Max Hardy Consulting

Results through collaboration

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The Power of Appreciative Inquiry

01/01/2015 By Max Hardy Leave a Comment

Last week I attended the Partnering into the Future conference – an event co-hosted by Queensland Health and the Gold Coast Primary Healthcare Partnership Council – and came away with an insightful revelation.

It happened during the course of two workshops I ran on the Appreciative Inquiry approach to building capacity to partner. Basically, the approach requires people to think about their strengths and the things that have worked in the past. The aim is to help them think about what they believe is possible for the future and to aid them in working in that direction.

One of the things this approach gets people to do fairly early in the process is interview each other in pairs, relating experiences they’ve had where things have worked at their best. With this in mind, I got participants to think about times when they’ve partnered successfully with others and to also think about what made it work well. This is opposed to the conventional approach, which involves talking about all the problems and issues and thinking about how they might be solved.

Although I went into the workshops having a firm belief in the power of Appreciative Inquiry, I think I underestimated just how powerful this process can be. This was illustrated in the last exercise I conducted. During the session, I noticed one particular pair engrossed in an incredibly intense conversation. I only learned afterwards that it was a mother and her son. Very emotionally, she later reported that she’d told her son some things she’d never shared with him before. She also learned a lot from him as well. Both said that this structured interview process had really enriched their relationship.

Importantly, the Appreciate Inquiry school of thought also stipulates that the things most influential in our behaviour today are our images of our future. This profound cornerstone led to another notable workshop experience, this time involving a very dedicated Torres Strait Islands healthcare worker. She said, “people often say to me, ‘why do I keep doing what I’m doing?’ I haven’t known how to answer them but now I do. My answer is, ‘I have an image where indigenous people are much healthier and happier and more confident.’ That’s what keeps me going in spite of the challenges.”

For me, there’s no doubt that Appreciative Inquiry is a very powerful tool for encouraging people to work together and build relationships. It’s definitely a process I’ll be looking to explore even more in the future.

 AppreciaitiveInquiry4DSketch

This blog was first posted 27th April 2010 on Twyfords website www.twyfords.com.au

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Appreciative inquiry, Health

Mapping The Collaborative Journey

01/01/2015 By Max Hardy Leave a Comment

At a recent Conference I was asked how Twyfords came up with our collaborative pathway http://slidesha.re/1s8wIwu
This is how I responded (as best that I can recall).
‘Well it happened like this. Being actively into Appreciative Inquiry we decided, as a team, to enquire into our very best experiences working on projects where there was genuine intent, openness to doing things differently, and where enduring solutions or wise decisions eventuated.

When we talked about those experiences, especially when we focused on the outcomes, we couldn’t help but to then enquire into what contributed to that kind of success. Or to use the language of Appreciative Inquiry, we wanted to identify the root causes of success and also to understand the positive core of those who were part of that success.

This is what happened. We identified that when enduring solutions emerged, or at least decisions were well supported, the ‘community of interest’ was genuinely involved in developing, or co-creating, that solution. Fairly obvious, but then we had to ask, what led to a diverse range of people and organisations being willing to do that.

What we then identified is that people became more willing to co-create solutions when they have agreed on the process by which they would work together (i.e., working out governance arrangements, and ways of working together). In addition, it was necessary that the participants agreed on what they were trying to address (common purpose); they have co-defined the questions or dilemmas they were attempting to address.

Great – but how did that come about? Sometimes it is hard to get people together who see things very differently. When we enquired into that we found there had been a process of dialogue, deep respect for differences, understanding or various interests. So how did we get to that point?

Well, basically whatever it takes. But it needs to come from those initiating the journey to operate from a mindset conducive to collaborating. This involves making a commitment to appreciating what others bring, of exploring interests, of being willing to let go and change direction, and to expect that something creative, and better, will come from the process.

