Alexander Mackenzie
Visiting Programme Tutor
Praxis
Programmes
Praxis Customised Programmes
Winning Hearts and Minds - Storytelling for Professional Managers
Education and Qualifications
Higher Diploma in Education, University of London, Goldsmiths College, 1990
Higher Diploma in Consultancy and Change Processing Skills,
Oasis School of Human Relations, York, 2002
Work Experience
Founding Director of the Unicorn School of Storytelling, 1992.
Co-founder of a consultancy that specialises in bringing the arts into business, 1994.
Founder of a consultancy that specialises in bridging the dynamic arts with corporate core
processes, 2000.
What are you an expert in?
Storytelling: in a corporate context it is the practise of re-framing situations and experiences
to include an imaginative and metaphoric dimension. This encourages 'out of the box'
thinking and insightful solutions to familiar workplace scenarios.
Combining left and right brain processing in an artistic and pragmatic context.
Making links and bridges between the 'soft skills' of people development and business core
process.
One-to-one coaching.
What is it you are currently thinking about/care about in the world of work
Leadership development: The sound, gesture and actions of authentic leadership.
Coaching: continuously improving my one-to-one coaching style to include the dynamic arts as a vehicle for growth and illumination.
What would you like to see change in organisations?
More 'real' conversations: increased authenticity in personal communication.
For key decision makers to include the dynamic arts in their core process. More
experiential learning and development at middle/senior management level.
What is special about Praxis?
It has a unique blend of unconventional and traditional practitioners, who seek to harness a broad range of skills sets into unusual and exploratory programmes that prove their worth in 'real time' business practice. The atmosphere is professional, friendly and anticipatory.
Why does the programme you teach at Praxis matter in business?
Why does the heart matter to the head, the brain to the fingertip, or the prosaic to the heroic? Because we walk on two legs, not hop on one; we see with both eyes or fall over, and use alternate nostrils to breathe. A business world without Praxis, is to work without colour and speak without timbre.
How would you describe your teaching style?
Experiential, engaging and grounded.
Interests
Fine art painting; fiction writing; performance storytelling; family.
Course director for:
E-mail: m.k.mills@cranfield.ac.uk
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