NICK WRIGHT
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact

Craziness

17/11/2017

61 Comments

 
I posted a blog a while ago where I proposed that four ‘Cs’ persistently undermine global efforts at development in the poorest countries: corruption, culture, conflict and climate. I spoke afterwards with Steve, an international development expert who has spent his life working with NGOs around the world, leading change strategies and interventions, running refugee camps etc. He said in all seriousness that I was missing a critical fifth C that is, in his experience, central to this equation: ‘Craziness’.

I started to laugh but stopped myself when I realised he wasn’t joking. Steve went on to explain with this example: Whilst working in Africa, he witnessed refugees burn down a primary school because of a personal disagreement between the head teacher, himself a refugee, and another person in the camp. He went on to say that we could attempt to explain such actions rationally but, unless we take into account the capacity for sheer human craziness, our efforts at development will be both naïve and limited.

This really got me thinking. I’ve never yet seen a craziness factor feature in a strategy map, theory of change, HR framework, coaching proposal or organisation development plan. So, I wonder…do we subconsciously and culturally filter out craziness because it doesn’t fit with our worldview, our theory of humanity? Conversely, could a resort to craziness-as-explanation simply be an admission of the limits of our ability to understand that which mystifies us, takes us by surprise, appears to defy all logic?

I don’t know – but I do think Steve may have a point. In our desire to structure, organise, manage and control, do we edit out, seek to remove or simply ignore the unpredictable, unmanageable, spontaneous, playful, mood-swinging aspects of our humanity that don’t fit our tidy, preconceived ideas and plans? If so, in doing so, do we miss out on the best of amazing, emergent, creative, human potential as well as find ourselves caught off-guard by its flip-side dark, destructive, shadows and risks?
61 Comments
Ian Henderson link
17/11/2017 04:20:00 pm

Great blog Nick - really interesting points. I never cease to be amazed about how people perceive their situations and problems. Recently I asked a production manager why there was so much waste on the floor of his unit; and there was a lot!! His answer was interesting. "Because we haven't got enough waste bins".

Reply
Nick Wright
17/11/2017 07:08:07 pm

Thanks Ian. I think that's a great example of how 'craziness' can become embedded in human systems. Our ability to persist in irrational and self-defeating behaviours - whilst, at the same time, convincing ourselves we aren't - is really quite remarkable!

Reply
Katy Murray
18/11/2017 12:39:07 pm

Love this Nick and agree that 'craziness' allows a space for emergent, messy, mystical, seemingly non rational, non logical aspects of our lives and leadership ... worth looking at chaordic leadership (Dee Hock) on this ✨

Reply
Nick Wright
18/11/2017 12:44:57 pm

Thanks Katy! A couple of quotations from Hock resonate well here:

'Ego, Envy, Avarice, and Ambition: Four beasts that inevitably devour their keeper. Harbor them at your peril, for although you expect to ride on their back, you will end up in their belly.'

'Creativity: The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out. Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture. Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.'

You may find this related short piece - and some of the comments under it - interesting (...inspired by Richard Marshall)?

http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/everybodys-weird

Reply
Richard Simpson
19/11/2017 09:55:17 am

Assumptions are useful, except when they're not. I did a Clowning course last year and that was a good antidote to assumptionitis. Exercises included finding uses for an everyday object that avoided the obvious - e.g. what can you use a chair for when you can't sit on it? In my coaching, so often a breakthrough occurs when an assumption is successfully challenged. Maybe our human reality is built on assumptions about the world because they give us a degree of certainty and stability which in turn enables purposeful action. It's perhaps why some of like habits and routine so much. The shadow side is that we are fooled into thinking our reality is the only one - because it works for us more often than not. Dissonance shakes those foundations.

Reply
Nick Wright
19/11/2017 11:12:46 am

Hi Richard. Well said! I love the idea of a Clowning course. :) It incorporates craziness, dissonance and 'assumptionitis', all at the same time!

