Using ACT to nurture our culture
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychological therapy that helps people deal positively with negative thoughts. Using acceptance and mindfulness techniques alongside commitment and behaviour change approaches, ACT helps people learn and understand how their thoughts, feelings and emotions relate to their values and behaviour.
ACT is part of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy new wave of interventions. A substantial number of randomised controlled trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews have generated strong evidence of its effectiveness in treating a wide range of complicated psychological disorders and evoking behavioural change
As organisations grow, competency and skill requirements change, behaviours evolve and cultures develop. However, I have witnessed the downside of growth where values, purpose and direction become eroded over time.
So, at EF we took committed action to nurture and safeguard these principles by introducing an ACT-based management framework to guide us as we grow.
We are working closely with psychologist Dr Anneli Gascoyne, who specialises in organisational and psychological flexibility as ways to understand and improve the effectiveness and wellbeing of organisations and the people working within them.
Anneli has been working with our Board, executive team and heads of operations to support us to design and implement an ACT management framework. She has also contributed hugely to our strategic workforce development and wellbeing strategies.
“What I love about working with EF is how the whole organisation is open to learning and to finding ways forward; ways that help to deliver the large-scale strategic aims, while also caring about the ‘here and now’ – for this service user, or for that housing situation.
“I feel such a sense of privilege working with the leaders of EF: their desire to build an organisation that continues to be adaptable as it evolves, and the energy they bring to putting their values into action. They’re also willing to seek evidence and hear messages that may sometimes be challenging, or even a bit uncomfortable, in order to do better, and to do more of what really matters to them and the organisation as a whole. It’s refreshing and it’s great to see the impact of this approach.
“I look forward to seeing the ongoing results of EF’s commitment to reinforcing this adaptable way of thinking and behaving throughout the organisation that keeps EF aligned with its values and purpose.”
Our aspiration is to ensure that the key principles of ACT continue to guide our development at all levels of the organisation as we grow. I truly believe that this investment in our people will help us to safeguard our values, principle and direction.
