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Miller embarks on trip to another culture
posted 03/16/04
San Juan County Commissioner Rhea Miller and Sandy Bishop embarked on a three-week trip to New Zealand Monday, March 15, 2004. They will attend a retreat with the Ngatiwhare people, believed to be descended from the pre-Maori people of Waitaha. "It is an opportunity of a lifetime," Miller said.
The retreat/training focuses on the Tipu Ake lifecycle. According to the Auckland Institute of Technology Web site it is an easily applied, and action focused leadership model that exploits Kiwi style teamwork.
The seven level model covers in its middle level (3) the strong process focus that characterises the management of most organisations, with the other levels incorporating radical thinking on chaos, innovation, leadership, courage, vision, stakeholders, team commitment, change information sharing, learning, responsiveness, agility, values and sustainability. It encourages us to think well beyond project risk management, capitalising on opportunities that move us towards the future we seek to grow. It is a framework that gives a wider perspective on leadership principles and knowledge. It demonstrates those project manager/team/organisational behaviours that drive real project success.
The Tipu Ake Lifecycle is based on the simple, but very powerful, natural analogy of a tree growing in a forest ,whose growth is subject to "pests" that attempt to constrain it and "birds" that plant the seeds that create a long term future for the species. "Poisons" are super pests that inhibit the process of germination. It can be applied at any level in any organisation to help make a well future happen.Its organic approach is far from being soft and cuddly; it is a pragmatic roadmap for survival that suits organisations competing in a global marketplace. It capitalises on the same "WE can do" Kiwi culture that Peter Blake and Team NZ did, (something that is too often left buried deep under colonising management practices imported from beyond our shores)!
In addition to learning about the Tipu Ake lifecycle, Miller was invited to meet with the Maori People. "They are interested in speaking about reining in jetskis," Miller said.
The invitation to the retreat came about through research Miller was doing into leadership models. She has been working with the Whidbey Institute. When she read an article about the Tipu Ake, "it resonated with me," she said. Further research led to an invitation to attend the March 19 retreat. "I feel incredibly privileged," she said.
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