Reply
Steve
20/11/2017 08:35:39 am

Hi Nick, I like the blog. Humanity is just so colourful. As we create with one hand we seem to be able to destroy with the other. We want to be rationale but can’t help sometimes being irrational. Wanting order and simplicity but forever creating complexity and chaos.

Reply
Nick Wright
21/11/2017 10:57:11 am

Thanks Steve. That certainly resonates with my own experience!

Reply
Brigitte Jowanka
23/11/2017 07:43:22 pm

Interesting process....to think through.
I am sure the man was at the heartbeat of life.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/11/2017 07:43:59 pm

Thanks Brigitte. I'm intrigued...can you say more?

Reply
Dawn Reed, MSOD, ACC
26/11/2017 07:53:23 pm

You present a very interesting question! It is definitely food for thought!

Reply
Nick Wright
26/11/2017 07:54:25 pm

Thanks Dawn. I would be very interested to hear any further thoughts you have on it..!

Reply
Steve Tarpey
26/11/2017 07:55:05 pm

In a bizarre coincidence - I too am (another) Steve and have done similar work in similar environments to your first Steve. I see his point and I appreciate your response, but where I'd challenge who defines 'crazy' and against what norms. I can think of plenty of people and cultures I've encountered who would think that how we organise and run our lives in the West is 'crazy' - "you spend how much time travelling?"; "you work how many hours?"; I'm sure you can add your own examples ...
To be clear, I absolutely agree that we all too readily ignore the wonderful and terrifying potential for human beings to be spontaneous and/or act in ways we don't understand. But alongside that is the danger of uncritically normalising our worldview, behaviours, culture and practices. Anyone who has stood in Waterloo Station and watched the stress and frenzy of people hurrying to meetings that don't matter, reading long documents that won't have any impact may wonder what 'crazy' looks like.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/11/2017 08:03:03 pm

Hi (another) Steve! Thanks for your reflections. I think your question of 'who defines crazy and against what norms' is a very important one. We could argue that, for instance, craziness is in the eye of the beholder or that craziness is socially/culturally constructed or construed. In doing so, we could similarly challenge all notions of normality and rationality/irrationality. At the same time, I can see so may examples of individual or group actions that, although explainable at some level, also appear to me as deeply deranged (e.g. Hitler/Nazis; Idi Amin; Serbia in Bosnia; Daesh). You may be interested in the short piece I posted originally: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/sisyphus I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Reply
William Chadwick
26/11/2017 08:18:30 pm

Really like this new dimension - humanity and chaos do produce results within the framework AND, paradoxically, the informality you set out Nick - thank you for sharing.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/11/2017 08:18:59 pm

Thanks William. You're welcome.

Reply
Barry Jackson
26/11/2017 08:20:09 pm

What a thought provoking question. To begin with, it's not just a developing world problem. How many times have we heard it said, after the EU referendum, after the election of Donald Trump, Italy's exit from the World Cup in a qualifying round, "The world's gone mad." The very term "political correctness" is acknowledgement that we are seldom guided by logic or even common sense. Collective insanity is an everyday occurrence. What one makes of this I really don't know. I look forward the comments of others. Will we eventually get ourselves into such a mess that we'll be forced to come to our senses or will we, one day, do so something so stupid that we cease to exist?

Reply
Nick Wright
26/11/2017 08:21:44 pm

Hi Barry. Great questions. You reminded me of a profound quotation by Gareth Morgan: 'What passes for rationality is often irrationality in disguise.'

Reply
Srihari Balasubramaniam
26/11/2017 08:22:40 pm

Good post Nick..in my view and I concur with your premise that craziness in today's world has a negative connotation( unless of course its downright malicious)."are you crazy" ? Is a question that implies somebody not fitting that prescribed mould..when it could be that the person is walking a totally different path..which does not conform to present day equations and thinking.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/11/2017 08:26:29 pm

Thanks Srihari. You remind me of how many people we now consider genius in the fields of art, science etc. are or were considered by their peers or contemporaries as 'weird', 'insane' or something similar. You may find this short related piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/censored

Reply
Caroline Esterson
27/11/2017 02:38:50 pm

So true Nick. Sadly human behaviour, not just in developing countries is chaotic. Chaos theory suggests that a dynamic system is highly sensitive to initial conditions but even in 'craziness' there are patterns to be found. Human behaviour isnt neat and tidy.. it doesnt fit in a box and that, i think, encourages us to look at it case by case... as the exception to the rule as it is too complex to form part of our norms. As such we do avoid it in all its craziness and glory.

