http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk The Edge Coaching - News en-uk Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:00:00 GMT Sat, 21 Aug 2010 08:00:00 GMT DeepSense RSS Generator 60
My sessions will be focussing on Leadership, Strategic Planning and Talent management. I am really looking forward to engaging with leaders from all areas of national and local government to explore ways they can meet the challenges that face them as they look to create the vision for Kenya 2030.

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The Underlying Themes

1. Learning happens best when mind, body and neurology are aligned and engaged. So how do we create the opportunities for this?
2. Coaching and Learning needs to be "integral" - I will share an Integral Model that I use.
3. Organisations need to find creative and effective ways to create an environment for learning and development.
4. We need to model the kind of learning "behaviours" we want to encourage in our organisations.
]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=68 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=68
My good friend and client, Adeem Younis, has been working hard over the past eighteen months to set up a charity to raise money to develop and support schools to provide orphans and the children of poor families with access to education - access they wouldn't have if it wasn't for Adeem and his project. The children live in North-West Pakistan in the Konsh Valley. The project is already supporting 130 children and there are at least another 60 who aren't able to attend at the moment because of the lack of funds. At present there is just one school, the aim is to provide more in other Districts.

As a country, Pakistan has its challenges, both internally and in the way it is perceived in the world. And it is all too easy for us in the West to get sucked in to the negative views. Well, here's an opportunity for us to make a positive difference to the young, disenfranchised children in that country. As the penny appeal website (www.pennyappeal.org) says "small change, big difference". It doesn't take a lot but any money will go a long, long way.

Penny Appeal is the charity that the edge - coaching & development is supporting this year. You might want to do the same - you have the link, you have the choice to make a positive difference. Enjoy it!
]]> Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=66 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=66
Anyway it is an experiment; so we'll see......!!!

Visit me and let me know what you think!!!!

]]> Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=67 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=67 Last Wednesday saw the start of the Leadership & Management programme I am running for the English & Welsh Cricket Board (North). A great group of Development managers convened for the first two days of a year - long programme. The focus was coaching in organisations and with teams (not cricket coaching!!) The second two days of this part of the programme take place at the end of July. It is really good to see a forward thinking organisation develop a bespoke learning programme to help its managers develop their strategies and skills. Even better, it is being backed by Skills Active and Business Link. A good example of what partnership working can mean.

There was an official launch at the Yorkshire v Derbyshire 20/20 game on Sunday 28th June at Headingley. A hot sunny day - ideal for cricket watching even though the result wasn't great for those of us who are Yorkshire fans!

Later this year the EWCB Managers will be getting to grips with Project Management, Leadership in Action and other relevant topics. ]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=64 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=64 Way back in February the Yorkshire Leadership programme ran an event using key speakers from the world of Rugby League. Over seventy people attended and were treated to a real feast of useful thoughts and experiences around the theme of successful leadership.

So well -received was the event we are now working on a book delving further into the leadership themes. The first chapter is complete in draft form and has gone to the publisher for review - we are intending to publish the completed book this time next year. So watch this space!

The original event was donating any profit to two RL charities: the Adam Watene Fund and the Rugby Football League Benevolent Fund (for supporting players who are no longer able to play for a variety of reasons).

We were able to donate £538.00 to each charity in the end - truly a great "result"! ]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=65 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=65 The latest event in the Yorkshire Leadership programme took place successfully on wednesday. seventy people turned up to hear the wisdom of some of the most successful practitioners in Rugby League whether in terms of sporting success or business success (or both!!)

The whole point of having an event drawing on the sport of Rugby League was that RL is the only sport that truly embraces  what I would call an integral model because it combines sporting success on the pitch with business effectiveness with developing a culture in the wider community of growth, development, learning and mutual support. Rugby League clubs and players are all very accessible to the fans, to members of the general public and work in partnership with other organisations to develop learning, celebrate diversity and a express a culture that values integrity, making a positive difference and the strength in community.

The businesses and organsiations attending came from the private and public sectors and ranged from small micro-businesses to large national/international operations. There was "gold" in everything the speakers had to say.

