Changing mindsets in a changing world TEXT: MARTIN PILKINGTON | PHOTOS: AVANTEAM
In recent times, our communications and interactions have evolved both socially and technologically, impacting how we collaborate. Too many organisations, however, retain rigid hierarchical structures and repressed cultures that hold back the people, networks and teams that are key to their success. Leadership consultant Yvonne O’ Reilly seeks to change that. Fittingly it was at a corporate leadership programme that Yvonne had the lightbulb moment that led her to establish her consultancy Avanteam in 2009. “Senior executives were asking the kind of questions I hadn’t given much thought to before – What difference did they want to make? What did they truly want 62 | Issue 43 | July 2017
to achieve? What were they passionate about? This set me thinking about my own choices and the impact I wanted to make,” she says.
the third, which flows from the first two, is about shaping cultures to create happier and healthier work environments – with a positive ripple effect for business.
Untapped potential
Mobilising people
“In setting up Avanteam, I chose to make a difference in the corporate world by revealing the largely untapped creative potential that lies within teams and organisations. A vital part of this work is recognising and leveraging the complementary talents of men and women,” she says. Avanteam has three streams of activity. The first is about evolving leaders’ mindsets and behaviours, especially leaders at the top of organisations; the second is about transforming team dynamics to release collective genius; and
20 years of high-level strategic experience in HR roles has shown Yvonne that every team and organisation has its own personality and relationship dynamics. “As relationship systems coaches, we engage leaders and teams in open dialogue where everyone’s voice is heard and people are given space to create new solutions together. When collaboration across corporate silos gathers momentum, a wave of positive energy emerges that mobilises people for change. This is “collective genius in motion”, she adds.