Presented by Martin Itzkow
Nancy Morris introduced our speaker for the evening. Martin Itzkow, FRSA has an active, successful life and executive adaptive leadership coaching practice, locally, nationally and internationally in scope. He has become a strong supporter, catalyst and animator for shaping organizational culture in a time of uncertainty; to strengthen organizational resilience and wellbeing by measuring and animating sustainable organizational change.
Over the last two and a half decades, Martin has facilitated over three-hundred consulting and coaching assignments, ranging from strategic thinking and long-term planning, developmental evaluation, change readiness and management, organizational renewal and development, shaping organizational and leadership culture, values – based decision making, measuring organizational evolution and growth, community visioning and executive leadership. He is an excellent and a quick-thinking large-scale group facilitator of organizational transformation.
Martin is known for his customization processes to meet the unique needs and characteristics of the client and their specific circumstances.
He has recently devoted his coaching and organizational transformation to address his growing concern about community, societal values, the highest level of human intelligence (SQ), and the wellbeing of human flourishing which is underpinned by individual beliefs, values and mindsets.
Martin is a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA – UK), a Barrett Value Centre Value’s Consultant (U.K.), a member of the steering group for the Canadian values Alliance, an Associate of the Compassionate Education Foundation (C0ED) (UK), a ICF member, a “DEEP CHANGE” (EQ and SQ) and Flourishing Communities consultant. He has founded and actively participated in many communities and organizational executive leadership development training and mentoring programs. Martin has been on Winnipeg CBC Information Radio as their Values Journalist. At present, he is the founding Executive Director of the Coalition of Manitoba Cultural Communities for Families Inc. (CMCCF).
Martin Itzkow was invited to talk here tonight after Martin Labossiere & Eira Braun-Labossiere heard him on a CBC radio broadcast.
Martin started his presentation by asking everyone present if they know what their values are? He stated that Winnipeg is divided in many ways, especially by values. No politician in this city or province wants to know the facts behind this divide.
When a club member stated that his love of family was what he valued, Martin asked us to go deeper….love of family is really a feeling of belonging. Values drive us and motivate us. Emotions are tied to values. Different age groups / generations are completely different when asked to state their values.
Values are our moral compass. They used to be faith based. This is not true for the majority of society any longer. In the business world, most companies do not care about personal values of their employees. If the employee does not agree with the organization’s values, then you will have trouble in that organization. The condensed answer is to not hire people that do not align with your company values.
We are confronted with more and more options in society. Selecting the right answer has become more and more difficult. Faith organizations are very difficult to work with. The leaders tend to be spiritually rich but behave poorly. It is difficult to translate core values into daily living.
POSITIVE VALUES; trust, honesty, accountability
POTENTIALLY LIMITING VALUES; bureaucracy, power, blame, revenge, manipulation
Barrett Seven Levels of Consciousness Model
7. Service – Selfless service
6. Making a Difference – Making a positive difference in the world
5. Internal Cohesion – Finding meaning in existence
4. Transformation – Letting go of fears. The courage to develop and grow
3. Self Esteem – Feeling a sense of self-worth. Fear: I am not enough
2. Relationship – Feeling protected and loved. Fear: I am not loved enough
1. Survival – Satisfying our physical and survival needs. Fear: I do not have enough
The higher numbered items are when you are working for the common good. The lower numbers are when you are concerned with yourself.
The group was then guided through a Personal Values Assessment. We were asked to select 3 personal core values from a chart of hundreds of values. When you drill down from these words at least 5 levels, you are getting to see your soul. An example would be that if you chose ‘Family’ as a value for yourself, a deeper core value for this selection would be a sense of ‘belonging and pride’.
The group was asked to select 3 values and behaviours that most represents who you are [1]. Then, the same process of how you see Winnipeg right now [2]. Then finally, the 3 words you would select for Winnipeg in the future [3].
[1] The first words selected compare and contrast what we value for ourselves.
[2] The second group of words show what we value or devalue for our community.
[3] The final group of words selected show how different it must be for the “desired future”. When we add new values which we do not see today.
This type of exercise is designed to establish if you are aligned with the life that you want.
Iain Scott thanked Martin for his enlightening presentation. He was advised that a donation, in his name, would be made to ShelterBox.