Reply
Nick Wright
27/11/2017 02:40:20 pm

Hi Caroline. I think that's a very interesting reflection vis a vis a possible relationship between 'craziness' and 'chaos'.

Reply
Jeanne Coogan
27/11/2017 02:41:11 pm

But as more and more industries attempt to utilize algorithms and big data, how does one factor in the craziness/chaos to these equations?

Reply
Nick Wright
27/11/2017 02:42:08 pm

Hi Jeanne. That's an interesting question. The short answer - I don't know!

Reply
Vimala Suppiah
27/11/2017 02:51:48 pm

I agree with Barry that craziness is not exclusively assigned to developing countries but is a global feature of the 21st century. It is the “upside world” that’s emerging that needs a upside world view and suspend all what we are familiar and comfortable with. Are we ready to let go of what we are familiar with, step into the madness and dare embrace what Richard A. Rowland, head of Metro Pictures said in 1919, “the lunatics have taken over the asylum”?

Reply
Nick Wright
27/11/2017 02:56:39 pm

Thanks Vimala. I agree re. developing countries and would argue it's not only a feature of 21 Century. My sense it it's an intrinsic aspect of the human condition and of all groups. I've got that song by Fun Boy Three stuck in my head now: 'The Lunatics have Taken Over the Asylum'! :)

Reply
Alan Wingrove
27/11/2017 02:57:20 pm

Nick, as ever, a thought provoking piece. I agree with Barry and Vimala, this is a global issue - and some of the 'developed' countries may be the most crazy.
A great book on this, by Dan Ariely, is 'Predictably Irrational' where Dan gives everyday examples of the craziness of human behaviour. Personally, I believe the term VUCA is a modern excuse for irrationality.
It could be argued that the most crazy, irrational and damaging animal species on Earth is the human being. The only species that hunts other species to extinction for 'sport' or financial benefit; the only species that destroys their own environment (and the environment of other species) and overuses all their natural resources - and the only species with the arrogance to think we're doing it well.
Another good book to read is Theo Compernolle's 'Brain Chains'. In this he outlines research into the dangers of using a palm-top whilst driving. Totally crazy - and yet we see it daily.
Just a thought....

Reply
Nick Wright
27/11/2017 03:01:40 pm

Thanks Alan. I love how you articulated that..! Great examples and great books. Another good book along similar lines is McRaney's, 'You Are Not So Smart'.

Reply
Business Study Online link
28/11/2017 04:51:08 am

Great Job

Reply
Nick Wright
28/11/2017 10:23:57 am

Thank you.

Reply
Tom Rausch
28/11/2017 10:25:55 am

We live in a VUCA world: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. No need to add crazy to that. Is 30+ % of America to be labeled crazy just because many of us do not take the time to understand the nuances of thinking that bring about behaviors that may appear "crazy?" Great topic and question: how do we make sense of things that do not fit our worldview? Thanks for bringing it up Nick.

Reply
Nick Wright
28/11/2017 10:39:01 am

Hi Tom and thank you for posing such a thought-provoking response. VUCA is normally applied to contextual environments. I wonder if what we perceive and experience as craziness is sometimes VUCA expressed as a psychodynamic phenomenon in people and groups?

The sense-making issue is a tricky one. I sometimes assume that everything could be explained rationally if only we could understand all of the factors and variables at play. It's a philosophical stance that mirrors and reflects something like a traditional cause-and-effect scientific paradigm.

I think the assumption itself is questionable. What if, like in quantum physics, some things 'just are' or 'just happen' or, as in social constructionism, the sense-we-make is simply a product of, say, personal, language and cultural paradigms? I love the mystery in that. Maybe that's where true 'craziness' lies.

