Dr Geoffrey Abbott and the Centre for International Business Coaching Present Coaching for a Global Mindset Deep Conversations for Thriving in Complexity London: Bentley Hotel, Knightsbridge, London Mon 1 - Tues 2 October 2012 A unique 2-day advanced workshop for people engaged with high level executive coaching and facing complex business challenges in the global economy. The workshop uses and teaches coaching methodologies to assist participants to develop their capacity to have powerful conversations that will strengthen their impact in their roles as senior executives, consultants or coaches. The workshop is facilitated by international coaching authority Geoffrey Abbott, PhD. Geoff is an experienced international coach, educator and author. He has written extensively about coaching, complexity and culture (bio attached). Geoff co-edited The Routledge Companion to International Business Coaching (Moral and Abbott, 2011). Participants and the Conversations The workshop is at post graduate level (though a degree is not required) and directed at people in senior positions who want to engage in deep level conversations that touch on all areas of life. The context is international business and Geoff will use advanced coaching approaches to challenge participants to move the conversation into related areas of values, meaning, purposes, systems, and the nature of the global environment, with the aim of developing more profound coaching outcomes. The workshop is capped at 20 people. The Context Globally, the daily reality of senior executives is of uncertainty, ambiguity, diversity and paradox. However local their focus, managers at all levels are increasingly being drawn into this global system that generates problem situations that need sophisticated approaches and new ways of thinking. The workshop is built on the foundation of Global Mindset. Global Mindset is a set of attributes and skills that enables executives to influence others who are different from them i.e. the essence of effective international business leadership. Participants will receive scores and feedback on the Global Mindset Inventory. The GMI was developed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix Arizona and based on a decade of research with leaders around the world.
Value Proposition You will take away from the programme: Knowledge: Engage with the best knowledge and practice of how to prepare for, engage in and benefit from high level conversations about complex and messy business situations regardless of the context Self Awareness: Learn about your current way of engaging with business complexity through your Global Mindset Inventory score and from experimenting with a range of new models for unpacking complexity Skills: Leave the workshop with conversational and conceptual tools that will immediately make you more effective in your leadership, consultancy and coaching roles across multiple situations Networking: Connect with high level global professionals and the Centre s extensive networks. Approach: Modules Dr Abbott will facilitate 8 closely interrelated modules. These build on each other in a series of interconnected waves to build knowledge and generate sustainable change. The modules are described below though there may be minor variations depending on participant needs. Each wave module contains a (1) core concept, (2) conversational tool, (3) activity and (4) debrief. The modules are outlined below. Dr Abbott will explain the core concept and introduce a coaching tool to apply the knowledge in an international business context. Participants will practice the tool and debrief. Dr Abbott will challenge participants to synthesize the knowledge and examine alternative perspectives on issues related to international business management. He will introduce and reinforce paradoxical thinking as a means of sorting through contradictory perspectives and ideas. Investment, Registration Fee GBP 1200, EUR 1500 inclusive of: a two day seminar comprising eight 90-minute interrelated waves/modules support materials morning coffee/tea, lunch and afternoon coffee/ tea on both days, drinks and canapes day 1 breakfast day 2 a follow up coaching session The Routledge Companion to International Business Coaching (Moral & Abbott, 2011) * Note - Accommodation not included Email: Phone: office@internationalbusinesscoaching.com +61 (0) 414207434 (to the Centre s office in Australia), +44 (0) 1932 267597 (to the Centre s representative in London Aspecture) www.internationalbusinesscoaching.com
Schedule: Day 1: 08:30-09:00 Registration and introductions 09:00-12:30 Modules 1 and 2 Wave 1: Introduction and Global Mindset Core Concepts: An overview of the workshop will be given. Participants will share their burning issues and their expectations for the two days. Global Mindset has emerged as a construct that predicts success in international business. GM will be explained and explored. You will be briefed on the Global Mindset Inventory (GMI) and assisted to interpret your report. Model: The model of GM and the GMI will be provided. Activity: Participants will work in groups to explore the Global Mindset construct and share insights from their own reports. A debrief session will discuss the applicability of Global Mindset in the business contexts of the participants. Wave 2: Fundamentals of Coaching: Global GROW Core Concept: Coaching will be presented as an essential leadership practice, and as a crucial methodology for generating powerful conversations in complex and messy business situations, including international dimensions. Model: An enhanced GROW model (a foundational coaching model used around the globe), will be introduced along with sets of powerful coaching questions. A parallel Global GROW process will be introduced to give attention to global perspectives. Activity: Participants will coach each other