• makestuffhappen – project management that meshes people and place

    Facilitation

    From coalface to boardroom, workshop or public meeting - we galvanise people into action.

    Skills

    Training for collaboration and working with stakeholders.

    Change

    We help people find the strategies that stick.

    Communication

    Busy people, infinite choice – how can your message stand out? Talk to us.
    find out more >>

leadership

Performance Conversations

Posted by Ian Colley on March 31, 2010 – 9:56 pm

In the past year I have done quite a few training sessions on performance management.

The sessions confirmed my suspicion that the Australian working culture is  abysmal at performance feedback. Contrary to the popular stereotype of blunt, frank and open communication, in our workplaces we are, in the main, unassertive, indirect, ironic, passive and excessively accommodating. With some rare exceptions – the people who do the tough conversations for the rest of us.

We are also reluctant to praise, and do it badly. “You are great” doesn’t work. “Thanks for staying on last night to get that report in, I was really stressed about it”, is more valuable. It is specific, accurate, and
embedded in real workplace demands. Read More »

Catalysts for Capital

Posted by Annie Talve on June 30, 2009 – 12:28 am
Annie Talvé, Ian Colley and Chia Moan at the graduation ceremony

Annie Talvé, Ian Colley and Chia Moan at the graduation ceremony

They came from Bega, Bombala, Pambula, Tathra, Cooma, Queanbeyan and Canberra. Eight workshops over eight months in six regional locations. Fourteen business and community leaders throughout the Capital Region of NSW and the ACT, celebrated the end of the Leaders 4 Capital regional development program in Canberra on Saturday 27 June. Sponsored by the Capital Regional Development Board and a range of local shires, the program aimed to build a network of confident, collaborative and forward-thinking leaders who could help their local towns and communities thrive into the future.

Chia Moan and Ian Colley from make stuff happen designed and facilitated a program that inspired participants to harness the skills and confidence needed to make tangible things happen in their home patch. Karen Lott from Nethercote said:

“I have felt an increased level of confidence in speaking and presenting, which developed through knowing other participants, and through gentle encouragement and support from both participants and facilitators.”

“The whole journey has been enlightening,” said Paul Pincini from Pambula. Greater confidence has helped Emma Pieper from Theordore, ACT,  “to take more risks and to put myself out there a little more.”

Millingandi resident, Ivan McKay, summed up the mood of the  group: “I can make a difference in my local community whether employed for that purpose or not.”

And all 14 regional leaders have done just that. Things like community co-operatives, growers’ markets, improved community facilities, re-vegetation and environmental initiatives, women of vision leadership awards and a youth cafe and meeting place, are just some of the projects that have come to fruition over the eight month program.

Read More »