After many years working with organisations to build collaborative cultures, I know what works and where things go wrong. So I've developed a Critical Friend Program that is used in large scale projects with high stakes outcomes.

The Critical Friend program sets the foundation for deep, professional trust and conversations that bring about connection, transformation and authentic collaboration. Regular check ins with the senior project team and others

KEY OUTCOMES- Critical Friend Program

- continued building of collaborative capacity in individuals and in the project group as a whole

- mitigation of slippage, misunderstandings and blockages through authentic dialogue and behaviours

- trusted advisor to help guide the partnership

- ‘point of need’ discussion and capability building

I come in using four critical friend stances:

SENSEMAKER - asks clarifying questions; identifies key issues; signposts directions and forward actions

PROVOCATEUR - poses challenges to existing thinking, habitual assumptions and ways of working that are not providing forward momentum

EDUCATOR - provides tools; thinking; reading to deepen collaborative skill within the group; shares expertise and thought leadership on collaboration and authentic dialogue

FACILITATOR - leads discussions that explores issues and leads to resolution

Connecting Conversationswith Stephen Kendall-JonesPrincipal, Albany Junior High School (NZ)

Connecting Conversations
with Stephen Kendall-Jones
Principal, Albany Junior High School (NZ)