Having mapped all that, we ran the ‘model’ from beginning to end, and that is when we arrived at our five step collaborative pathway. We no longer describe it as a model as it makes more sense to regard it as simply a roadmap or a pathway. Having applied it in practice on numerous and very different projects we are discovering that it can take many different shapes and iterations. However, we are encouraged about how it complements and connects with the Collective Impact approach.
Collab Pathway Illustration
Lots to learn and keep learning no doubt, but this is the story of how it (i.e., Twyfords’ Collaborative Pathway) came about based on many experiences, projects, stories, frustrations, exhilaration and celebrations. It’s been said that all models are false, but some are useful. Check out this slide show that helps to illustrate our journeyhttp://slidesha.re/1s8wIwu

I have found applying the approach to be incredibly useful, and I continue to learn every time I try to tackle something complex in a new way. Needless to say, it is never boring!

The blog was first published on Twyfords website 4th August, 2014  http://www.twyfords.com.au/news-and-media/our-blog/mapping-the-collaborative-journey

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Appreciative inquiry, Collective Impact

What I do

26/12/2014 By Max Hardy Leave a Comment

What do I offer?

Essentially I help to build the capacity of organisations and leaders to collaborate effectively with others, especially to address their most complex challenges. This includes:

  • Different parts of an organisation working in a more ‘joined-up’ way
  • Organisations collaborating with other organisations/stakeholders
  • Organisations engaging their communities
  • Leaders helping directors of different parts of an organisation working more as a team.
  • A whole system to align its efforts to address a highly complex social or environmental issue.

 

How do I offer this support?

By:

  • Listening very carefully to what organisations and leaders are facing.
  • Providing early advice around projects, and during periods of the most challenging moments of the like of a project.
  • Providing briefing sessions to leadership teams, elected representatives and boards.
  • Delivering sessions at conferences and symposiums
  • Facilitating training
  • Coaching collaboration champions in organisations.
  • Coaching/mentoring leaders who are learning to do it differently.
  • Co-designing processes to achieve enduring solutions with a diverse range of players around a particular issue.
  • Facilitating sessions where it makes sense to utilise an independent person.

 

What are some different terms used that explain what I do?

  • Collaborative governance
  • Systems change
  • Community engagement
  • Stakeholder engagement/relations/management
  • Risk communication
  • Public participation
  • Deliberative democratic processes
  • Collective Impact
  • Alternative dispute resolution.

 

Influences to my practice

  • Appreciative inquiry
  • Asset-based community development
  • Systems transformation
  • Dialogue
  • Complexity theory
  • Deliberative democracy
  • Collective Impact

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Advice, Appreciative inquiry, Coaching, Collaboration, Collaborative Governance, Collective Impact, Community Engagement, Complexity, Consumer Engagement, Leadership, Systems

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Recent Posts

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Contact Details

Max Hardy Consulting
Email: max@maxhardy.com.au
Phone: 0418 217 261
Twitter: @maxchardy
Skype: maxhardy
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/max-hardy/11/339/a4b

Testimonials

Becky Hirst

'Max is one of the leading superstars of community engagement and collaborative governance in Australia. Since I first met him as my trainer in Adelaide back in 2007, I've admired his approach. He's passionate, dedicated, admired in the field and I look forward to seeing the next steps of his career unfold. Watch out world!'

Anna Kelderman

'Max's extensive experience with deliberative engagement, as well as his uniquely calming facilitation style, has helped bring about a step-change in the type of public engagement expected in Western Australia. It has been an absolute pleasure to partner with and learn from the best in the business, and I continue to look for opportunities to

Vivien Twyford

'I worked with Max for 17 years and appreciate his honesty, integrity and ability to connect with people at all levels. I learned much from him, particularly around Appreciative Inquiry, the appreciative approach and the value of deliberation. While I miss him, I have confidence that he will continue to be a wise advisor and

Crispin Butteriss, Bang the Table

'Max is a long time colleague, mentor and friend. He has a deft touch as a facilitator and collaboration strategist due his deeply developed empathetic listening skills, along with the experience and wisdom of many years of working on thorny problems with people from all walks of life'. Crispin Butteriss, PhD Co-founder and Chief Practice

Eugene McGarrell, FACS

'Max Hardy has worked with my senior executive team and local stakeholders to facilitate the co-creation of social wellbeing strategies. Max’s style is both collaborative and supportive and he gets the best from people involved. I highly recommend Max to anyone who is embarking on a process of co-creation.' Eugene McGarrell District Director, Northern Sydney

