The Art and Science of Working Together

The Art and Science of Working Together: Practising Group Analysis in Teams and Organizations is a primary resource for anyone wishing to learn more about the complex unconscious dynamics of organizations, providing a practical guide for organizational work, a guide to how to improve things, and a strong theoretical foundation in the group analytic concept of the 'tripartite matrix'. Group analysis is a highly developed science of group relationships, which allows complexity and systems perspectives to be held in mind alongside organizational psychology, strategic development and business wisdom. Organized into eight sections, the book describes the essence of organizational group analysis, including the art of conversation, leadership, ethical issues in team working, and working with whole organizations. It addresses issues such as 'us-and-them' dynamics, the nature of systems boundaries, and the relationship between an organization and its context. Leaders and leading consultants give case studies, describing their thinking as they work, to illustrate the theory in action. This essential new resource will allow clinically trained practitioners to extend their scope into organizational work, and all coaches and leaders to benefit from knowledge of the group analytic discipline. It is essential reading for consultants and coaches working with teams and organizations, and for leaders within organizations.

Christine Thornton is a group analyst, organizational consultant, and author of the best-selling Group and Team Coaching. She was Founding Director of the IGA RPiO organizational training and has been honoured for contributions to the coaching profession. Christine works with organizational leaders and coaches, enabling better understanding of unconscious systemic and relationship dynamics.

NILGA Series editor's foreword Earl Hopper I Editor's introduction: what group analysis can offer in organisational work 1 Coming to group analysis and using this book Christine Thornton 2 Group analytic praxis in organizations Christine Thornton 3 Persecutor, victim, rescuer: imperfect consulting in an imperfect world Christine Thornton 4 Group analytic praxis and persecutor, victim, rescuer Christine Thornton II The art of conversation: complexity, the matrix and 'parallel process' 5 The art of conversation: group analytic interventions in organisational life Chris Rance 6 Complex reflections: notes on 'parallel process' and the group matrix in group analytic organizational consultancy David Wood III The wider organisational context 7 Stability or chaos, authoritarianism or dialogue: towards a matrix of critical and creative thought at a time of uncertainty and threat Dick Blackwell 8 'Practising disappointment': from reflection to action in organizations and communities Chris Scanlon IV Leadership, authority and power 9 Using groups in leadership: bringing practice into theory Clare Gerada 10 Another fine mess you've gotten me into: effective leadership in a difficult place Raman Kapur 11 Leadership and "Another fine mess" by Raman Kapur Morris Nitsun 12 Creative chaos: containing transforming space in Kid's Company and other stories Farideh Dizadji V Inside the practitioner's mind: how we frame praxis 13 Inside out Chris Powell 14 Context and the interpretive act: developing the language of the matrix for working in and with organizations Christine Oliver 15 Joining the organisational game: five questions Margaret Smith VI Praxis and ethical issues in team working 16 Turning a blind eye: on personal and professional boundaries in mental health settings groups Ewa Wojciechowska 17 Values in practice: dilemmas in reflective practice Ian Simpson and Gwen Adshead 18 Working with multi-cultural groups in organisations: issues of power and difference Vince Leahy and Abdullah Mia VII Working with whole organisations 19 A conversation with Earl Hopper Earl Hopper and Christine Thornton 20 Creating thinking spaces in organisations: dynamic administration in groups large and small Cynthia Rogers 21 Large groups the group analytic way Gerhard Wilke 22 Whole organisations, mergers and the matrix: translucent boundaries and 'tweaking' culture creatively Christine Thornton and Gerhard Wilke 23 Translucent boundaries, leaders and consultants: how to work with whole organizations Gerhard Wilke and Christine Thornton VIII The ending 24 The end is in the beginning: perspectives from two group analytic consultants Christine Thornton and Gerhard Wilke