Charles Seashore, Ph.D., is chair of the faculty of the doctoral program in Human and Organization Development of the Fielding Graduate Institute and a founding member of the faculty in the American University/NTL Institute Master's program in Organization Development. The program is now in it’s 27th year. He consults to many health care organizations including academic medical centers and teaching hospitals. He is a past chair of the board of the NTL Institute and co-authored the book What Did You Say? The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback with colleagues Edith Seashore and Jerry Weinberg.
Edie & Charlie Seashore
Intentional Use of Self: Strategies and Skills for Consulting, Coaching and Change
June 25-29, 2012
We are always making choices. Even when we say, “I don’t think I had a choice”, we are choosing. This workshop is an opportunity to explore ways of increasing our awareness so that we can make conscious, intentional instead of operating on “automatic pilot” or find ourselves stuck without accessible options. We can take back our sense of control while we are helping our clients to do the same.
The workshop uses conceptual input, self-reflection and highly interactive exercises to learn about key concepts such as reframing, feedback, support, agency and self-efficacy within a systems context. These resources will enhance participants’ own intentional use of self and provide the methodology for consultation, coaching, and training with change clients in both individual and team settings.
Monday
The Intentional Use of Self–Patterns, Choices and Self Differentiation The challenge of continuing growth and development of self is both the object of our work with clients as well as the condition for our own effectiveness. Strategies will be explored for increasing awareness of self while exploring a wider range of choices and options for conscious and deliberate development. Competence in Use of Self is explored in relation to the life-long process of self-differentiation.
Tuesday
Self Efficacy and Agency
The Use of Self is explored at the intersection of our beliefs about our competencies and abilities with the capacity to self-manage and access those abilities in our work with others in relationships, groups and organizations.
Wednesday
Valuing Diversity and the Art of Re-Framing
The Art of Reframing is one key to enhancing our capacity to deal with similarities, differences and conflict. We will be connecting the work of promoting inclusive organizations through re-framing our perceptions, tasks, goals and relationships.
Thursday
Feedback and the Development of Support Systems
Feedback and support systems are critical skill areas, which are required in the implementation of significant change strategies. We will look at ways of expanding one's own development in these areas as a basis for effective work with clients.
Friday
Sustainability and Generativity
Use of Self is intimately tied to issues of sustainability and generativity. Balancing the rhythms of life is essential if change is to coexist with our needs for stability and continuity. And the generative possibilities of Use of Self are linked with our own life stages and changing priorities in the course of maturation. The workshop will focus on linking our own development with the process of increasing the potential power of our clients.
