Welcome to the Spring 2023 Newsblog
In this edition
- Hopeful pieces from my column in Coaching at Work magazine
- Impactful storytelling with the "ABT" Narrative Template
- Time to Think - in the beautiful Cotswolds in May
- Pick of the Podcasts
- Active Hope - finding meaning, purpose & agency in challenging times
- Holding the Hope - we launched a wonderful book!
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Let's Look Up
Last March I was invited to join Coaching at Work magazine as the resident climate columnist.
Over the course of the year, I covered a range of subjects aimed at widening awareness around climate change, understanding its roots in racism and social injustice, and more.
As it's Spring, a time of renewal, of growth and of hope, I thought I would share two pieces I wrote on hope, to which Coaching at Work has generously given free access:
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"How can we stay in touch with hope?" I explored this against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the spiralling cost of living, looming global recession and global climate events. Read the January 2023 piece here.
If there's a climate, environmental or societal issue related to coaching that you'd like me to write about, do let me know
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The ABT Narrative Template |
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People who need to share compelling messages - such as some of my clients working in sustainability - often find it challenging to engage others who have different priorities. And when their messages are based on scientific data or lists of facts it's even harder. Whether they're speaking to boards to persuade them to adopt a new Net Zero policy, or to staff to enlist them in transformation, or to the general public to encourage them to take local action, they can struggle. And they can find that other people switch off.
But if they don't engage they won't be effective change agents nor will they meet their critical objectives upon which so much can depend.
So they need to find ways to distill their complex messages into compelling short stories. One such way is the brilliant "ABT Narrative Template", developed in 2012 by scientist turned filmmaker Randy Olson.
The main ideas have been used by good storytellers for thousands of years. He's wrapped it up very neatly.
Here's how it works:
- The "ands" share the initial information / set up the story
- The "but" creates tension / contradiction
- The "therefore" (or "so") shares the consequence / creates the solution.
(See what I did in the first paragraphs above when introducing the framework to you?!)
Here's a video of Randy Olson sharing the ABT approach.
(I'd love to hear how you get on if you try it in your work).
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Time to Think
Tired of meetings and trainings on Zoom?
Are you a coach, mentor, teacher, line manager, leader, therapist, trainer, facilitator, entrepreneur, parent, or just someone who wants to learn how to create amazing conditions for people’s thinking to truly flourish?
Then come along to my next in-person Thinking Partnership course in the beautiful Cotswolds, near Moreton in Marsh. We will have 2 days in person on 23/24 May 2023, with the third day on Zoom on 22 June.
The Thinking Partnership course will develop your listening skills and presence in helping individuals and groups to generate their own best thinking in ways they never thought possible. You'll learn by doing - not a textbook in sight - so there's lots of opportunity to connect, listen, share and gain many new insights into how "thinking" actually works.
And it’s highly likely that you’ll make significant breakthroughs in your own life by experiencing what it’s like to truly think for yourself.
Come and connect, and leave replenished and inspired!
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Pick of the Podcasts
I love podcasts! So many great ones to choose from. Here is one of my favorites that I listened to this month.
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What if we Decolonised Economics?
I listened twice as it's such a rich conversation!
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I'd love to hear what you think if you listen to it too. |
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Active Hope: finding meaning, purpose and agency in challenging times |
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Do you want to rebuild your motivation, find your creativity, courage and resolve, and move from a sense of isolation and confusion to a sense of participation and purpose in this tumultuous world?
"The Work that Reconnects" helps people to face into difficult truths and achieve greater clarity about how they can play a meaningful part in the transformation of our world.
Based on the lifetime work of Joanna Macy, this 1.5 day online workshop session will give you the opportunity to explore some of the key aspects of this wonderful way of being with others, leaving you refreshed, inspired and feeling much more connected.
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My next open "Active Hope" introductory experiential workshop is online on 5th June for a full day,
with a half day follow up on the morning of the 3rd of July.
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"Holding the hope - reviving psychological & spiritual agency in the face of climate change" |
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I was delighted to co-edit this book - an anthology of essays from 17 contributors across the fields of counselling, psychotherapy, coaching and psychology.
At our online launch event of 29 March over 200 people joined with 14 of the authors in presentations and mini workshops - an unforgettable evening of engagement, connection and insight, and important conversations as we move into deeper, uncharted waters in the history of humankind.
We're deeply grateful to all the generous authors and endorsers, and to psychoanalyst and scholar Sally Weintrobe who kindly wrote the foreword, and to PCCS books for taking on this formidable publishing challenge.
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Time to Talk?
If you would like to talk about anything you've read here, or how I could help you, your team or your organisation during these uncertain times, then please get in touch at linda@aspey.com
I hope you find this newsblog useful but if you don't you can unsubscribe below.
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