Reply
Louise Frayne MSc, LL.B (Hons), Chartered FCIPD
28/11/2017 10:40:40 am

Perhaps it's the perception that crazy equals chaos.....replace it with Curiosity then I believe there would be better engagement. As children we are naturally curious but as we get older many of us Conform and our Curiosity takes a back seat. Let's embrace Curiosity to encourage discussion, learning and reflection.

Reply
Nick Wright
28/11/2017 10:42:20 am

Hi Louise. I agree. Curiosity can be a great response to what we perceive and experience as craziness...as can be, in some expressions of craziness...wonder or even horror..?

Reply
Bruce Hammer
28/11/2017 11:36:36 pm

My associations to Nick's four C's is that people in the system no matter what the defining operating principles of that system may be impede development efforts because they have an alternate agenda such as acquiring resources outside the agreed upon rules of that system (corruption), or because they are in opposition to the actions or beliefs that development is aligned with (culture) or they are in the midst of conflict between groups populating that system, or because of external factors that make development extremely difficult. I am using climate in the broadest sense. I believe that Nick's Steve is referring to the impact of individuals whose motivations are mostly to destroy systems and people. Anarchistic and narcissistic rage ,and primal contempt and hate for people does exist, and can play a significant role in impeding development efforts if they aren't identified as such.

Reply
Nick Wright
28/11/2017 11:38:46 pm

Thanks Bruce. Interesting comments!

Reply
Inbavanan G.
29/11/2017 10:11:10 am

Two thoughts for contemplation from my side. Firstly, 'Craziness' is based on what lenses we wear to see others with. A lot of things happening in India currently for example, might look 'crazy' to people from the West. However, the reasons of such things is quite evident to a large majority of people living in India.

That brings me to the 2nd thought - To be a successful 'change agent', one first needs to leave behind their lenses and engage with the group that is attempting to bring about change and imbibe their 'thinking' & 'ways'. Only then will they be able to facilitate successful change. As there is a saying, 'walk in the other man's shoes to know exactly where it bites'.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/11/2017 10:28:55 am

Hi Inbavanan and thank you for such a thoughtful response.

Your first comment about India begs some really interesting and important questions, for instance: (a) whether anything or anyone can ever be regarded objectively as 'crazy' and (b) whether anything or anyone can be regarded as not crazy simply because the reasons are evident to the majority.

One example in the media in recent years has been some very extreme incidences of rape in India. Even if the underlying social, cultural and personal causes can be explained, e.g. by social scientists or psychologists, does that make them any less pathologically deranged?

I'm reminded of a fascinating conversation I once had with a profound Indian man on a flight home from Cambodia. When I told him I was working for a charity, he responded, 'How shameful!'. I was surprised because, in the West, people normally respond with something like 'How honourable!' I was curious so asked him to explain.

He replied that he assumed that, by working for a charity, I was earning less money than I could have done by doing alternative work. In his view, the honourable thing is to earn as much wealth as possible for one's extended family. I found that absolutely fascinating! I love those kinds of cross-cultural encounter. :)

I agree wholeheartedly with your second point, with the caveat that I don't think it's possible to leave behind our own lenses. The idea that, for instance, 'one needs first to leave behind their lenses' is itself to view an approach, a relationship, through a particular lens. I believe it's more about being aware (as far as we can be) of our own lenses so that they don't interfere with the relationship and process.

'Walk in the other's shoes' is very good advice...as far as it is possible!

Reply
Iain Martin
29/11/2017 10:31:25 am

And this is why Artificial Intelligence will never completely replace experienced coaching in face-face discussions with senior leaders. AI may threaten or even replace many elements of mid-management coaching but creative dialogue at high level springs from the intuition, learning and experiences of mature coaches interacting with engaged clients and not from computer synthesis of 'normal responses'. Coaching is more of an art and less of a science and AI cannot replicate spontaneous creativity.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/11/2017 10:46:06 am

Thanks Iain. What an interesting angle to consider!

