Repairing relationship Achieving or restoring openness and trust in teams and groups and other systems Argyris' action science applied to building or restoring trust and openness in relationships and groups Now, an additional program 7, 14, 21, 28 July 2026 at times suitable for European participants, 10am Central European time (6pm AEST) Why do some attempts to improve relationships (or teams, or other social systems) make them worse? The intention is to create an upward spiral.  Instead the spiral sometimes turns downwards. Can it again be returned upwards? Yes, by understanding the dynamics of the interaction. Certain concepts and processes and skills can assist in this work.  The webinar program draws particularly on the research and practice of Chris Argyris and his colleagues and followers.  Their processes are powerful, and undervalued.

This is a program for people -- with or without formal authority -- who wish to help colleagues, teams, organisations and communities to create openness and trust.  It is also to repair broken relationships, openness and trust. Some people have responsibilities for the social dimension of collective life.  The may work in People and Culture, or Human Resources, or Organisation Development, for example.  They will find this material will allow them to improve many different aspects of their responsibilities. Other people in other settings including families and social groups can also make use of the concepts and processes.  They, too, will find it can improve relationships.  This includes relationships that are worsening. Who? Whatever their situation or position, people who wish to know how to bring more openness and trust and joy to their relationships and groups.  This may include -- people in family, social and community groups   executives and community leaders   team leaders at all levels of an organisation   people wishing to repair relationships, damaged or not   team members, especially in shared-leadership teams people in the 'people and culture' function of an organisation   people in the 'organisation development' function of an organisation   people in the 'learning and development' function of an organisation   facilitators, consultants and change agents   educators in any setting   coaches and mentors.   ...  people whose work or interests include helping teams and groups perform more effectively and enjoyably, and with more effective and enjoyable relationships. When is it? A repeat program, again of four webinars, using the Zoom virtual platform July 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2026; 10am Central European time. (6pm Eastern Australian Standard time) Where? From the convenience and comfort of your own workplace, office or home. What? Skills, concepts, processes and techniques for creating or improving or repairing relationships.  The approach may be applied in pairs or in larger groups.   There will be particular attention given to understanding the dynamics that can undermine even the most promising relationships. An important and overlooked paradox is at the core of Argyris's approach.  People, more often than they realise, don't always practise what they preach. That includes me, and you, and everyone else.  It's part of who we are. People are unaware of this, and may resist being made aware.  The webinar will provide the necessary understanding, skills and processes for engaging people willingly in (a) becoming aware and (b) remedying it. Action research and facilitative principles and processes are used to fine tune the workshop as it progresses. There will be opportunities to plan for implementation within your own relationships, organisations, and communities.  Some detailed processes may also be practised. How? Participants can anticipate an involving process that provides an integrated mix of theory, discussion and practice.  There may be small group work to help participants consolidate the skills, techniques and concepts, integrating understanding and action. Participants may ask for pre-work to help them prepare for the workshop and obtain the most from it.  This can be particularly valuable for participants who attend as a group from one community or organisation. Facilitator? The program facilitator is Bob Dick, a Brisbane-based educator, learning facilitator, consultant, mentor, and coach.  His reputation in these fields is based on over five decades of education, consulting and facilitation experience in a wide variety of settings. Those of you who are familiar with his work will know that his style is casual and participative, his processes robust and learnable, and his documentation clear, readable and practical.  His workshops are characterised by an integration of theory and practice, with equal emphasis on the development of skills and understanding.  The processes and models he helps others learn are those which he makes use of in his own work. Fees? The fee for the 4-webinar program for Australian and New Zealand participants is $660.00 payable in advance, or $550.00 if received 14 days in advance of the first webinar in the program.  These prices are in Australian dollars and include GST GST. Cancellations will result in a 90 per cent refund if received at least 9 days before the first webinar, and a 50 per cent refund if received 48 hours before the first webinar.  Alternatively, participants who are unable to attend are welcome to substitute someone else -- for the program as a whole, or for any webinar. If one of the webinar dates does not suit you, contact Bob Dick.  In such circumstances it has often been possible to organise something mutually acceptable. A limited number of half-price bursaries may be available for those genuinely unable to pay the full fee, or other arrangements may be possible.  If you're interested in the workshop, and the fees are an obstacle, we're keen to find a way of helping you to attend. We're very keen to encourage team attendance.  It provides much better learning transfer for participants.  If you attend as a member of a team of two or more from a single community or organisation there is a further $110 discount per person.  Such groups of participants may also request a virtual session before and/or after the workshop, to plan application on the job or in the community of what they have learned. Contact Bob Dick for further details or to discuss other possibilities. To register   (Aus & NZ only) Telephone Bob at +61418 759 496 (0418 759 496) to charge your attendance to your Visa or MasterCard.  Or print out and complete the subscription form, and mail or email it to Interchange. For security we recommend payment by direct bank transfer.  Here are the bank and account details:     Bank: Bank of Queensland -- BSB 124-001     Account: Interchange -- Account number 12-002534

Negotiate your own in-house workshop Would you prefer to have a workshop specifically designed to meet your particular needs, and run for you in your own organisation or community?  If so, Interchange would be delighted to do that.  Important advantages of in-house and in-community workshops include their relevance, as we fine-tune them to your needs.  In addition, their greater ease of application to real local issues, and the opportunity to plan for transfer of learning to the community or organisation, increases value.

Interchange    37 Burbong Street  Chapel Hill  Queensland  4069    Australia Telephone +61 (0)418 759 496 email bd@aral.com.au (cc: camilla@bigpond.net.au)

Maintained by Bob Dick.  This page last revised 2026 06 17.  [ subscription form ]