Awakening Action PLanning
Listening, catching the enthusiasm, creating an Action Plan, and supporting change is the ground on which Vision grows.
James is a practiced Community, Economic and Organisational facilitator. Through deep listening, reflection and mapping strengths and intentions, James holds the creative space to “sense & respond” in order to align vision with vibrant actions — attuned with a group’s higher purpose. With his strength based (eg: ABCD) and Community Economic Development (CED) approaches, he supports groups to create clear action and business plans designed from the group’s deepest intentions, all while modeling the rooted energy of staying grounded, and the vital and expansive energy of being open and responsive to the emergent nature of any initiative.
Supporting Responsive and Effective Actions
I experience people as passionate and curious, and we love to learn and grow. So I ensure that all actions attend to the full spectrum of the cycle of learning: Observe, Reflect, Plan, Act. In this cycle, outcomes are less about achieving pre-determined goals, and more about creating a responsive and effective space to act. I have learned that effective Action Planning (ie: Project Management, Organisational Development and/or Business Planning) is founded in the spaces which provide an environment of safety, trust and vulnerability required for deep creativity and flow — while remaining organized and oriented by aligned purpose.
“My work with people is inspired by my experience in Natural Horsemanship which teaches ways to sense & respond by embodying practices in non-verbal cues, creating a supportive environment for effective group leadership.”
When you invite James to work with you
To begin any planning journey, I start by listening, catching your enthusiasm and grounding the process by offering reflections of what I've heard – this supports your journey and your vision to be held with careful attention in order to build actions that are responsive to your deepest longings & intentions.
Within and between this intentional deep inner listening space, I begin to support your Action Plans. As implementation begins, guided by a clear path forward, I support your 'cycle of learning' which fuels the change process and responds to your emergent intentions. In this way, the outcomes are best aligned with your deepest visions.
Cultivating Safety, Trust & Vulnerability
Before, during and after Action Planning, I support the process with foundational “Social Technology Tools", to offer clear guidelines and practices to support the energies of both being & doing, flow and achievements, while ensuring focus with guidelines:
Organisational Commitments:
Vision, Mission, Aims — to have group clarity (from the wisdom of the Body, through Nature connection)
Group agreements & practices:
How we treat each other and communicate is agreed to
Ongoing practices in Compassionate Communication, Active Listening, The Way of Council & Peacemaking.
Governance practices:
Collaborative decision making
Role Definitions and Self Evaluations:
Clearly defined Roles & Review processes to empower each member, collaboratively.
The above listed foundational ‘Social Technology Tools’ are an excellent start on your journey together to cultivate an environment of safety, trust and vulnerability. These tools include the ‘Invisible Infrastructures’, which allow space for nature connection, quiet reflection, and bringing our dreams to consciousness, supporting an awareness of the personal and group genius – the internal channels of feedback and communication loops – while integrating compassionate accountability protocols.
Pricing – an Energy Exchange:
Initial 30 minute Consultation – Free of any cost so that we can discuss your hopes and needs at a base level.
£65-150/hr, sliding scale:
My rates can vary depending on your size, structure, and economic circumstances.
Trust and great relationships are important to me. That is why, at the outset of our partnership, we will have a discussion about what feels like a good fit for both parties, make an agreement, and we will review and update that agreement as our work progresses.
There are many ways we can support each other's wellbeing via monetary/non-monetary value, in both the short- and long-term.
Testimonials
“James provided consultancy services to the Men’s Leadership Alliance and I worked with James both directly and peripherally. James is a highly-skilled consultant and organizational leadership expert. I found him to be engaging, kind, direct, and well-versed in his guidance, insights, and resources. James and Culture Garden are doing remarkable things for groups, organizations, firms and teams. I highly recommend James and Culture Garden if you’re wanting to get to the next level and become more effective in your work.”
“James adeptly lead my business partner and I through a Visioning process this autumn to help us get more clarity on what we want to create together moving forwards. He provided a reassuringly clear, comprehensive structure to assist us but showed great sensitivity and flexibility within the form. We found his enthusiasm and “can-do” attitude irresistibly infectious and inspiring. I highly recommend his work.”
“James is a connector of the dots who can bring people and their ideas together. He helps individuals or organizations to realize that despite their independent roles and responsibilities there always exists common goals which are more easily achieved through collaboration and increased communication. He brings with him the expertise and natural gift of being able help entities to find their true capacity.”
“James’s multi-faceted skills at shepherding a project from early stages to completion are exceptional. In his warm and unique way, he manages to hold both the small details and the greater vision of a project at once, while also remaining present to changes in the emotional field as the process evolves and encounters inevitable challenges. The development of my social impact fund greatly benefitted from his perfectly timed guidance and his clarifying questions as well as from the breadth of experience he draws from when assessing necessary next steps. I’m greatly looking forward to the chance of working with James again!”
“James’ stakeholder engagement skills coupled with his curiosity and enthusiasm for sustainable development are supportive to think “outside of the box”, helping his clients to find new and innovative ways of doing things!”
“James is deeply committed to making the world a better place and often goes above and beyond the call of duty. I chair the Global Ecovillage Network Board which James consulted for, and I have appreciated him sharing his wisdom long after his contract.”