same struggle between nomadic and pastoral communities for resources made more scarce through a changing climate.

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Public speaking

WHAT KIND OF SPEAKER AM I?

The feedback I receive is very positive. I love giving people inspiring examples of how things can be different!

"BRITAIN'S ANSWER TO TOM PETERS"

At the time it was flattering, but now it's a little embarrassing, however that is how one reviewer described me! My presentation style is certainly lively, sometimes controversial and always passionate.

High calibre professional - challenges perceptions | Passionate about his subject - delivers from the heart | Illustrates and informs – using anecdotes and facts

DIFFERENT ANGLES ON CONTEMPORARY THEMES

One of my skills lies in pulling together seemingly disparate themes and helping people see the connection between them. Over the years I've been asked to address a wide range of topics. My approach is generally the same; I research the area, draw on a wider perspective than many people closely linked to it, interpret what I have discovered and then speak with passion about the significant conclusions, ultimately helping my audience see things from a different stance. Depending on the subject, this may reinforce their own tentative conclusions and prompt them to action, or it may start the process of questioning that is vital for change to happen.  Unlike some 'professional' speakers, I do not follow a well worn script - each session is researched, interpreted and then delivered.

UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE - UNUSUAL THINKING

Creating amazing places to work - 15yrs real world experience of behaviour at work in blue chip companies | Professional Futurist – CREATES CLARITY IN A WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY (CEO & Research Director, The 2020 Vision Project; Former Convenor, World Future Society - UK & Ireland) | Coach & Psychotherapist – NURTURES ORGANIZATIONS & INDIVIDUALS | Author – BRINGS MEANING TO A WEB OF IDEAS (Seven books in a dozen languages & 200+ articles) | Speaker – ENLIGHTENS AND ENTERTAINS (Regularly gets 90%+ satisfaction ratings) | Minister of Religion – INSPIRES PASSION, CONTAINS ANXIETY, PROMOTES HARMONY AT WORK

FOR A HOST OF PURPOSES

Mid-session speaker to management development gatherings | Facilitator of strategy workshops | Conference presenter and chair | Keynote speaker to professional associations

HOT TOPICS THIS YEAR

Empowerment and engagement | Radical change - climate change | Greening the economy | Portfolio Working | Better Networking | Emotional Literacy | The Authentic Leader | It's your career - manage it!

SPEAKING ACTIVITIES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

"Stuff happens"

Kind words from my clients

"I don't think you really know what an impact you have!" JS, HRD
"Profound. Almost taught me too much!" TY, MD
"I would gladly give you a reference any time. Our 'chats' were on the mark every time. Your observations astute. And, even when I put you on the spot, I knew I could trust you." DF, CE
"You're a one, you really are! A real challenge at times - and it was tough, but what an outcome. And I'm sure we've not stopped yet." MS, CE
"Your way of looking at things, and way of feeding them back, baffles me. You manage to make me aware of home truths, but I feel encouraged at the same time." PW, MD
"At the time, we did some really good work together. You brought vision and insight, and helped me challenge myself. But the real impact is happening now. Quite simply my life and relationships are totally different." RM, CEO
"I was ready to give up. Frankly, I had. I never expected to look back after five years and see how much more I could achieve and how my life has unfolded." JT, TD
"A friend. But one who doesn't get angry when things don't go the way you know they could, but instead is there to keep things gently moving forwards." BS, S

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Charities

I am involved in a number of charities on a voluntary basis and get enormous pleasure from this work.  Before taking on a role, I usually ask myself what I can bring that the existing team (whether management or trustees) would appreciate and don't already have.  There's no simple answer, but enthusiasm, vision, strategy, business focus, and an interest in the people within, confidence and boldness are often mentioned.

The role that I am asked to fulfil varies, though in most I am either a Trustee or Chair of the Trustees.  If you feel I might be able to help you, there's nothing lost in us having a informal chat.

Royal Life-Saving Society (Surrey Branch)

Helping to make Surrey a safer place - as well as water-based life-guarding, Lifesavers train teachers, sports coaches, new parents, and members of the public in life-support and rescue skills.  Our clubs and affiliated centres, prepare young people for competitions, the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, and GCSE in PE.  These are 'skills for life' and we have a vision of ensuring that every child in Surrey will be capable of saving a life by the time they leave school.  There are three obstacles to this: the lack of sufficient volunteers to manage and deliver such an ambitious programme, and sufficient pool-time (pools are costly facilities and much in demand).  Our ambition is to employ a permanent out-reach worker who can make the dream a reality.

The All Hallows House Foundation (The Wren Clinic)

The Wren Clinic was established some years ago in the converted tower of a Wren church in the heart of the City of London. It aims to make available to all who work in the City, the resources they need to help them cope with the stresses and strains of daily life, in as natural way as possible.  The demand for their services is constantly growing, the contribution they make to City firms is clear, and they serve a broad cross section of the City workforce.  However, the operating costs of the Clinic are high.  We hope to raise sufficient funds to support a part-time fund raiser and to create a small buffer for their monthly costs. With the stability that this should bring they hope to extend their work in the area.

South Central Ambulance League of Friends

Every day, at any time, we can call for an ambulance and know that within a few minutes these extraordinary men and women will arrive.  They are dependable, highly skilled, and incredibly supportive. Their presence alone diffuses fear and brings a sense of safety.  Most people also know that the NHS is desperately short of cash.  The League of Friends was established in 1984 to provide the resources to allow the Ambulance Service to invest in lifesaving equipment that would otherwise be unavailable. Today, the League supports the South Central Ambulance Trust and especially their Community First Responders.

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An ongoing list of writing (with links to the originals)

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