Interestingly, I heard mention in the UK this week of some research that proposed some clients with mental health issues benefited more from engaging with 'e-therapy' than with an actual human therapist.

I think it was to do with accessibility and preference for ethnic minority clients but it raises some important ethical and practical questions that may apply to the coaching arena too. If interested, here are a couple of reference articles:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ethnic-minority-children-non-white-mental-health-services-a8078961.html

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/online-counselling-pros-and-cons

Reply
Mary Huntington, PHR
29/11/2017 04:17:11 pm

In a time where neuro-diversity is on the rise and the word "crazy" elicits strong emotions from some, perhaps a look into changing that final "C" into "Choas." I encourage you and others to take a look at the work of Snowden...very interesting and especially useful in working globally!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7oz366X0-8

Reply
Nick Wright
29/11/2017 04:27:49 pm

Thanks Mary. I think the neuro-diversity phenomenon has some interesting parallels in social constructionism. What we notice and consider to be differences - and what value and meaning we attribute to differences - are, in a sense, culturally constructed.

'Crazy' is indeed a sensitive word. I'm not sure, however, that 'chaos' captures the full extent of what Steve in the blog meant or whether, perhaps, chaos is a possible cause or consequence of craziness.

My sense is that craziness is inherent to the human condition and that, personally and culturally, we sometimes try to repress or contain it because of its potentially embarrassing or damaging consequences. In doing so, I wonder how much amazing positive mystery, wonder, talent, contribution and potential we miss too.

I'll be very interested to watch the video. Thanks for posting the link!

Reply
Mary Huntington, PHR
29/11/2017 04:39:38 pm

Not sure if you've done any reading on the Cynefin Framework developed by David Snowden (Cognitive Edge), but he speaks of chaos and the disorder that can ensue when approaching a chaotic situation from a simple frame. He frames leadership decision making through four frames (Simple, Complicated, Complex, and Chaotic) whereby approaches to decisions and leadership is different in each area. Maintaining that in today's world, contemporary organizations are changing so rapidly and are more than just the sum of its parts - "unknown unknowns" as he refers to them. However, the fourth frame is the chaotic frame where no manageable pattern exists and it's only turbulence. As I read it in your words, "craziness."

Nick Wright
29/11/2017 04:42:19 pm

Hi Mary. The Cynefin Framework sounds fascinating. I'll have a look!

Samira El Boudamoussi, PhD
29/11/2017 04:35:10 pm

I think that we are all (implicitly) aware of this human creaziness or chaos and that is why we try our best to control (explicitly) the other ingredients in order to leave enough room for us to deal with the unpredictable.

Reply
Nick Wright
29/11/2017 04:36:53 pm

Hi Samira. I think that's an interesting idea - as if we seek to create sufficient stability in some aspects of our experience to allow unpredictability to arise in others without feeling threatened or destabilised by it?

Reply
Luke Novelli, Jr
30/11/2017 04:45:39 pm

Craziness from who's perspective? I would love to know what the refugee who burned down the school was thinking, and how this act "made sense" to that person.

Reply
Nick Wright
30/11/2017 04:47:00 pm

Hi Luke. I guess that's the million dollar question! A related question could be, could such an act be regarded as 'crazy' even if it did make sense to the person,,?

Reply
C Jason Martin
30/11/2017 04:49:10 pm

You probably know more of the background than you've shared, but without that I would be slow to judge the burning of the schoolhouse as crazy. Depending on the issues and the power distribution, burning the schoolhouse may have had lasting and profound positive impacts on the community. Maybe the schoolmaster was immune to reason and after the flames cooled they had a laugh and built a new and better school. I wasn't there. I don't know.

That example aside, I have seen countless crazy and even cruel things perpetrated 'for the good of the business' with nary an eyebrow raised. The insane part is how good we are at accepting what we are habituated to, as normal.

To the point of lenses, I find it easier to start from the premise that I'll never know what it's like inside your head and that everyone has apparently irrational urges and needs. But that doesn't mean they can't be convinced to play along at least some of the time.

Reply
Nick Wright
30/11/2017 04:53:30 pm

Hi C Jason. Thanks for such inspiring and thought-provoking insights.

