David Megginson

Current issues in mentoring

The article provides an overview of current issues in mentoring. After drawing on suggestions from participants at a mentoring conference, the article moves on to examine some key emerging questions concerning the value of formal mentoring, the role of training and the experience of mentroing in different countries. The article concludes with a consideration of methodology and how we can come to know what people’s experience is of mentoring.

Creating a coaching culture

Purpose – This paper aims to summarise the authors recent research into what is involved in creating a coaching culture.Design/methodology/approach – Based on a series of organisation cases six dimensions are identified and four sub‐dimensions within each, and an instrument is developed that assesses the level of development of organisations across these dimensions. More work remains to be done in validating the instrument, but it has already been found to provide a framework for consideration of the issues in creating a coaching culture in a number of international organisations.Findings – The study finds that addressing the organisational dimension by exploring the agenda for creating a coaching culture is one way to direct attention and energy towards the business benefits. The fuller findings of this study are published as in Making Coaching Work: Creating a Coaching Culture.Practical implications – The article provides an agenda for practitioners – both business leaders and development advisors, and...

Planned and Emergent Learning

Describes learners according to how they have responded to the twin challenge of taking responsibility for planning their own learning and squeezing learning out of this emerging experience. Typifies learners as sleepers, warriors, adventurers and sages. Provides a range of development processes for each.

Chamber music and coaching managers

Argues that, in the fields of team working and coaching, the metaphor of sporting excellence is overused. Considers the downside of the sporting analogy and proposes instead a musical analogy. Examines the value of the symphony orchestra, the jazz combo and the chamber music ensemble as alternatives. Describes a public masterclass where an established and successful musician coached a young quartet and a subsequent session that discussed the masterclass and it

Self‐development for Developers

Reports some findings from the Developing the Developers report, in particular the high proportion of developers who differentiate training from development, and their reasons for so doing. Identify from the research the top ten approaches that developers see as important for the future. The authors summarize the issues addressed in their recent book, Self‐development: A Facilitator′s Guide, which include team building (first in frequency of being seen as important for the future in the AMED report), mentoring (second), coaching (third), self‐development (fourth), learning company (seventh), action learning (tenth). They suggest key issues related to each approach.

Goal-focused coaching: theory and practice

Armstrong, Michael. 1999. Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. London: Kogan Page. Beckhard, Richard, and Reuben T. Harris. 1987. Organizational Transitions: Managing Complex Change. 2nd ed. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Buchanan, David, and Andrzej Huczynski. 1991. Organizational Behaviour: An Introductory Text. Harlow: Prentice Hall. French, Wendell L., Cecil Bell, and Robert A. Zawacki. 2004. Organization Development and Transformation: Managing Effective Change. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Hall, Derek, and Laura Torrington. 1995. Personnel Management: HRM in Action. 3rd ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall.

Cultivating spirit in organisations

This paper examines the understanding of consciousness, attempts to define spirit, and explore the idea of spirit consciousness. It examines spirit consciousness in the context of autonomy and power. It moves on to explore learning strategies and communities and summarise the author’s own learning about planned and emergent learning. The final section poses some questions for learners, for helpers and for business educators.

In praise of idleness

Presents a model of “idleness” as a graceful and effective mental state for the execution of purposeful work. Uses examples from members of an open space conference, who described what they were offering. Reflects on the place of idleness in society, including the stress associated with some having too much work and others too little.

The Learning Company 2004

Discusses changes in individual learning capacity during the ten years up to 2004, including tree of knowledge (TOK) briefcases; cyborg technology; remodelling knowledgework; the flexible individual; and techneurology. Also discusses changes in organizational learning including dispersal of schools and universities; headquarters to conferential organizations; the fabricated organization; changes in information systems; and the shift in power.

WOMEN AND MEN WORKING TOGETHER EFFECTIVELY

Identifies six issues which have to be addressed in the effective co‐operation of men and women in an organization – identity, values, valuing differences, barriers, vision and action, and from this viewpoint reviews a particular course of management development workshops. Concludes that as a result managers of both sexes have become more focused, friendly, fast and flexible in their organizations.