BUILDING COLLABORATIVE CULTURE
I build inclusive, thriving cultures by developing collaborative leadership capacity that permeates across entire teams. My experiential programs provide a clear framework, shared language, and practical skills that equip people to lead on wellbeing, inclusion and culture – today and as challenges evolve.
PRograms
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Purpose driven teams often struggle with burnout, siloed work, and conflict. Well-meaning wellbeing initiatives fall flat without the relational capacity to make them stick.
This program equips leaders or entire teams with a deeper understanding of our neurological needs for connection, emotional support and common purpose at work. It offers a clear framework of practical tools to navigate difficult conversations and build genuinely collaborative cultures where people feel connected, valued, and supported to sustain their important work.
Content
Psychological safety and the anatomy of belonging;
Collaborative leadership – more than just democratic or delegative leadership – a mindset that builds collaborative teams;
Emotional professionalism – understanding and communicating emotions at work;
Four steps for better 1:1s;
The FERVA coaching model for empowering each other;
Cultural intelligence, holistic diversity and practical inclusion;
Empathy maps for calling people in instead of calling people out;
Accountability for sustainable change.
Outcomes
Participants gain:
Enhanced collaborative leadership capacity;
Confidence navigating difficult conversations;
Practical skills in coaching, conflict and collaborative problem-solving;
Improved wellbeing through strengthened purpose and peer connection.
Organisations see:
Leaders equipped to build high-trust, equitable, psychologically safe cultures;
Stronger team connection and collaborative problem-solving;
Greater engagement and shared accountability in wellbeing, inclusion and culture initiatives;
Improved attraction, development and retention of talent.
Format
A series of 8 experiential workshops for leadership groups or whole teams. Delivered over 2 full days or across 4-8 weeks. Ideally delivered in person, however online group learning is available.
Each workshop connects theory to your team's real challenges, building shared language and practical capacity for leading culture change from wherever you sit in the organisation.
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DEI programs in male dominated workplaces often struggle to meet ambitious goals with difficulties retaining talented women and increasing defensiveness and disengagement from men.
This program merges DEI and men’s wellbeing goals in a holistic approach to culture and leadership development that turns resistance into engagement and empowers participants to drive real change.
Content
Masculinity, wellbeing, and behaviour;
Psychological safety, fostering connection and trust with men;
Collaborative leadership and gender’s influence on leadership styles;
Emotional professionalism – understanding and communicating emotions at work;
Cultural intelligence, demystifying privilege and leveraging power;
Four steps for better 1:1s;
The FERVA coaching model;
Empathy maps for calling people in instead of calling people out;
Accountability for sustainable change.
Outcomes
Participants gain:
Enhanced collaborative leadership capability;
Confidence in navigating difficult conversations with men;
Practical communication, coaching, and collaborative problem-solving skills; and
Improved wellbeing through strengthened purpose and peer connection.
Organisations see :
Measurable improvement in engagement from men in DEI, wellbeing and culture initiatives;
Greater impact of DEI and wellbeing programs;
Leaders equipped to build high-trust, equitable, psychologically safe cultures;
Improved cross-team collaboration;
Increased attraction, retention and progression of women and diverse employees.
Format
A series of 8 experiential workshops for an internal coalition of ‘champions for change’, or in smaller workplaces for an entire team. Delivered over 2 full days or across 4-8 weeks. Ideally delivered in person, however online group learning is available.
Engaging conversations grounded in participants' lived experiences – not compliance theatre, but genuine skill-building centred around your unique workplace challenges.
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Facilitation skills are crucial in many modern workplaces yet it’s so easy to default to PowerPoint presentations and one-way lectures that disengage participants and teams, missing the collective wisdom in the room.
This program equips facilitators, trainers, educators, managers, and leaders with practical skills to cultivate psychological safety and genuine engagement – transforming groups into collaborative, thinking communities where meaningful dialogue and real learning happen.
Content
The power of groups and and transformative learning frameworks for deeper understanding;
Psychological safety and the Facilitation mindset;
Cultivating connection and trust between participants and team members;
Facilitation toolbox – activities that spark conversations;
Catalytic questions that turn experiences into insight;
A framework for safety in sensitive conversations;
Using resistance and disengagement to build trust;
Essential interpersonal skills;
Closing conversations with aligned action and accountability;
A program map for designing transformative experiences that drive tangible behavioural change.
Outcomes
Confidence in building engagement, trust and connection between participants;
A clear framework form making honest conversations safe;
Strategies to pivot when conversations feel unsafe, or uninteresting;
Confidence dealing with resistance, conflict and disengagement;
Expanded toolkits of activities to make workshops, classes or meetings fresh and interesting and to spark creative thinking;
A simple method for immediately generating catalytic questions to draw out groups wisdom,
A clear framework for designing engaging, safe, transformative programs.
Format
A series of 12 experiential workshops delivered over 3 full days, spread over a 12 week period or a shortened 2 day version. The program is ideally delivered in person, however, online group learning os available.
Each workshop explores participants' real facilitation challenges and builds a toolbox of tricks to use immediately in boardrooms, lunchrooms, and Zoom rooms.
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Whether you're bringing dispersed teams together, navigating organisational change, or want your entire workforce on the same page about wellbeing or inclusion, off-the-shelf programs don't always fit.
Sometimes your team needs a catalyst moment to reset culture, a shared language around a sensitive topic, or a custom experience that addresses your unique challenges.
Bespoke workshops and retreats are designed specifically for your team's needs – from one-off team days to immersive multi-day retreats. I create experiences that bring your team together and reconnect them to purpose, vision, values, and each other, addressing your specific challenges with the right mix of connection-building, skill development, and strategic alignment.
Format and outcomes tailored to suit your needs.
Keynote options
'Thriving Together' - An inspiring exploration of our human needs for connection and a simple framework for conversations that build stronger, richer, more connected communities.
‘Collaborative Leadership' - An approach to leadership that goes beyond democratic or delegative leadership to build workplace communities that collaborate by default, increasing organisational resilience in a complex world.
'Healthy Masculinities at Work' - Based on 10 years leading Good Blokes Co, this creates a shared understanding of how culture shapes men's wellbeing and behaviour, with practical steps for more productive conversations
TO FIND A TIME FOR YOUR LEADERS TO CHAT WITH MIKE, Contact Us
Jessica Pringle, Senior Vice President of Operations, Worley
“Mike's presentation was truly inspiring and heartfelt. He brought a unique perspective and spoke with passion and expertise. His insights were truly eye-opening and provided valuable information that we can all use. His message resonated deeply with everyone in attendance.”
Anthony O’Riley, OAM, Royal Australian Navy.
“MIKE’S PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP, COACHING AND MENTORING. I’VE MOVED FROM FOCUSSING ONLY ON WORK RELATED ASPECTS, TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE PERSON”
Julian Strudwick, Group Human Resources manager, Wave International
“The team really enjoyed the talk. I had one manager tell me it was timely for him as he needs to check himself and his communication as he knows he is getting edgy. I’ve spoken to about 10 people and all POSITIVE. I’ve also had 6 direct emails thanking me for the session, noting it was ‘useful’, ‘timely’ and ‘amazing’.”
Work With Me
If you’d like my help in transforming your organisation, please get in touch.