Yes, I had a similar conversation with an international development expert this week who is trying to measure and evaluate the impact of an INGO's work and on how many beneficiaries.

My sense is that we can't possibly know and understand all the ripple effects and down-through-time implications of any action-intervention that we or others make.

On that note, you may find this related short piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/maybe

Reply
Debbie Tucker
30/11/2017 04:54:52 pm

This reminds me of Brene' Brown's Rising Strong theory of reckoning (recognizing and engaging the issue), rumbling (...getting honest about the issue/struggle....and reality checking topics hopefully beginning of the change..) and the revolution (fundamental changing of our thoughts and beliefs)....all leading to transformation. Allowing the unpredictable...seems a great opportunity to communicate, listen, and relate to each other to sort out the best resolutions. I don't want to miss the "best" options.....I'll listen, learn and communicate and deal with the unpredictable!

Reply
Nick Wright
30/11/2017 04:56:59 pm

Thanks Debbie. I like that. It sounds like how to be open and look for the treasure that may emerge in the midst of the apparent 'craziness'?

Reply
Chris Jackson
30/11/2017 06:25:19 pm

Nick, With your permission (based on, for example, your desire to 'edit in' the “unpredictable, unmanageable, spontaneous, playful, mood-swinging aspects of our humanity"), let’s define “craziness” as “uncertainty” and “structure, organise, manage and control” as “certainty”.

With these definitions, there’s an interesting paper by Frank Matthias Staemmler published in the British Gestalt Journal that extols the practice of uncertainty (aka ‘craziness’) and which I believe relates to this post (- http://www.britishgestaltjournal.com/shop/volume-6-1-1997-1). As we Gestalters believe, there really only is the ‘here and now’ in which to engage and, moreover, in the encounter in that existential moment, it’s important that we have no attachment to any certainty – no small challenge in a world that is wedded to dualistic thinking with its attendant pressures of fitting into pre-defined certainties.

However, if, in that moment, the coach can tolerate not knowing what will happen next, can ‘cultivate craziness’ and can hold the space (the 'ground') so that the client’s 'crazy’ figures surface, a new beautiful thing is possible. Indeed, we might say, without such craziness, there isn’t really life happening.

So, yes, let’s add that Fifth 'C' :)

Reply
Nick Wright
30/11/2017 06:38:52 pm

Hi Chris. I loved reading your reflections and ideas and your way of expressing them! :) Although I have the sense that 'craziness' extends beyond 'uncertainty', I think the certainty-uncertainty idea captures well something of that which we may experience when we encounter it. I experience it within myself as well as in encounter with others...and in cultures and systems.

I wonder if 'craziness' can represent psychodynamically, for us, uncontrollability as well as uncertainty which can, in turn, evoke feelings of anxiety and threat. This drives an instinct to control, suppress, mitigate or remove craziness in order to feel more in control, more certain, and therefore, less anxious.

Craziness holds, for me, ideas of 'new beautiful things', often beyond our ordinary, un-crazy abilities to imagine, alongside the worst kinds of destructive potential. Perhaps that's why, culturally, we view craziness as so dangerous and try to control, rationalise or define it out of existence?

In doing so, I find myself wondering what I/we lose as well as what I/we gain.

Reply
Chris Jackson
1/12/2017 09:24:05 am

Agree that's the something important about control here, Nick, as well as certainty ... and, of course, dualistic thinking tries to control in order to create certainty, which is the antithesis of what I believe (true) Gestalt is offering :)

Nick Wright
1/12/2017 09:26:59 am

Thanks Chris. I'm very curious. I regard myself as a Gestalt-ist too. What do you believe '(true) Gestalt is offering'..? Do you have any examples from experience you could share to illustrate it?

Lara Currie
1/12/2017 06:13:45 pm

Interesting. The unpredictable is hard to factor in because it is just that, unpredictable. I agree it should be a consideration.

Reply
Nick Wright
1/12/2017 06:14:14 pm

Thanks Lara. I agree!

