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The Narrative Lab (@WContinuity) TweetChat on “Ineffective Knowledge Transfer” (#WisCont)

By Aiden Choles|July 16th, 2012|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: business continuity, continuity, Knowledge transfer, Narrative, succession planning|

What is the TNL Tweetchat about?  Twice a month, The Narrative Lab hosts what is called a TweetChat, a fun, engaging way to collaborate and discuss a variety of topics using Twitter. Our upcoming topic is "How does ineffective Knowledge Transfer hinder business continuity?"  Who should be joining in the discussion?  This is a call to all leaders, practitioners and interested individuals around Knowledge and Narrative to join us for an invigorating discussion. When should you be joining us? 17th [...]

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Musical imagery

By Aiden Choles|March 15th, 2012|Categories: Art|Tags: music|

Have you noticed how songs play out in your head? Do you pay attention to these tunes? What song, for example, plays in your head as you walk through the reception hall of your office block as you arrive at work? What tune rings out in your mind as you are walking in to a meeting that you know will be a tough one? What music fills your subconscious when you're asked to describe the culture at your company? These [...]

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Explaining away the complexity

By Aiden Choles|February 27th, 2012|Categories: Complexity, Narrative|Tags: complexity theory|

Engaging with a complex phenomenon is quite challenging experience. It is even more challenging for leaders and managers who are required to do something about these problems. Markets, shareholders and employees look to leaders for guidance and sound decision-making in navigating complexity. It is because of this that leaders need to keep their wits about them. Being aware of the emotional and psychological responses one has to a complex problem is a critical leadership capability. One of the common responses [...]

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Oscar Pistorius: a narrative plot analysis

By Aiden Choles|February 19th, 2012|Categories: Narrative|Tags: blade runner, bookers seven, narrative analysis, narrative plots, plots|

The story of Oscar Pretorius, the star paralympian, has dominated the news headlines in South and the world since Thursday morning. I got off a plane reading a stream of tweet that he had murdered his girlfriend, mistaking her for an intruder in her house. Why has this story dominated the new headlines and social conversation space? I believe looking at the story through a narrative lens (no pun intended) explains why this story grips us. Firstly, an understanding of [...]

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Making Sense of Complexity: Joburg & Cape Town Accreditation

By Aiden Choles|January 18th, 2012|Categories: Complexity|Tags: aiden choles cape town, Cognitive Edge, Complexity|

We are proud to announce the arrangements for hosting back-to-back Cognitive Edge Accreditation courses in 2012. After the sold-out inaugural Cape Town course in 2011, in partnership with theUniversity of Stellenbosch Business School, we will be back in Bellville from 28th to 30th March 2012. Thereafter we will be in Johannesburg from 2nd to 4th April 2012. Steve Bealing, CEO of Cognitive Edge, will again be joining us from Singapore to facilitate the accreditation. Spaces are limited to 24 only, so be sure [...]

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The Dumping Syndrome in Groups

By Aiden Choles|January 9th, 2012|Categories: Uncategorized|

Most managers wouldn't admit to it, but I suspect that one of the reasons why team development sessions are not scheduled as often as they should be is because leaders are afraid of the 'dumping syndrome'. Dumping. That analogous phenomenon that occurs when a group of people congregate and then proceed to spew forth negativity, critique and bemoan that state of affairs in their team, company, city or country. It happens around the dinner table, in corporate passages, at the [...]

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Decision-making the Peter Drucker way

By Aiden Choles|November 11th, 2011|Categories: Uncategorized|

Peter Drucker is probably one of the greatest thinkers in management sciences over the last century. I don't know if he ever explicitly wrote or spoke about complexity, but the man obviously "got it". Consider what he wrote about "fact-based" decision making. "Most books on decision-making tell the reader: First find the facts. But executives who make effective decisions know that one does not start with facts. One starts with opinions...The understanding that underlies the right decision grows out of [...]

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Work and meaning

By Aiden Choles|October 5th, 2011|Categories: Complexity|Tags: behaviour, Complexity, Psychology|

I'm busy reading The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely (and really enjoying it). In one of the chapters he reflects on work and meaning. Can human beings find satisfaction and be engaged in work that pays well, but offers no meaning? He unpacks two "types" of meaning: "m"eaning - a feeling of being challenged by whatever our work is, and completing it to our own satisfaction vs "M"eaning - a hope that someone else, potentially a significant someone, will find value [...]

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Cognitive Edge Accreditation training postponed

By Aiden Choles|October 5th, 2011|Categories: Cognitive Edge, Cognitive Edge, Cognitive science|

We unfortunately have to postpone the next Cognitive Edge accreditation training course that was planned for early November 2011. At this time, another date hasn't been decided upon, but it will probably be in the first quarter of 2012. If you need to familiarise yourself with the Cognitive Edge methods or thinking urgently, please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss potential coaching options in the the interim.

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The Narrative Lab presents: Wisdom Continuity “Developing a strategy for the ageing workforce” #WisCont @WContinuity

By Aiden Choles|September 2nd, 2011|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: Ageing workforce, continuity, Knowledge transfer, Retirement, wisdom|

What is the TNL Tweetchat about?  Twice a month, The Narrative Lab hosts what is called a TweetChat, a fun, engaging way to collaborate and discuss a variety of topics using Twitter. Our upcoming topic is based on a recent blog post by our very own, David Sebe on "Developing a strategy for the ageing workforce."   Who should be joining in the discussion?  This is a call to all leaders, managers, practitioners and interested individuals around Knowledge and Narrative [...]

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