Words From Our Clients - Richard Joseph And Associates

Your advice and guidance from long ago has endured during the last twenty-five years, Richard. Great to see you still helping others with sound simple explanatory assistance. I have reflected further on your article "Transition Through COVID-19" in which you address the impact on individuals caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic crisis. Your insightful reminder of the stages of grief at this time is valuable. Both for those who are aware and for those who have not yet encountered confronting issues of personal life-threatening enormity. I am able to relate this to the work you conducted with my entire technology business unit in 1993 & '94. That aspect of change you introduced through your Turning Point Program remains valid. It helped most of the 200+ individuals come to terms with their role change relocation or dislocation. I can further attest to the validity of the model and the means to handle each stage, repetitively in some cases as you point out. Significant personal tragedy impacted my family five years ago. A reawakening of the stages of change and grief brought your counsel to the fore. I was able to understand the nature of the emotional impact on my psyche. There are not shortcuts to escalate the process to an end point. Achieving and accepting what has become a hackneyed expression of "a new normal" takes an indeterminate amount of time and varies between individuals, and for no apparent reason.

To travel thousands of miles, all the way to that end of the world, to a town called Dunedin, way south, the whole idea was not so appealing. However, it was a chance to see that part of the world, to say the least. Why not?

We had already been told that amongst the many activities we had to do was to attend a three day workshop with this fellow called Richard Joseph. The workshop was called the Turning Point.

To me, a person who had fifty years of living experience in this earthly world, the whole concept did not promise to be of much substance. What would it be that the Turning Point might add to my experience other than wasted time? It did not seem that encouraging at all. It sounded like a bunch of baloney, one more gimmick as the many we read about and see debated on TV. What now, was it going to be yet another Dr Phil or Dr Oz stuff on the Opera Winfrey show maybe?

But OK. We were still expected to participate in the event anyway. Within a couple of days we did meet Richard Joseph. My first impression was very skeptic. The guy looked somewhat familiar. His face was common in a strange way, as if I had met the guy before. Maybe an actor, I thought, with calm and soothing voice. This actor impression was not encouraging at all. As Richard spoke I could hear an echo in my head emphasizing my doubts and skepticism. We had to fill in some forms that enquired about our health and other stuff, only to convince me that we were to experience another round of hocus pocus. Guru talks, or mind twisters. How often had I seen documentaries on people claiming that they had a magic wand and abilities of turning people's lives around? Not so encouraging at all.

Well, we were driven the following week to this beautiful location for the start of our three days at the Turning Point. I thought that if at all, I could a least enjoy the scenery, although I could have easily considered the choice of the location as a smart distraction.

I chose to sit at the edge of the seating arrangement. Exactly what I usually do when attending a magic show, to see from close enough the so-called tricks.

We already had been given reading materials, which I had read carefully before hand. Some of the issues were interesting, to be fair, and they had already tickled my mind. Questions about past experiences, some that even dealt with relationships back at school days.

As the day commenced, and more charts were posted around the room, I got more and more involved in the topic matter. I could relate to the issues, and sometimes it felt like I could guess the next step. Maybe because I had read well and was ready.

Or maybe because I thought that the general issues were not alien to me. Being a keen follower of TV shows and documentaries probably made things not so novel, yet for the first time all those bits that I had seen, heard and read over many years were all presented in one session.

Most of all though, for the first time I was not a "passive" watcher, but rather personally involved in the experience. The activities we got involved in were real. The things I had seen on TV were materializing and happing right in front of us all. The sense of confidence and assurance was emphasized and reinforced by Richard throughout the session. Although I am sure that the session was well preplanned, every note, word and suggestion recorded on the posters was ours, or that is what Richard made us feel.

That evening, after we returned to our hotel in Dunedin, Dr Hasan Almulla and I were not sure much whether the next session would be of much substance. Amongst my own group, Hasan was the only one I had known for years. His opinion mattered. We both were wondering: what was next?

The following day commenced with physical activities and games. Somehow, we were all like kids, challenging one another and trying our best not step on each other's toes. The hardest part of our games was to manage and control our enthusiasm and work as a homogeneous group. A lesson that we all appreciated and realized that it was not easy for a bunch of so called "leaders" to handle. By then, and after an active day, a lot of my "cynical" thoughts had evaporated in the thin air. Richard Joseph had become a real "human being" with sold experiences that we all needed to share. We were all at ease and as a group, we felt close and as a whole. Richard managed to win our confidence and trust. By then, yes, he had become our Guru.

The third day was at a different location. We were, by then, hypnotized, and willing to throw ourselves from a window ledge with total faith in the group. Most of us even managed their fears and attempted climbing down a 60 meters rock, simply because Richard had encouraged them. Later on as we visited Queenstown, most of us had left their fears behind. Some did crazy stunts, bungee jumps, parachute gliding, and other crazy stuff.

Richard Joseph, the Turning Point, had done wonders. For the first time I was glad that he actually disappointed me, and turned my skepticism into trust. Richard proved to us that together we could achieve wonders, and as a group, we could develop from within. Only if there were a few more of this one of a kind human being, as calm, as trust worthy, as decent and as friendly, I guess the whole world would be different, a better place for all.

I am pleased to provide you with feedback on Turning Point, and its significance for us here at Otago Polytechnic.

First of all, I would like to put my feedback into its proper context. As you know, we are strongly committed to building the capability of people, and I am personally a subscriber to the school of thought that the starting point for building personal capability and proficiency is self knowledge and understanding. For that reason I was on the lookout for a suitable development programme, initially for our managers.