Reply
Scott Hawkins
2/12/2017 04:53:05 am

In the world of Recovery Coaching, craziness is the norm! To go from a "you can't make this stuff up" to coaching an individual to start on a new pathway of life, you got to work in the craziness before dealing with the other 4 C's!

Reply
Nick Wright
2/12/2017 04:53:57 am

Hi Scott. Brilliantly put..!! :)

Reply
liana link
23/8/2022 09:04:36 am

thanks for info

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

    Picture
    Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
    Subscribe to Blog
    Picture
    Picture


    ​Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Ability
    Accountability
    Achievement
    Act
    Action
    Action Learning
    Active Listening
    Activism
    Adaptability
    Adaptive
    Advent
    Adventure
    Advice
    Advocacy
    Africa
    Age
    Agency
    Agile
    Aid
    Alientation
    Ambiguity
    Anchor
    Angle
    Anthropomorphism
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Armaments
    Art
    Artificial Intelligence
    Asia
    Aslan
    Assertiveness
    Assumption
    Assumptions
    Asylum
    Asylum Seekers
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Attribution
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    BANI
    Baptist
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Belonging
    Bereavement
    Berlin Wall
    Bias
    Bible
    Body Language
    Borders
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Bridges
    Burnout
    Business
    Cages
    Calling
    Capability
    Cards
    Care
    Career
    Categories
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Chance
    Change
    Chaos
    Character
    Charity
    Child
    Children
    Choice
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Church
    Clarity
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Co-active
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Coincidence
    Collaboration
    Collaborative
    Commitment
    Communication
    Communism
    Community
    Compassion
    Competence
    Competencies
    Competency
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Confidence
    Confidentiality
    Conflict
    Confluence
    Confusion
    Congruence
    Conscience
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructivism
    Constructs
    Construe
    Consultancy
    Consulting
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Corruption
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Credibility
    Crisis
    Critical Consciousness
    Critical Reflection
    Critical Reflective Practice
    Critical Reflexivity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Cultural
    Cross-cultural
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Customer Service
    Dad
    Danger
    Darkness
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Deferred Gratification
    Definition
    Delight
    Delusion
    Dementia
    Democracy
    Demographics
    Depression
    Despair
    Determination
    Development
    Deviance
    Deviant
    Diagnosis
    Dictatorship
    Diet
    Dignity
    Dilemma
    Disability
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Discipline
    Disclosure
    Discovery
    Discrimination
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissident
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Doomscrolling
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamic Complexity
    Dynamics
    Dysfunction
    Dysthymia
    Easter
    Ecology
    Economics
    Ecosystems
    Edge
    Edi
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Election
    Eliciting
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encounter
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Entrepreneur
    Environment
    Equality
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Ethiopia
    Europe
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Evocative
    Evolution
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiences
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Expertise
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Expression
    Extremism
    Facilitation
    Facilitator
    Faciltitation
    Factors
    Faith
    Family
    Fantasy
    Far Right
    Father
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Field Theory
    Fight Fight Freeze
    Fight-fight-freeze
    Fight Flight Freeze
    Figure
    Filter
    Fit
    Flashback
    Focus
    Food Bank
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freedom
    Free Speech
    Freud
    Friends
    Fun
    Future
    Gaza
    Gaze
    Gender
    Geopolitical
    Geopolitics
    German
    Germany
    Gestalt
    Gift
    Global
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Good Friday
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Grit
    Ground
    Group
    Groups
    Groupwork
    Guidance
    Guilt
    Habit
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hermeneutics
    Hero
    Hierarchy
    History
    Holistic
    Holy Spirit
    Home
    Homeless
    Homelessness
    Honesty
    Hope
    Hopelessness
    Hubris
    Human
    Human Givens
    Humanitarian
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Human Rights
    Humility
    Humour
    Hybrid
    Hypotheses
    Hypothesis
    Icon
    Idealising
    Ideas
    Ideation
    Identity
    Ideology
    Image
    Imagination
    Immersion
    Immigration
    Impact
    Impostor
    Improvisation
    Incarnation
    Inclusion
    Independence
    Influence
    Influences
    Influencing
    INGO
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intention
