Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. ABP Conference Are we focusing so much on what we do that we are losing sight of what needs to be done? May 2009 Steve Whiddett 01600 860404 www.whe-uk.com Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. “…a focus on measurement and comparison has …… resulted in a tendency to overlook or ignore more dynamic aspects of sense-making and power relations at the heart of selection and assessment …” Silvester & Patterson, (2007) Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. “ the trend today has been for .. consultants to go straight into the action or change. ………... work in organisational psychology …. lends itself too much to single disciplines. The early pioneers of action research soon found out that different types of knowledge and disciplines were needed to make best use of the data gathered. ……...” Solvik & Heller (2007) Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. “…. the world is increasingly full of more and more people getting better and better at doing less and less. Soon, someone will emerge who will be absolutely brilliant at doing nothing at all” …… Kenneth Williams Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Based on Alan C. Filley (1995) Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. What do we do? Consultancy advice, instruction Research and report on issues Provide tools and expert advice 42.5% 19.5% Diagnostic activity Service delivery N=399 10.5% 27.5% Explore problems and propose solution Provide an expert pair of hands Consultancy action Based on Alan C. Filley (1995) Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

What do we focus on? Behaviours & Outcomes Strategic direction (Mission, values, goals) Strategic direction Behaviours & Outcomes (Attitudes, skills, knowledge) (Processes, regulations, cultures, resources etc) (Attitudes, skills, knowledge) Conditions People Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

 ? ? ? So what? Strategic direction Stress, wasted effort, high sickness and high staff turnover The right behaviours and the right outcomes Confusion, inconsistent outcomes, high wastage  ? ? ? Inappropriate behaviour and poor outcomes Conditions People Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. Three examples Context Competencies Management training Development centres Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. Competencies ? Are the behaviours necessary? Are the behaviours possible? ? Context issues Are the people ready? ? Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. 9

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. Management training ? What do the senior team do? What do ‘managers’ do? ? Context issues What do managers want to do? ? Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. 10

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. Development centres ? Is the process necessary? How will the process fit? ? Context issues What happens to the people? ? Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. 11

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. So! Are we focusing so much on what we do that we are losing sight of what needs to be done? Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

So, what is it that needs to be done Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. for our clients? Use the full range of our knowledge and skills Explore and understand the whole picture Address causes not just symptoms Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

So, what is it that needs to be done Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. for ourselves? Fully exploit the investments in ourselves Get our communities working together Differentiate ourselves – play the long game Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.

Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd. ABP Conference Are we focusing so much on what we do that we are losing sight of what needs to be done? May 2009 Steve Whiddett 01600 860404 www.whe-uk.com Copyright 2009 © WHE (UK) Ltd.