culture – Page 3 – Shane Mallory

All for One and All Will Fall

Posted on Dec 19, 2017Dec 19, 2017 by Shane Mallory

When Alexander Dumas wrote his swashbuckling classic The Three Musketeers, he coined the phrase synonymous with this band adroit nobleman 'All for One and One for All'. It is thought by some to be the truest and most symbolic example of teamwork. We (the team are all in this together). Fast forward several centuries and our work lives are still all about 'the team' in many respects, only this time it's about getting things done and getting them done within our allotted hours of work. But what exactly are we all in for? What are we striving to achieve in the modern workday. The modern work week. Are we all in for the work or just to work?

Creativity & Emotional Intelligence are Strange Bedfellows

Posted on Oct 9, 2017Mar 5, 2025 by Shane Mallory

Lets be honest. Creativity can be a cranky, moody, tempestuous individual at times. Never satisfied. Always looking for the different angle, always searching for something new, quick to judge and often speaks before applying a social filter. Conversely, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) can be stable, happy, and diplomatic person who does their work, doesn't rock the boat and follows the company line. They are a jolly bunch even when things aren't going so well. EQs are admired by workmates because of their serenity and ability to remain cool under pressure. They are perfect employee... Or so we thought.

Is the Art of Oracy dying?

Posted on Oct 5, 2017Mar 5, 2025 by Shane Mallory

No doubt Trump's own zealotry and self-idolatry would shelter his ego from harm, for even a seven-year-old primary school student would cringe at the redundancy and inaneness of his attempt at a logical thought process in pursuit of his own brand of Twitteroracy.

Why force change?

Posted on Jun 21, 2017Jun 18, 2017 by Shane Mallory

Any change that is forced, that is foisted is fraught with danger, both for the employer and more so for the employee. If an organisation cannot clearly outline the benefits for the change for the individual the organisation could find itself hoist upon its own petard in venturing down the change path purely for financial and economical gain.

Creativity versus Innovation?

Posted on Jan 30, 2017Jan 29, 2017 by Shane Mallory

For all the definitions of creativity and innovation that abound, from an organic perspective, creativity is the art of conception. Innovation is the art of successful gestation. Scott Berkun goes on to suggest that the best definition of innovation is significant positive change. When we create we are looking for the original, the new. When we innovate we want to put these new and original ideas into place.

When you cheat, you lose.

Posted on Jan 28, 2017Jan 28, 2017 by Shane Mallory

Every day, the drafting of legislation, policy and procedure seeks to obfuscate simplicity in such new and eventful ways (almost at times it would seem with potentially sinister or class divisional intent) to explain things that simple, logical phrases already do. Our language is full of 'sayings'. Sayings that have stood the test of time because they never lose relevance and are always logical, fundamental and unequivocal. It's simple. When you cheat, you lose.

Disrupting Theatre?

Posted on Dec 22, 2016Dec 21, 2016 by Shane Mallory

This is theatre's problem. We are not for the people. Individuals like Lepage do not exist for the people. It would appear that they believe that the people should be educated by them. The Elite. The ones that know.

Learning Culture

Posted on Nov 3, 2016Dec 13, 2016 by Shane Mallory

True learning and true education forces us to take long-term approaches. To realise and accept that learning is long haul. Results do not come over night, but when they do, the long-term results are so much greater than simply the sum of their parts (which is the classic short-term strategy).

Try and Change Culture without Emotion

Posted on Nov 1, 2016Mar 5, 2025 by Shane Mallory

Any change cannot occur without recognition of the need to change (too many Dr. Phil episodes have told us this). True change and true cultural change cannot occur unless it affects us or the group at an emotional level. Change is about learning and learning occurs best when it is attached to an emotion.

Introverts – We walk amongst you

Posted on Oct 30, 2016Oct 30, 2016 by Shane Mallory

It is the shy kids who are easy to forget. They can be ushered into the corner by the teacher/director or the other actors/students and overlooked because they generally won't complain. They will accept the status quo because they won't want to rock the boat. Their creative skills enable them to show acceptance and contrition when faced with missing out on opportunities.