A new writing and new services from us:
Leadership in Times of Covid-19:
Essential Qualities, Skills and Practices
By Doug Reeler and Desiree Paulsen

​Leading in this time is different in so many ways, so we set out to write something readable and practical for you as leaders, with some essential features of this crisis to note, as well as some of the essential qualities, capacities and skills needed.

Download the PDF
​Seven Online Services for Organisations, Teams and Individuals ​to Improve Organisational Effectiveness
COVID-19 has created a new reality for all of us, changing our way of engaging with each other, of meeting and working. At Tamarind Tree we have adapted several of our services, using a variety of online or distance approaches, to offer support to organisations who are looking to meet the new reality creatively.
​1. Sense making to collectively grasp the current crisis
Group processes that will allow you to gain clarity about what risks and possibilities are present, unblock fears and anxiety and enable more conscious team understanding and collaborative work.

2. Strategic Reviewing & Renewing
A set of team thinking processes to re-examine your purpose, values, strategy and practice into the foreseeable future.

3. Organisational survey - Taking the pulse of the staff and responding developmentally
Getting confidential feedback from staff on any organisational issue and working with the organisation to participatively address what emerges.

4. Support for leaders - Renewing perspective and self-awareness and mobilising own capacities and strengths
One-on-one coaching processes to provide regular spaces to help leaders to reflect and rebalance themselves and find the perspective and wisdom as they lead in these new demanding and stressful times.
5. Using the Action Learning Cycle to continually improve and deepen practice
There are several choices: developing practitioner Action Learning Sets, working with case studies, deepening conversations and writing, or developing more meaningful learning-oriented reports to stakeholders/donors.

6. Renewing organisational culture and self-care – refreshing relationships and the will to work - overcoming social distancing
Group processes that build new ways of including, motivating and adapting to a new work reality. Building relationships and empathy so that different staff facing different home circumstances (e.g. as women, single parents, in low income housing etc.) are supported appropriately. Approaches to self-care and mutual support.

7. Improving online processes - Developing more effective online conversations, meetings and workshops
​Learning to design and facilitate processes that are more thoughtful, participative, motivating and able to build authentic connection.

About us...

Desiree Paulsen
​

Rubert Van Blerk
​We are a team of organisation development practitioners working to support social change organisations.  We assist them to clarify their vision, strengthen their purpose, enliven their practice and build effective, human organisation able to unlock the drive, cooperation and creativity of their staff and members.

We are based in Cape Town, working locally, regionally and globally.
​
Each of us has been practicing for more than thirty years, working with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Governments and Universities in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.​

Doug Reeler

Nomvula Dlamini

Beulah Tertiens
​

What we value and where we see our work
The world is facing an existential threat from the combined forces of the Covid-19 Pandemic climate change, shameless greed and ever-growing inequality, with the persistent exclusion of people on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion and culture. But everyday, everywhere, millions still rise as individuals, as communities, as organisations, to care for each other and the earth, respecting all living beings as worthy, looking for creative paths towards a better future. 

​Our question is: How can people like this come together into new kinds of conversations and organisations to learn from each other and to work together both to defend ourselves against inhumanity and to strengthen and create imaginative and compassionate alternatives? How do we bring out the best in each other?  This is where we see our real work. We are already a part of many such collaborations and seek to join with more people of like mind and spirit.

Some of our current & recent clients...

Civil Society Organisations: Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education, Pax Netherlands, Oxfam International, Usiko, Goedgedacht Trust, Medecines Sans Frontieres, Conservation South Africa, Street Peoples Forum, ARASA, Positive Vibes, Inyathelo Institute for Advancement, the World Bank, Technoserv, Training for Transformation, Sozo Foundation, Nelson Mandela Children's Foundation, Transformation Resource Centre Lesotho, F3E France, 

​Universities: Nelson Mandela University, University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, Rhodes University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology,

Government institutions: South African National Biodiversity Institute,  National Research Foundation; South African Medical Research Council, City of Cape Town, Schools in the Western Cape Education Department,

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