OE Cam is part of SPACE Consulting Europe, a strategic alliance of leading European management consulting firms. Together, we help organisations work more effectively to deliver their strategy by improving their behavioural, cultural, structural and economic dimensions. SPACE operates across Europe, with more than 200 consultants and a diverse client base.
As well as conducting regular research, we host annual events to bring consultants together to learn from one another and collaborate on new projects. This month we met in Varese, a beautiful town in the Italian Lakes outside Milan.
Day one focused on team building, learning more about social media best practice and developing our film making skills.
Five international teams were challenged with creating a two-minute video in only three hours… We debated topics such as change management; hybrid working; sustainability; leadership and agile mindset.
It was fantastic to see Consultants of all ages, disciplines and nationalities getting creative, having fun and exploring some of these complex business issues.
Whilst not all of us enjoyed being in front of the camera (!), the experience offered new perspectives on storytelling and how we might improve the way we communicate our knowledge of today’s leadership challenges.
On our second day, the agenda moved to forum theatre and two of Space Consulting member firms, Algoe and ISMO, facilitated leadership development workshops. The workshops were very different in style but both underpinned by the use of theatre to explore leadership potential. As busy professionals, time away from delivery to pause, reflect and consider new ideas is invaluable – the workshop I was part of was founded upon ‘here & now’ methodologies, using the dynamics of other ‘characters’ present in the room to help individuals move along a personal leadership journey.
We learned about 12 archetypes, a model proposed by the psychoanalyst Carol S. Pearson:
“According to Pearson, every person has 12 archetypes in his or her inner world, each of which has precise characteristics (attitude, mindset, fears, functional & dysfunctional ways of action). Her research suggests that only a few of these archetypes are usually active in each of us and influence our behaviour. The archetypes that have not yet been ‘awakened’ (for reasons related to character, relationships & experiences), are either dormant or are active in SHADOW mode which can limit the effectiveness of our actions, as well as our wellbeing”.
In order to develop potential and evolve one’s leadership, the workshop allowed participants to explore each archetype, build self-awareness and connect with those characteristics which may help individuals with their own leadership challenges. This was a condensed, practical taster of what is normally a two-day workshop and the Consultants all enjoyed being the ‘participant’ for a change!
On a personal level, being part of the Space community provides the opportunity to immerse oneself in a diverse, multi-cultural environment – it’s not often you get people from France, Finland, Germany, Spain and Italy all around the same dinner table!
Visit the Space Consulting website or click on the links below for more information about our member firms:
Algoe (France) + Ismo (Italy) + Management Partners (Germany) + Muutostaito (Finland) + Peoplematters (Spain)
Helen Pybus
#space2022milan