|
Integral Change Consulting Ltd was co-founded by its two directors, Esther Cameron and Nick Mayhew - one or both of whom is directly involved in every one of our assignments. We also draw on our associate network to offer integrated, additional skills and expertise into client projects, as required. |
|
 When I first met Nick, I was intrigued by his natural capacity to bring ‘otherness’ to any context, whether it was a workshop, a client discussion or simply a drink in the pub. Blessed with an incisive intellect, and with a fabulously intriguing personal story about once being an ‘angry young man’ and attempting to change the world, he consistently brings a sparky energy which enlivens those around him, provoking new thinking and somehow stretching people beyond their usual worlds. Nick’s capacity for deep and piercing insights into organisational systems was also a draw for me. Perhaps this comes from his intellectual interest in the wider forces that dictate our lives and fates, or possibly his highly developed capacity for keeping his own 'form', while tuning into a complex system with a high level of intensity. These insights are something I have come to both trust and value highly, because of the way he is able to both ground and stimulate our conversations with clients as we all work together to see what’s going on. The other thing that is remarkable about Nick is an incredible sensitivity to people and their struggles offered in a completely non-sentimental, non mushy way. This means he is able to help leaders to face into fear or isolation or whatever they are grappling with, in a respectful way, witnessing the difficulty but able to let them struggle without jumping in and rescuing them and thus diminishing them. Over the years we have worked together these qualities seem to have blossomed as he has grown all sorts of other capacities and skills to complement them. At Integral Change, he continues to work on developing himself, and constantly opens himself up to challenging his growing edges, which he does very openly and with great humility – often an inspiration to clients as he readily and often rather disarmingly admits his own difficulties and short comings. |
|
|
 When I first met Esther, I was struck by an unusual combination of openness and sharp, grounded intelligence – and as I’ve grown to know and work with her more over the years, these two contrasting aspects have revealed a whole range of associated gifts, which make her a delight to work with.
Esther’s ‘openness’ takes on many forms. Some – like her sensitivity and humility – often bring great learning in a very obvious sense. Not only does she offer wonderful insights into people’s behaviour – clients and colleagues! – and the organisational dynamics around them, but she then has the unusual capacity to hold them lightly while inquiring into other’s views and opinions by contrast. So we all end up learning, not only from the insights themselves, but from Esther’s very engaging way of offering them: a day-to-day masterclass in influencing skills!
Other aspects of Esther’s ‘openness’ are more straightforwardly enjoyable. Put simply, she is wonderfully creative, inspiring and a joy to work with. All of life is embraced with a lack of judgement and much humour – and it’s little wonder that clients often commend Esther for the humour in her facilitation and coaching. This seems to enable them – and me too – to relax, and open up more of ourselves to fulfil new potentials...
Yet, as Integral Change clients also often remark, Esther will not shy from ‘telling it how it is’. She knows her stuff, and can suddenly surprise you with her challenging authority – naming something that you do know needs to be addressed, despite your avoiding it for a while. And I’ve learnt that within this other, very focussed and grounded side of Esther, lies great ‘staying power’ and resourcefulness. In partnering clients – or colleagues – she retains an approachability and steadfastness which often feels hugely valuable in difficult times.
For me, where all these gifts come together most directly and beautifully, is in her music-making. She’s a wonderful pianist and I believe you can ‘hear’ these different strands of her character in her compositions – some of which I’m delighted that we’re going to include on this site. (See Trouble with Change)...
|
|
|
