dispatches from the new world of work

Cool Friend: Cramer

Kathryn Cramer is the coauthor with Hank Wasiak of Change the Way You See Everything Through Asset-Based Thinking, which she defines this way:

Asset-based thinking is looking at yourself and the world through the eyes of what's working, what strengths are present, what the potentials are.

The book is just appearing in stores now. Cramer is a practicing psychologist, a sought-after corporate consultant and speaker, and author of four books on personal effectiveness and professional development. She founded and became Managing Partner of The Cramer Institute in 1990. You can read the rest of her Cool Friend interview here.

Cathy Mosca posted this on 03/30/06.

Comments

Interesting approach. The new Fortune mag had homeless as "asset" approach - they cost society at least $50k per year [clinics, food, emergency rooms, disease & substance abuse treatment, etc] - new approach to give them their own room - that is what they want most - then mitigate costs downward - use business solutions - heart and mind.

Posted by Sean at March 31, 2006 10:26 AM

Good thought Sean, using Cramers ideas you could look at the challenge as having potential, know that the present system is not working, explore the strengths of the client group. Bingo before you know it in a properly fixated project you could train them to build their own rooms, or at least have a part in the process of design etc.

I see it as a spiral, radiating out from the core where every positive move allows for an exponential growth spurt, or at least a chance to explore the potential.

It needs a motivator (not just a driver eg desperation to make change due to the cost) and an innovative approach to make it truly happen.

Is it time to use the creative business approaches Tom and others put forward and create a sharp and nimble publicly listed Co that can tackle these 'welfare' type issues rather than just getting govt grants to prop up the homeless?

Think about it, or a cooperative... warm and fuzzy yet?

Steve

Posted by Steve Gray at April 1, 2006 1:54 AM