Jessie Keating

Working with Max is a delight. Max’s facilitation, collaboration and problem solving style is respectful and calm, along with being both accessible and professional. The most significant project we have worked on with Max was the planning and undertaking of a community symposium, focused on the drafting of our city’s 20 year strategy, MV2040. We

Beatrice Briggs

'Max Hardy brings to his work a delightful combination of common sense, integrity, experience, laced with a sly sense of humour.'   Beatrice Briggs Director International Institute for Facilitation and Change (IIFAC) Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico

Courtney Brown, Director, BDR Projects

'I have known and worked with Max for about two years, however I have been very aware of his career and engagement experience applied to major projects across industry sectors for a much longer period. Max has been at the forefront of pioneering new mechanisms and methodologies for genuine engagement and this resonates for his

Lisa Rae

I first encountered Max in Auckland when he delivered IAP2 training I was attending. Many years later, I’ve had the opportunity to work with him on two significant local government projects in Melbourne using co-design and deliberative engagement approaches. Max’s great strength was helping council decision makers understand their role in the engagement process and

Lindy Fentiman

'I have had the pleasure of working with Max when he ventures up to sunny Queensland!  He is a generous, insightful and highly skilled professional who absolutely practices what he believes in.  Nobody understands the importance of collaboration, engagement and the challenges this brings for organisations better than Max!  He is an excellent coach, facilitator

Moira Deslandes

'Max is a democracy enthusiast. He finds ways to enable, empower and encourage every voice to be heard and designs processes that foster the principle: every voice is worth hearing.' Moira Deslandes Director, Moira Deslandes  Consulting  

Barbara Dart

Max recently facilitated a two day course for us at Council about tackling the internal and external challenges of community engagement. Max is an exceptional facilitator and his ability to draw on experiences across such a broad and diverse background in CE is invaluable to those before him. I would highly recommend Max to anyone

The Honourable Andrew Powell MP

'I have always been impressed with Max’s ability to navigate and resolve the thorny issues through collaboration.  He involves all participants right from the beginning: asking “what’s the question that needs answering here”? His efforts alongside John Dengate in the journey that was The Queensland Plan were stellar and he was a significant contributor to

Ian Dixon, Dixon Partnering Solutions

'I have worked with Max on many occasions and have great respect for his skills and knowledge around community engagement and collaboration. He is an expert trainer and a strong advocate for Appreciative Inquiry approaches.' Ian Dixon, Principal, Dixon Partnering Solutions

Amy Hubbard, Capire

“Max is a trusted and respected colleague and friend of Capire. He is always able to provide us with a sound, strategic and independent perspective – even on the toughest projects in very complex communities” Amy Hubbard CEO, Capire.

Craig Wallace

I have worked with Max Hardy on two complex projects which took deliberative democracy and applied it to new problems. In 2007 at a ceremony in Arizona, USA Max along with the ACT Disability Advisory Council was awarded the IAP2 (International) Award for "Project of the Year" for our Citizens Jury project which provided scorecard

Liz Mackevicius

'Max worked with us to design and execute a series of workshops based on the citizen jury principles, to enable a conversation between community members about the growth and change expected to occur in a challenging inner city municipality. Max understood the key issues at hand, gave expert advice and worked with us to tailor

Amanda Newbery, Articulous

'Max Hardy has a unique ability to build the confidence and capacity of teams working in engagement. He brings a wealth of experience and insight. We have worked together on a number of deliberative projects and he is a delight to work with!' Amanda Newbery Articulous

Kellie King

'I have had the pleasure of both being a participant in a fantastic training session run by Max, and also as a client. Max was of tremendous assistance navigating through a challenging engagement process with great support, advice and good humour. Thank you Max.' Kellie King General Manager – Community & Corporate Services, Wannon Water

Carol M Anderson

'If one were to ask me who was the best facilitator and facilitation trainer in the world, I would unequivocally answer “Max Hardy.” As the public involvement manager at one of the largest U.S.-based environmental engineering firms, I often took along my notes from Max’s facilitation class to meet with clients and, on their behalf, with the public.

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