    Intercultural
    Interdependence
    Interference
    International
    Interpretation
    Intersectionality
    Intimacy
    Introjection
    Introversion
    Intuition
    Invisible
    Invitation
    Iran
    Irrationality
    Israel
    Jargon
    Jesus
    Jolt
    Journey
    Joy
    Judgements
    Jungle
    Justice
    Keys
    Kindness
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Leadership Teams
    Learner
    Learning
    Legacy
    Lent
    Lesson
    Liberal
    Life
    Light
    Linguistic
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Manipulation
    Marathon
    Marginalisation
    Marketing
    Martin Luther King
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meditation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Metaphysics
    Mindfulness
    Miracle
    Mirror
    Mirroring
    Misfit
    Mission
    Mode
    Montessori
    Morality
    Motivation
    Music
    Mystery
    Narrative
    Nationalism
    Nativity
    Nazis
    Need
    Negotiation
    Neo-Nazi
    Networking
    News
    New Year
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Online
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Options
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Orientation
    Origin
    Outcome
    Pace
    Pain
    Palestinian
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Parent
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pastoral
    Pastoral Care
    Pattern Matching
    Patterns
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Perseverance
    Personal Constructs
    Personal Leadership
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Persuasion
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physical
    Physicality
    Place
    Plan
    Plane
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Plot
    Polarity
    Policy
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Poverty
    Power
    Powerlessness
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Preferences
    Prepare
    Presence
    Presentation
    Principles
    Priorities
    Priority
    Privilege
    Proactive
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Procedure
    Process
    Prodigal
    Professional
    Profit
    Progressive
    Projection
    Projects
    Prompt
    Propaganda
    Protection
    Protest
    Providence
    Provocative
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Pushback
    Quality
    Quest
    Question
    Questions
    Race
    Radical
    Rainbow
    Rational
    Rationale
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Ratlonality
    Realisation
    Reality
    Reason
    Reasoning
    Reconciiliation
    Reconciliation
    Recruitment
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Refugee
    Refugees
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Relief
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resistance
    Resonance
    Resourcefulness
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Responsive
    Responsiveness
    Retreat
    Revelation
    Reward
    Rich
    Rights
    Riot
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Roman Catholic
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Russia
    Sabbath
    Sacred
    Safeguarding
    Safety
    Salvation
    Satire
    Satnav
    Saviour
    Scepticism
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Secure Base
    Security
    See
    Selection
    Selective Attention
    Self
    Self-deception
    Self-sacrifice
    Sense Making
    Sense-making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Serendipity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Shock
    Significance
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Sin
    Skills
    Skin Colour
    Snake
    Social Change
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Constructs
    Social Enterprise
    Social Entrepreneurship
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Sociology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Somalia
    Song
    South Sudan
    Space
    Speak
    Speech
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Status
    Stealth
    Stereotype
    Stereotypes
    Stereotyping
    St Francis
    Stimulus
    Storm
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Struggle
    Stuck
    Student
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Success
    Sudan
    Suffering
    Supervision
    Support
    Survival
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Symbols
    Synergy
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactical
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teacher
    Teaching
    Team
    Team Meeting
    Teams
    Teamwork
    Teamworking
    Technology
    Teenage
    Tension
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Toys
    Traction
    Trade
    Trade Union
    Tradition
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trauma
    Trends
    Trust
    Truth
    Turbulence
    Type
    Ubuntu
    Ukraine
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    United Nations
    Use Of Self
    Valentine
    Vallues
    Value
    Valued
    Values
    Vicious Cycle
    Violence
    Virtuous Cycle
    Visibility
    Visible
    Vision
    Vocation
    Voice
    Voting
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Vulnerable
    Waiting
    Walls
    War
    Warning
    Wealth
    Weird
    Wellbeing
    Will
    Willingness
    Window
    Wisdom
    Witness
    Women
    Wonder
    Words
    World
    Worth
    Youth
    Zero-sum
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact