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MAASAI WARRIORS IN THE UK TO SHARE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP SKILLS

ChangeMaker International in partnership with Anthony Willoughby, explorer, photographer, business consultant and author, invited eight Maasai warriors and elders to Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire on the 23rd July and the Institute of Directors (IOD) in Central London on 24th July, for a Master Class on sustainable leadership and strategy.

The event was an opportunity for British businessmen and women to learn new approaches to thrive and succeed in the current uncertain economic times. The Maasai tribe have had to develop strategies and leadership skills in truly hostile environments, where the consequences of bad decisions are not reflected in profit and loss figures, but in life and death.

In 2001, Anthony Willoughby inspired Chris Howe to visit Kenya to understand more about the Maasai. On the trip they recognised the potential for UK businesses to learn from this culture, whose strength is based on mutual respect and finding long-term solutions, rather than quick short-term fixes. Since that time they have jointly been arranging business training programmes to visit and learn from the Maasai. The participants on these programmes have come from a wide range of organisations and businesses and have all found that the wisdom of the Maasai can be easily applied to help to create an inspired and sustainable business.

Chris Howe, Chief Executive of ChangeMaker International explains the objectives of these events: “Our aim is that business leaders will be able to explore a wide range of issues with the Maasai including how their leaders develop and what is expected from them; what criteria the Maasai use to assess risk, develop strategies and make decisions; and how they ensure all tribe members take high levels of responsibility and act with pride.”

Anthony Willoughby, comments, “In today’s increasingly arid economic climate, companies that can think nomadically by clarifying their cattle (customers and capital), defining green pastures (market opportunities) and then focusing on getting the two together, will ultimately be more successful. This is why the lessons and the experience of the Maasai are so relevant to UK businesses and why this event is an exclusive opportunity to learn from some of the world’s very best businessmen.”

The events began with the Maasai singing a selection of legendary hunting and cattle raiding songs and explaining the meaning and importance of each of them. Chris Howe then interviewed the Maasai to explore various topics around leadership and sustainable cultures.

Here are some of the answers that the Maasai elders gave to Chris’s questions:

They said that they:

• Spend time reassuring people that they would take time and find a strategy to deal with the problem - i.e. they would not try and leap reactively to "do stuff"!
• They would meet with the elders to explore options and agree the most appropriate strategies
• Once they had agreement, the leaders would go out into the community talking and listening to everyone, explaining what the community was going to do AND training people with any new skills that they might need
• their main job then was to continue to reassure people that this time will pass in the same way as similar times in the past - i.e. keep up the confidence!

One of our guests was Anna Wildman who is head of Global Leadership Development at KPMG:
“Thanks so much for inviting us to a truly excellent day, fascinating, colourful, sobering and energising all in one, just the most terrific opportunity, thank you for making it all possible”.

We had considerable media interest for these events with coverage on TV and radio the internet and in the National Press. To find out more:

ITV News

The Daily Telegraph

CityAM

The Times

New offices for ChangeMaker International

We are pleased to announce that we have moved to our new office which is near Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds. This is more central for our team and offers us a larger office, reception facilities, and meeting rooms, all with plenty of parking.

Full details can be found at: www.changemakerweb.co.uk/
contact.asp

We have been joined by Claire Wingfield on a temporary basis to give Julie some much needed support. Claire will be based at the new office until July when she will move to the small Caribbean island of St Eustatius for 7 months to volunteer for the St Eustatius National Parks. This is a not-for-profit organisation that carries out nature conservation on the dormant volcano (The Quill), and in the national marine park, specialising in sea turtle conservation and protection of the coral reefs that surround the island.

What a choice to make – the Cotswolds or the Caribbean!

However we always knew that Claire’s employment was on a temporary basis and so we are now looking for local support and our future plan is to increase the size of our office team to help us to meet the increased demands of our work-load.

Andy and Cath will continue to work from the Swallett Lodge address. For the moment the old office number will be diverted to the new office so the best way to get:

All Change at ChangeMaker International

New management team extends the range of offerings for Human Resource and Organisation Development

London, 21st May 2007 – Leading UK based change management consultancy, ChangeMaker International (CMI), today announced the integration of three businesses into CMI; Maestro People Development, ChangeMaker Consulting, and ChangeMaker Leadership and Performance. This move is the next stage in a programme of proactive growth planned by Andy Neal and Chris Howe, founder directors of CMI who established the company in 1993.

CMI’s expertise in Personal and Organisational Change is delivered through strategic consultation, executive coaching, facilitated communication and powered by the unique concept of Discovery Learning. The merger will enhance this pedigree and the new directors’ extensive ‘hands-on’ experience of working ‘client side’ at an international level.

In light of the merger, the new CMI directors are:

Cathy Rowbottom, former head of MPD, joins CMI as director responsible for New Business Development. Her appointment at CMI is based on an innate passion for selling coupled with 14 years experience of working with multi-national organisations, identifying training and development needs, and designing and delivering solutions.  These skills are supported by a strong foundation of expertise in key behavioural areas that form the core of CMI’s portfolio, including Emotional Intelligence, personal development and coaching.

David Whipp is the former head of ChangeMaker Leadership and Performance and has strong commercial background derived from more than 20 years of international experience in the FMCG sector. David brings an in-depth knowledge of strategic organisational development, talent and succession planning, and practical experience in executive and senior team development. He is a Master Associate of Lominger International, a world leader in the application of competency-based systems in corporations.

Cath Murphy, former head of ChangeMaker Consulting, is a highly commercial, international HR leader experienced in working with executive teams on strategic Human Resource and Organisation Development issues, which enable major business transformation. Cath has 25 years experience in the global technology, finance and business information sectors. Her role as a specialist consultant and executive coach creates sustainable change through people - from HR strategy through to implementation in the organisation.

Chris Howe, founder and the newly appointed CEO of CMI, commented, “Our vision has always been to be a valued partner for client companies who wish to make significant and sustainable change to their organisational structure. Our new team will enhance our existing and very successful operational strategy, enabling our clients to have consultants at CMI who have been ‘on the other side of the table’ – experienced in buying and implementing this kind of service in their own organisations. This client-side perspective from the CMI team, plus the sheer range of our expertise, means that ChangeMaker is reaching another incredibly exciting stage in its development which will only benefit our clients further.”

About ChangeMaker International Dedicated to developing human potential, ChangeMaker International (CMI) is a consultancy that helps organisations around the world to secure and sustain healthier financial futures by enabling business growth through the development of people at an Organisation, Team and Individual level. This is achieved by supporting organisations in planning and implementing the people aspects of major change initiatives - engaging, motivating and communicating with staff to enable a successful outcome through projects, researched processes, training, personal development, consultancy or coaching. ChangeMaker works with organisations to create a comprehensive and integrated approach to Human Resource and Organisation Development. from the creation of  initial business Strategy, Vision, Values and Culture through the development of structure, the talent pipeline & succession planning using competencies and capabilities   to the  design and delivery of training and development solutions The CMI approach includes a unique methodology, an extension of experiential learning, which involves people in a development process called “Discovery Learning”. This uses a variety of linked activities rather than just prescribing off-the-shelf solutions. Consequently, the CMI team may plan to discuss strategy and leadership with a leading business school or with the members of a tribe in Africa; they are as likely to suggest a retreat on the Great Wall of China as a meeting in the boardroom. CMI makes things happen through a set of innovative processes, creating a solution that is unique to their clients’ needs. CMI works with a wide range of clients in many sectors including: Asda, Astra Zeneca, BAE Systems, BT, Hallmark Cards, Henley Management College, Korn/Ferry, Kraft Foods, Maersk, Mars, Nestlé, Nestlé Rownstree, RAF, Select Appointments, Timberland and Vinci. CMI has associates across the globe with experience of running projects in countries as far afield as the USA; China; India; Australia; the Middle East and Africa, the EU and across Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. For further information please contact: Celestine Cheong or Jennifer Sheldon at Westgate Communications by email, Cece@westgatecomms.com, Jennifer@westgatecomms.com or telephone:  +44 (0) 1732 779087.
In Search of Inspiration - Warrior School The key qualities of a Maasai Warrior are Courage, Humility, Confidence, Responsibility and Pride. In January, a group of 12 open minded, curious and passionate individuals joined us on a trip to Kenya to discover how to build a warrior culture in business.
The journey from Nairobi to Tassia (a lodge run by the Maasai for the benefit of their community in the Laikipia region) was an experience in itself and the three days spent there were a revelation for everyone. We worked closely with the local people who run both the lodge and their community. Our team were inspired by what they saw to explore a wide range of issues that related to their individual performance and growth as well as that of their businesses.	Tassia at Sunset

“The most powerful learning experience that I have ever had” and
“Everything that I encountered has a relevance to my business and how to improve it” were just two of the comments from the team.

Other “In Search of Inspiration” programmes that are currently planned for 2007 are:

Building a Warrior Culture in Kenya – two, five day programmes, in the period 9^th to 20^th June.

 THE SECRET TO ACHIEVING A LONG TERM VISION - PERSISTENCE

At the end of September we took a group of customers to Tanzania to discover the art of Leadership from the Maasai – The Maasai Masterclass Live. 

Whilst we were there we visited a school in the village of Piaya.  Every member of the group was struck by the vision and leadership of the Headmaster and Teachers who started the school several years ago with a single wooden hut.
	Working with the community, their vision was to build a school to serve the children of the community and through education to create the potential for growth, advancement and change, without losing the cultural strength which underpins the community and their way of life.
The vision was to build real classrooms rather than just simple huts, to build dormitories in order that the children did not have to walk 15km to and from school every day, to build accommodation for the teachers and a kitchen to feed the children and to provide safe and dependable supplies of water. After several years, the classrooms have been built and the teachers have basic accommodation.  Some of the dormitories have been started but there is still a long way to go.  The Headmaster still believes that it will take another 10 years to complete his vision but he is determined and patient, any step forward is a step toward his vision.