on growing Global Mindset 12:30 13:30 Lunch 13:30 17:00 Modules 3 and 4 Wave 3: Complexity, Systems and Leadership Core Concept: The language of complex adaptive systems is introduced for embedding complexity into leadership conversations. The group will explore differences between simple, complicated, complex and chaotic situations. Model: A conversational model will be introduced that provides a means of getting beneath the surface of big issues. Various ways of exploring complexity will be presented. Activity: Participants will coach each other on a significant real issue using the model, giving attention to the language of complexity. Wave 4: Difficult Conversations Core Concept: All managers can have simple conversations about their area of expertise. This module gives a conversational model for those situations where the tension and stakes are high. Model: A conversational model will be introduced that includes clear steps for entering a difficult conversation with confidence and exiting with a successful outcome. Activity: Different scenarios will be presented and participants given guidance on applying the model to the scenarios. Real situations will be explored within the bounds of confidentiality. 17:00-18:30 Drinks and canapés (included in the fee)
Schedule Day 2: 08:00 Pre-session Breakfast: Mindfulness Mindfulness has revolutionised leadership development. It will be introduced as a construct and practice that is conducive to clear thinking in complex situations. A simple technique will be introduced for the practice of mindfulness. The mindfulness technique will be practiced by the group followed by a conversation about its application to business. 09:00 12:30 Modules 5 and 6 Wave 5: Leveraging Culture through Conversation Core Concept: The introduction will focus on how culture can be mobilised as a positive influence in situations where the business challenges are cross border. Model: Some core cultural dimensions will be defined and explored and a model introduced for leveraging differences Activity: The language of cultural differences will be explored using a real international business issue as presented by participants. Wave 6: Reframing Core Concept: Complex situations are defined by the existence of multiple realities. Different ways of reframing to encourage the exploration of different perspectives will be presented. Model: A tool based on Bolman & Deal s Reframing model (from org behaviour) will be introduced. Activity:: Participants will coach each other using the tool to explore issues. 12:30 13:30 Lunch 13:30 17:00 Modules 7 and 8 (Concluding Session) Wave 7: International and Virtual Teams Core Concepts: International virtual teams are increasingly the vehicle for business success. Group life will be explored in complex situations in the international business environment. Model: An exercise for exploring complex team relationships will be introduced. Activity: A group discussion will be facilitated about the challenges of generating high impact conversations in virtual environments. Wave 8: Concluding Session The waves will be synthesized in a final participant-participant coaching session and group debrief. Participants will finalise a plan for applying the learning. Follow up Coaching Session Participants will have an opportunity to take their learning further with a one hour 1-1 Skype session with Dr Abbott after the seminar (included in the fee).
Presenter Profile Geoffrey Abbott, PhD Global Leadership Coach Director, Centre for International Business Coaching Geoffrey Abbott, PhD is an experienced executive coach, consultant, lecturer and author. He is expertise is in international business coaching, complexity, systems thinking, and people development. He has coached senior executives in the Asia Pacific and the Americas and has trained an mentored coaches around the world. He has extensive executive experience in corporate strategy. Geoff is currently under contract as a Corporate Educator with the Graduate School of Business in the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. In this role he uses coaching methodologies to facilitate learning in masters programs in personal development, organisational behaviour and systems thinking. He also leads corporate leadership development programs. He is co-editor of The Routledge Companion to International Business Coaching (Moral and Abbott, 2011). Geoff contributed chapters on coaching global virtual teams, coaching expatriate managers, selecting international coaches and coaching through mergers and acquisitions. He has written extensively on cross cultural and global coaching, including chapters in many recent handbooks (Wiley, Sage etc). Geoff has been resident in Brisbane, Australia since October 2009 and has family in El Salvador. He travels extensively, speaks some Spanish, plays erratic golf and enjoys cycling, films and reading, Examples of Geoff s recent coaching experience: Coaching high level defence leaders with recent operational experience who are now in senior civilian roles in government. The challenge is to assist the clients to ensure that powerful leadership styles and presence are contextualized to new roles. Team coaching with senior leadership teams across different sectors. Coaching a senior expatriate executive working in China with a major Australian insurance company. The challenge was to assist the client to understand the reasons for project failure and to rebuild confidence and direction within the company in a new senior role. Establishing coaching as a major element of leadership development with the graduate business school in a leading Australian university, including to internationalize the coaching approach and engage an international knowledge and delivery network. Coaching university leaders in change management, including internationalising programs.