Nigel Wood (Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League) was followed by Gary Hetherington (CEO of Leeds Rhinos, one of the most successful sports businesses in the UK today), Brian McClennan (currently Head Coach of Leeds Rhinos - the World Champions 2008 and past Head Coach of the successful New Zealand team) and Scott Grix (Captain of Ireland and one of the Wakefield Wildcats leadership team).

The overall sense I took away from the event was that effective leaders create the environment in which others can express the best in themselves, develop their own leadership skills and make a positive difference through connection and community. How many businesses or organisations are able to do this really effectively? This is going to be a key theme for me in my own work on leadership, whether through my leadership coaching with clients or in the development work I do through forums such as the Yorkshire Leadership programme.

The afternoon truly was full of "gold" and I am really grateful to the speakers for taking time out of their busy schedules to talk at the event and to the team that worked to make the event happen. Thank you to all of you!

We also raised money in the process for the Adam Watene Fund and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund. An all round win -win - win event!!!!]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=63 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=63
Time: 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Wakefield College, Thornes Park Centre


A unique event brought to you by the Yorkshire Leadership Programme in association with the Northern Leadership Academy, The Rugby Football League, Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Wildcats.

Sport has often been used as a source of inspiration and ideas for business leaders, normally with a focus on the factors contributing to high performance levels. This event is different……………

Rugby League is currently the only sport that takes what the Yorkshire Leadership Programme calls an 'integral' approach to its development. In recent years Rugby League has made some huge changes in the way it is run by putting effective systems in place, identifying and expressing what the core values underpinning the sport are, creating a shared culture in the sport as a whole, managing how it presents itself to the world, as well as building the actual sporting performance on the pitch. The sport combines striving for high achievement, sound business operation, a culture that is about making a positive difference to people with the community development and learning in its widest sense beyond simply playing the game. This is what makes it different from the rest - it recognises that all these factors need to be successfully achieved for the sport as a whole to be successful.

So what lessons can we learn for our own businesses and organisations from some of the key people in Rugby League? This afternoon event will provide you with the opportunity to share the thoughts of four Leaders in Rugby League.

Gary Hetherington (Chief Executive of Leeds Rhinos) will talk about running a successful business based on sporting excellence that also makes a positive difference in the community.

Nigel Wood (Chief Executive of the RFL) will talk about how he and his team turned around a struggling business to make it robust and successful even in the current difficult financial climate.

Brian McClennan (Head Coach of Leeds Rhinos) will talk about how he approaches motivating teams to perform at high levels. Brian should know, he was the Coach of the successful New Zealand Tri-nations winning team before he arrived at Leeds where he took them to their second Super League Championship title in 2008.

Jason Demetriou (Captain of Wakefield Wildcats) will talk about Leadership on the field. The Royal Marines value people's ability to manage "dislocated expectations" - those moments when things don't go to plan. This ability is an important part of team success on the pitch. As a leader how do you facilitate it?

As well as listening to the speakers you will have the opportunity to participate in smaller focus groups to explore some of the ideas further - as well as the normal networking opportunities.

Your investment - £45.00 (Group £35.00). Please note: this is a not for profit event. Surplus monies will be donated to the Adam Watene Fund and the Rugby Football League Benevolent Fund.
]]> Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=62 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=62
If you are a client of mine, you will know that the space between Christmas and New Year is a powerful space for reviewing the old year and visioning/planning for the forthcoming year(s). I encourage clients to use this time with a process I have developed over the years, one I use myself. There is the short form and the long form of this process (email me for further details if you are interested in knowing more).

Now there is a website devoted to this idea which gives you a practical five-day framework so you can use "Twixtmas" for your own growth and development. I contribute on Day 2. Go to the site and use it; I'd be really interested to hear what you think about it.

Have a peaceful and fruitful Christmas and may you live your dreams in 2009!

David]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=61 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=61
Author and organisational development expert David Firth facilitated the event assisted by myself and Jeff Gold from the Northern Leadership Academy. The Services to Business team from Wakefield College ably provided the management of the day - including the catering!