This is of course just one school and there are many such schools in Tanzania with the same aims and determination.

We have decided that we are going to do something to help.  We are working with our contacts in Tanzania to help us to select the right school and the right projects for our support but we have already started to take action:

• The money that we have not spent on Christmas Cards and postage will go towards the project.
• At a recent Maasai Masterclass speech to Worcester and Malvern chapter of the Association of Project Managers, the participants kindly collected £100 for the project.
• 50% of the revenue collected from sales of the Maasai Masterclass CD will go to this project.
  
  

WHAT WOULD JAMIE OLIVER HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SCHOOL DINNERS MAASAI STYLE?

We will continue to find new and innovative ways to help and will keep you informed of progress.

Should you wish to join us in anyway; all help will be gratefully accepted!

Papua New Guinea Management methods used by Global Firms to improve performance!

The original idea for Territory Mapping was inspired by journeys and conversations Anthony Willoughby had with various tribes people in Africa and Papua New Guinea and in particular based on discussions with Sir Joseph Nombri a Chief from the highlands of Papua New Guinea.  He is now in his sixties but he can vividly remember the first white people coming into his village with ‘talking pages’, books – he was inspired to learn to read - he was the first person to leave his village and through an amazing life journey ended up as the head of the Diplomatic Corps in Japan. Anthony learnt many things from him but the most important thing he discovered was that the most important thing in Sir Josephs life was 'The Physical Territory of his Chimbu Tribe.' It made Anthony realize that he had no physical ‘territory’ whatsoever – apart from a couple of bars where he felt he belonged and was recognised, his territory was an old BMW and a small desk in a rented office.  It gave him the idea that possibly the whole world was potentially his Territory and that he was one of the first generations with the freedom of choice to explore it. 

At that time he was running a sales promotion company in Tokyo where he lived from 1973-99, but had a month or so each year to travel – so he decided to take every opportunity to explore the world, these journeys took him on a short trip to the North Pole as well as to the mountains, deserts and jungles of Australasia and Africa. The turning point for him was when he climbed Mustagh Ata a 24,575ft mountain in Western China without porters or oxygen.  It inspired him in 1989 to set up the first outdoor Leadership and Team building company in Japan and then in 1991 in China, he found an incredible building a hundred yards from the Great Wall which was converted into their permanent training centre in China.  He called the company I Will Not Complain – Inspired by a complainer he had had on an expedition to Papua New Guinea when he had 24 bottles of wine and no food. 

I Will Not Complain grew and in time, he had the nightmare of trying to manage offices across Asia, but what he noticed on many of the programmes was that regardless of the company they worked for, their position or nationality, the participants routinely complained that they didn’t know where they belonged or were recognised or where they fitted into their organization, what was expected of them and even how they could contribute – things that all indigenous tribes people he had ever met on any continent seemed to take for granted.

He surmised that possibly company employees might simply be tribes people unsure of their territory – and would be far more productive if they had a ‘corporate map’ which articulated their territory and where they would know where they belonged, where they were recognised and what was expected of them.  He decided to concentrate full time on developing this ‘Territory Mapping’ idea. Thus in 1999, he sold the business in Asia and moved back to England.

It has been a steep learning curve ever since.  However he has now run over 250 Territory Mapping sessions on five continents for more than 3,000 company employees and tribes people and he feels he has learnt a great deal and is now comfortable and confident that he has developed a visual business planning process that will one day be taken as the norm for enabling companies to articulate their products and services simply and succinctly to their clients, suppliers, employees and those who are about to join the firm. The process is also a magnificent due diligence and interview tool and particularly effective as a way of identifying where and how customers can use a company products and services to maximum benefit.  In reality it has now become a fairly safe five step process to bring clarity, focus and alignment to business planning and customer relationship management.

To reassure people of the validly of the process Anthony often bring Maasai warriors into board rooms in the UK, as well as taking executives to spend time on the Great Wall of China or with tribes in East Africa or Papua New Guinea. Over the last year he has featured on CNN the BBC, Sunday Telegraph and the Independent (article attached).

As companies search for competitive advantage Anthony finds it interesting and reassuring that the answer might not be some new technology but more around helping people rediscover what civilization only exists by making them forget – the things that are really important in life!

"Territory Mapping helped us to develop a clear sales strategy with our client partners, and we become the most successful joint sales team for our region by quite a margin. I believe Territory Mapping played an important role in enabling us to achieve that success". 
Damian Powell, Thomson Financial, Japan

“The team now have a clear picture of the challenges we face the issues we must address and the main priorities.  The team thoroughly enjoyed the process and found it very beneficial and fun.  They also found it a painless way to share concerns without being seen to be ‘winging’”.
Paul Rayner, Director Corporate Partnerships, Post Office

Do you think your business needs a Map of Its Business Plan?

If you would like to meet Anthony please drop us a line