Changing Organizational Culture One Person At A Time

In the Radical Collaboration world, we talk of three different kinds of working environments: While the Red and the Green Zone may be obvious in how they show up, the Pink Zone is equally powerful, and just as destructive as Red Zone thinking. Essentially, two words sum up the Pink Zone, “passive aggression”, but many hours and emotional frustrations result in its expression! Why does it show up, and how can you deal with it when it does? There are many reasons why people can become or act in a passive aggressive manner: They feel powerless or voiceless, and this is a way for them to have impact. They do not enjoy conflict and perceive deeper interactions with others as having the potential for conflict. The politics of the workplace may dictate that it is unsafe for them to speak out especially if it is against a superior or a well-liked colleague. The management style of the company is such that open communication is discouraged, or that bad behaviors are not managed. ...

Preparing for a workshop with friend and colleague Elizabeth Kuylenstierna If you are a woman in business, have you ever noticed how often you may start talking with another woman in business about an issue or concern, and suddenly you find yourself offering - or accepting - advice, guidance, help or offers of collaboration- for free?  When I look back over the past 9 years since I started Namaqua Consulting, there are multiple occasions where I have made friends across the country or across continents, where I have shared techniques and approaches, coached and been coached, and entered collaborative and nurturing relationships with other women with nothing more than the desire to see each other do well emotionally, spiritually and financially. Why is this, and is it unique to women?  Part of me says ‘no’, in that I have also met some wonderful businessmen who have also shown a genuine interest in offering help or guidance, but 9/10 times, it is with other women...