1. Professor Michael West Executive Dean, Aston Business School
Partnerships in Challenging Times Jacobs Client Conference 30th April 2009
Workshop/Masterclass
Pen and paper
Working with two or three other people.
Someone sitting alone, get them to join your group.
Professor Michael West
Executive Dean, Aston Business School

2. Partnerships Frequent interaction Stability and continuity
Absence of chronic conflict
Mutual support

3. Partnerships innovate
Searching for new ways to create value and new value to create
Partnerships are upbeat and self confident. There’s no problem that can’t be solved, no status quo that can’t be bettered
Partnership is about doing the difficult not managing the inevitable
i-Pod, I-Phone, Wii. New courses – green mba
Car flat tyre

4. Positive aspects of relationships
Wisdom related knowledge and judgements increase if the possibility to discuss the difficult life problem with a partner before responding
Opportunity to talk with a familiar person, exchange thoughts, create new ideas and perspectives
Managing fear and pain
Partnership parallels

5. Partnerships in challenging times
Communicate the reality of the challenges we face
Develop a clear, consistent and coherent message how we are going to deal with those challenges
Agree clear tasks and responsibilities among partners to make their contributions to the cause
Present a realistically optimistic picture of the ability of the partnership to broaden and build
Have a clear vision of the way forward for the partnership – we may not know the answer - but we have to lead
Neither rosy nor catastrophic
The way ahead – Churchill Obama
We have the talents, the skills and the experience. We will come out stronger
Scott of the Antartic.

7. Reflexivity and partnership effectiveness
Partnerships will be more effective and innovative to the extent that they reflect upon their objectives, strategies, processes and environments and adapt accordingly

8. Reflexivity upon .... partnership objectives/vision
appropriateness, value, clarity
partnership strategies
detail, alternatives, time span, effectiveness
partnership processes
decision-making, communication, interaction,
meetings, feedback, support for innovation,
conflict management

9. Values and Strengths in Human Communities
Wisdom and Knowledge
Courage
Humanity
Justice
Temperance
Spirituality and Transcendence

10. Leading strong value-based partnerships
Wisdom and knowledge:
Curiosity, interest
Love of learning
Judgement, critical thinking, open-mindedness
Practical intelligence, creativity, originality, ingenuity
A broad and long perspective
How can you promote these values and virtues in the partnership?
Always eager to read, learn new ideas, latest HRM possibilities – many of you because you are here at this conference
Delight in thinking up new and improved ways of doing things
How can you shape the change to promote these values and virtues in the organisation?

11. Leading strong value-based partnerships
Courage:
Valour of a vision
Industry, perseverance to carry it through
Integrity, authenticity, honesty
Zest, enthusiasm
How can you promote these values and virtues in the partnership?
Always eager to read, learn new ideas, latest HRM possibilities – many of you because you are here at this conference
Delight in thinking up new and improved ways of doing things
How can you shape the change to promote these values and virtues in the partnership?

12. Humanity: Leading strong value based partnerships
Kindness, generosity, supportiveness
Emotional intelligence
How can you promote these values and virtues in the partnership?
Always eager to read, learn new ideas, latest HRM possibilities – many of you because you are here at this conference
Delight in thinking up new and improved ways of doing things
How can you shape the change to promote these values and virtues in the organisation?

13. Justice: Leading strong value based partnerships
Citizenship, duty, loyalty, partnershipwork
Equity, fairness
Leadership
How can you promote these values and virtues in the partnership?
Always eager to read, learn new ideas, latest HRM possibilities – many of you because you are here at this conference
Delight in thinking up new and improved ways of doing things
How can you shape the change to promote these values and virtues in the organisation?

14. Temperance: Leading strong value based partnerships Forgiveness, mercy
Modesty, humility
Prudence, caution
Self-control, self-regulation
How can you promote these values and virtues in the partnership?
Always eager to read, learn new ideas, latest HRM possibilities – many of you because you are here at this conference
Delight in thinking up new and improved ways of doing things
How can you shape the change to promote these values and virtues in the organisation?

15. Wonder and optimism: Leading strong value-based partnerships
Wonder, delight, appreciation of excellence and beauty
Gratitude
Hope, optimism, future mindedness
Playfulness, humour
Sense of deeper purpose or contribution
How can you promote these values and virtues in the partnership?
Always eager to read, learn new ideas, latest HRM possibilities – many of you because you are here at this conference
Delight in thinking up new and improved ways of doing things
How can you shape the change to promote these values and virtues in the organisation?