This group has been created for Irish-based professionals involved in organisation development and change. Its purpose is to enable us to make contact, exchange views and discuss common issues and interests.

As a group member you can start or comment on a discussion, post jobs and network with other members.

In time we aim to host informal networking events to enable us to get together in person, so join up to stay informed!

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Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

This year’s CIPD Ireland conference is being offered as a free event to CIPD members.

CIPD Ireland says that the conference “is designed around interlinking themes that reflect the current key issues of concern across all sectors of the economy”. Speakers will address topics including leadership, labour market trends, stress management, coaching and performance optimisation.

Unfortunately I will be out of the country so can’t make it, but it looks like a good line-up for an event that last year cost €975!

You’ll find more information here.

If you do attend, please come back and post here to tell us how it went.

Ideally something to do with your team’s development, but we’ll try to answer all questions as best we can. Simply post a comment with your question and we’ll get back to you.

Well after a lengthy break from posting I feel compelled to discuss last night’s Apprentice on BBC one. What amazes me each week – although maybe I should no longer be amazed by this – is that the team that wins does so by just being a little less useless than the other team, rather than winning because they’ve done well. Am I being harsh? Maybe, but hey, you’ve got to admit, so far this series I haven’t seen anyone that I’d actually want on my team. Well maybe Kate…let’s wait and see how she gets on in the coming weeks.

Anyway, back to teambuilding Sir-Alan-style. Read more »

We are currently exploring the subject of stress at work and have compiled a brief survey to assess how stressed people feel and how they feel they could reduce their stress levels. The survey can be completed in about two minutes, and results will be compiled anonymously and broadcast on this website. We would be delighted to get your opinions. If you would like to complete the survey please click on the link below. Thanks!

Complete our Stress at Work survey

Employee engagement is one of the HR buzzwords these days, and I often wonder how do organisations measure their employees’ level of engagement, or commitment, to the organisation? There are of course many formal methods of measuring engagement and you could spend much time and effort conducting focus groups, surveys, questionnaires, etc. and analysing it all to try to come up with some quantitative measure of your employees’ engagement. Read more »

When we address the issue of conflict in teambuilding sessions, people often tell me that there is no conflict in their team or organisation. I rarely believe them. Conflict almost always exists in one shape or form.

Conflict can be very obvious, manifesting in arguments or open antagonism, but it can also simply be about differences of opinion or personality. So how can you recognise the more subtle symptoms of conflict? Read more »

There is something about the word teambuilding that conjures up images of everyone getting along famously and there being great harmony in the ranks. It is of course important that people get on and can rely on one another, yet it is equally important that teams can work through conflict when it arises. Read more »

Now let’s say right up front that we do not condone inappropriate workplace behaviour in any way, so take it easy and don’t misinterpret this headline!

One of the characteristics of high performing teams is that they have great relationships and they recognise and reward one another, so what better day to remind your team how much you appreciate them and the effort they put in? You don’t have to go the whole hog with cards and flowers, but maybe a chocolate on their desks? You might be surprised how far it would go to building morale and cementing their commitment to you – go on, give it a try!

I’ve recently asked lots of people whether they’ve made any New Year’s resolutions and, to my surprise, the majority have said no. The conversation tends to go like this:

Me: Why not?

Them: Because I have given up making them

Me: Why?

Them: Because I never stick to them

Me: Why? (my vocabulary is limited)

Them: Because I always make them too difficult; Because I make too many; Because I’m not motivated to carry them out; Because I forget; Because I get distracted and focus on other things; Because there’s nobody pushing me to do them; Because I lost sight of the point; Because I chose them at random and they don’t actually fit in my life;…and so on – you get the picture. Read more »