The opportunity to "try before you buy" came up when you launched your first public occurrence of Turning Point, to which we sent 2 of our relatively new Heads of School. Their feedback was enthusiastically positive, so we resolved to put all of our senior and middle managers through the programme. That, too, was a roaring success, with the unanimous view that the programme had built confidence (for the new managers) and provided a much needed refocus for the more experienced. Everyone came away with an enhanced sense of what was important to them, and a commitment to taking responsibility, setting priorities and seeing the glass as 'half full'; not to mention a strong sense of renewal.

You will recall after that programme that we did provide some more critical feedback - mainly around the need for the programme to better take into account the experiences which were reasonably typical of academics/educators and experienced managers in the education sector. To your credit you took this feedback on board, which was clearly demonstrated when we ran the programme for our supervisory managers - our academic programme managers and our team leaders in our service areas.

Our decision to invest in our supervisory managers has already proven to be a very wise one, even though we are thus far only halfway through. You agreed to customise the programme to align it with our organizational development strategy, and the feedback we have received to date is that you have done a great job in that regard.

I will finish this feedback with some (anonymous but real) quotes from staff who have participated in the programme. You can see that they are highly complimentary of your personal facilitation expertise and of the programme staff; and have gained considerable personal benefit.
"Turning point was a luxury. A change of pace and routine. Three days getting to know my colleagues from across the Polytechnic, three days spent in the luxury of thinking about me and what I need to sustain myself in this job. I came back to work and asserted myself. I have since been tandem para-gliding which is directly related and something I have always wanted to do."

"I’d definitely recommend doing the Turning Point course but only if you are prepared to go into it with an open mind. It’s true that you do get out of it what you are willing to put in. Yes, there will be material that is familiar and you may have heard many times before but often it is these valuable thoughts that get lost in the busy nature of our work. It gave me the opportunity to refocus my thinking and look at a heavy workload from new perspectives and consider how I personally respond to and approach that workload. It also was a fun and interesting 3 days with a great group of people from throughout OP who now support and encourage each other whenever we meet."

“I was cynical at first and spent the first hour of the course thinking 'what am I doing here', but then I saw the teaching style that Richard modeled and I was hooked! Much of what we did I had heard/done before but it was good to have it reframed, to be reminded and to have to review it. There was also the invaluable chance to meet and interact with colleagues I had been saying hello to in the lift for a year but never met, and in that environment we really got to talk about things that mattered. At another level altogether I have come away with the feeling of being valued enough in my workplace to have that amount of time, money and support expended on me, and that affirms me in the O.P. culture and confirms for me that my work behaviour and attitudes will be reciprocal."

"I am happy to talk to any staff about turning point. As you know I thought it was a very worthwhile course for me to attend. It has changed my perspective about my work and has had an overflow affect into my life generally. The statement on the front page sums up one important thing I was reminded about over the 3 days of the course, and that I often let slip away. 'Not in place, time or circumstances but in self, lies success'. Pretty cool, and frankly you could replace the last word with any word/statement you please. I think 'the sparkle of life' is a good one for a cold day like today. Attending turning point gave me an opportunity to learn more about myself, what I want out of life and how I can get it."
"There are many good things that I have learned from Turning Point. The course has helped me to work more smartly and to prioritize everyday workload. One of the best things is that I have felt bonded with the programme managers on the course. Richard is an excellent convenor. He can turn the abstract to something tangible. Group activities on the last day has made me feel that we have to be together and help one another in order to move forward. That certainly applies to Otago Polytechnic. The course always reminds me also of what you said before we went. That is something like we need to speak the same language. I think all programme managers on the course have agreed on that.

For me, I have found many new friends and there is no barrier for when I need to talk to different programme managers concerning ESOL students' career path and welfare."

"From some of the bush telegraph comments I had heard, I was skeptical about going, but decided to go with an open mind and have to say it was a very positive and powerful experience for me personally. I was fortunate to be with an excellent group of diverse staff which has resulted in a new network of friends who I could turn to for support. I thought the three days an absolute luxury but the course needed that and with a weekend to reflect was the icing on the cake. Some of my colleagues felt I was a new woman when I returned. Some of that has diminished a little, but I will get it back!"

"Richard's facilitation is executed with total respect; he has a wisdom and insight into the many meanings to life. He has a gentle, genuine quality and is dedicated to encouraging folk to question their ways, to set meaningful goals and to celebrate all that is achieved. I had been doing much reflection already, as one does facing another personal decade. This time out with Richard was therefore 'timely'. Even though I was familiar with some of the processes he identified and even some the material his delivery, the setting, days away and the exercises we were involved with all helped me to set firmly my ideals and to re-evaluate my core. Rather than an indulgence I see such re-evaluation as crucial to our purpose. I'm glad you agreed to arrange for us at this level in the organisation to attend Richard's seminar."

As you know, we have now decided to offer the programme to all of our permanent staff - we believe the investment will yield a great return in terms of greater staff efficiency, more personal accountability and more positive attitudes. All of these are necessary to support the difficult change process we are going through.

I am happy for you to use my feedback in whole or in part to promote the programme for other educational providers. It is excellent value for money, and you personally are a pleasure to do business with.

Testimonials

Kerry Crompton - Reflecting on his time as the former GM of Information Service, Trustbank Canterbury

Alan MacDonald - BNZ

Stephen Goddard - Classic Builders Queenstown

Jan West - Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu

Dr Muhammad Alabbassi - Bahrain

Barbara Laurenson - IRD

Phil Ker - Otago Polytechnic

Libby Angelo-Laloli - Dunedin City Council

Lesley Laing - Otago Regional Council

Bernie Hawke - Dunedin Public Libraries

Quenton Johnston - OceanaGold

Judith Stevich - Contact Energy

Barry Hanson - Department of Conservation