The event attracted seventy people from businesses and the public and voluntary sectors. It was a powerful mix and the twenty-four conversations that took place through the day (including one that was a walk in the park!) produced some insightful suggestions for action to make a positive difference to leadership development in Yorkshire.

I received a lot of positive feedback from participants, including the desire for more Open Space events - so watch this space!

We have set up an online Open Space to continue the conversations in an online forum. If you are interested in joining the forum to contribute your views about leadership development; email me and I will set up for you to join.

To see photographs of the event please go to my Flickr photo blog - see the link.]]> Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=60 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=60
The Yorkshire Leadership Programme in conjunction with WYLLN and the Northern Leadership Academy are inviting people from business, the public and voluntary sectors to come and participate in what will be one of the key events in Leadership Development in Yorkshire this year (as well as being an excellent opportunity for networking with a variety of committed people from diverse businesses and organisations).

The event will be an unrivalled opportunity for you to share your thoughts about the future of management and leadership, to voice your issues and concerns, to test out your wildest ideas, and agree to take action on them with like-minded others. It will also allow you to learn, to compare your experience with others and to listen to points of view, some of which will be similar to your own and some very different.

To give us a structure for the day out of all this diverse creativity, author and Organisational Development expert David Firth will lead us in an Open Space meeting. He will be supported by David Taylor (the Yorkshire Leadership Programme) and Jeff Gold (Northern Leadership Academy). Open Space is a methodology that enables groups of all sizes to deal with hugely complex issues in a very short period of time. Those who have experienced Open Space have referred to the process as: 'passion bounded by responsibility', 'intentional self-organization', 'spirit at work', 'chaos and creativity', 'evolution in organization', and 'a simple, powerful way to get people and organisations moving -- when and where it's needed most'.

The event takes place on Friday 4th July 10.00 - 16.00 in Wakefield. It is an invitation only event so if you are interested please contact me by email at the edge coaching.]]> Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=59 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=59
Give yourself a New Year's present. A great opportunity to get yourself set to make the most of 2008!
A New Year, a new start AND one that you will be able to build on throughout the year for your work and yourself.

Have you noticed that when you make New Year's resolutions, they generally don't last long? For most of us willpower is not enough, we need something more to help identify and sustain the changes we want in our lives.

This practical programme will help you to:

 Identify your compelling vision for 2008 and beyond
 Show you how to embed it in such a way that it will keep  generating the power you need
 Explore the kinds of Beliefs that will support you to make change
 Create the 'reality check' to see where your energy drainers are
 Explore powerful strategies for successful change - learning the keys to successfully motivate yourself
 Identify some goals and marshal your resources to make sure you take action and achieve them
 Support you to deal with the challenges that we all experience as we step onto the path

It is a great opportunity for you to share time with like-minded people who enjoy creating positive results AND who have fun in the process! You will also be working in the attractive setting that is 'Wallnooks' and enjoy the hospitality offered by the team there (including the legendary catering!).
Booking Details


Venue: Wall Nooks, Cumberworth, Near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD8   8YB

Investment:  £95 (includes lunch and refreshments)

Booking: Contact me: davidt@theedgecoaching.co.uk and I will arrange your booking with Services to Business who are managing the event as part of the Yorkshire Leadership Programme.


]]> Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=58 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=58 Yesterday saw the second event in the Cheshire Leadership programme held at the SuccessFactory, near Chester. It was facilitated by Ian McDonald and myself. The focus of the day was 'An Introduction to Spiral Dynamics Integral'. SDI is a way of capturing the deep structure core values and thinking/processing patterns in humans; it explains how we develop in response to our changing life conditions.

The programme worked through the first six stages of the Spiral in detail, enabling participants to understand the levels of the Spiral and how they can be applied to work with individuals, groups, communities and indeed countries. Using practical exercises, film clips and some presentations enabled all of us to get stuck in and apply the ideas in action - and have fun along the way!

The next Cheshire Leadership day will be on Friday 14th September - and it will focus on the second tier of the Spiral.]]> Sun, 24 Jun 2007 08:00:00 GMT http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/rssfeed.php?feed=News&articleid=4 http://www.theedgecoaching.co.uk/news.php?articleid=4