Geoff s Client List Includes: SAB Miller, USA State Department, USAID, Coca Cola, Microsoft, University of Sydney, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aid to Artisans, International Paper, Australian Government (various departments), Australian Print Media, Arrow Energy, Grant Thornton, ANZ Bank, NAB Bank, SunWater, Raine & Horne R/E. Coaching Areas of Expertise: Geoff is a specialist in global coaching, including the application of Global Mindset in international business success. He gives attention to how coaching methodologies can promote cognitive complexity in executives, thereby better-equipping them to tack the complexity of their business contexts. He uses a variety of approaches in his coaching and facilitation, with a particular emphasis on strength-based change and building cognitive capacity for managing complexity. Geoff also introduces systems thinking into his coaching approach, ensuring that clients give attention to the interrelationships between different elements of their challenges. Business/Leadership Experience: Geoff is Director of the Centre for International Business Coaching Pty Ltd. He has established an extensive network of coaches internationally and drawn together expertise into a unique knowledge base in the Centre. Geoff was an executive with the Special Broadcasting Service (Australia), which is a national radio and television broadcaster with a special multicultural remit. Geoff has responsibility for the strategic planning processes and worked closely with the Board of Management. More recently, Geoff has run his own business and been working in senior roles with the QUT Graduate School of Business is designing and delivering leadership development programs for various companies. Certifications: Geoff is certified in the use of psychological and leadership assessments including the Global Mindset Inventory, the Cultural Orientations Framework, MBTI, Rueven Bar-On EQ-I, the TMS Team Management Profile, the TMS Linking Leader Profile. Education and Publications: Geoff has a PhD in business from the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. His dissertation focused on the use of coaching with expatriate managers to facilitate acculturation. Geoff also has Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with first class honours from the University of Western Sydney. He won the University prize for his study of values and organizational commitment. Geoff has written many chapters and articles related to coaching, Affiliations: The Academy of Management. International Coach Federation Coaching Philosophy: Geoff believes that a person s underlying values are critical drivers of success across all areas of life. His coaching approach is therefore to assist clients to surface, clarify and enact their values in ways that make sense to them as they confront the challenges that they choose to bring to the coaching engagements. Geoff
believes that learning comes from fully engaging with difficult and confronting issues with a mindset that is both positive and realistic (drawing on evidence from positive psychology and related knowledge). His coaching is pragmatic. He works with multiple approaches and perspectives with the view that if one approach doesn t work, then try another. In the end, he aims to fully serve clients in assisting them to achieve success as defined by them. In this pragmatic application of coaching, he seeks to remain faithful to his own values of inclusion, sustainable well-being, knowledge, trusting relationships, generosity and adventure. Geoff views coaching as best conducted as a form of serious play, consistent with the philosophy of John Dewey who in 1910 defined the ideal mental condition as, the serious play of the mind upon an issue. Endorsements Geoff coached me through the transition from a Latin America Regional Manager of a multinational (based in Central America), moving my family back to the US and starting a new business. Geoff was a constant resource, helping me to better understand my challenges and articulate my goals, applying researched theory to the issues I face, and bringing cutting edge coaching techniques from the US, Europe and Australia. In short, Geoff helped me succeed in business and in life during a most tumultuous time. For that I owe him a debt of gratitude so wish to make public my praise for his work. He has a rare ability to give insightful, practical feedback which has helped me take decisive actions that led directly to positive results. Mark Rampolla, CEO and Founder of Zico (www.zico.com), Former Latin American Regional Manager, International Paper Geoff listened to me and asked probing questions and allowed me to align my personal and professional goals in a period of massive change. provided practical and individually driven approaches based on proven theory and practice. The coaching assisted me in cultural awareness in handling management issues and awareness of self. Coaching helped me realize that it is not just about ways of getting things done but also understanding others perspectives. Geoff s coaching was like a form of mental management massage that helped me immensely across all aspects of my life. Christian Nadeau, Former Central American Regional Manager of Aid to Artisans, CEO and Founder of Ecodomo (www.ecodomo.com).