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Tertiary Education Management Conference 2006 The connected triangles theory of management K Marshall Slide 2 Connected Triangles Kerry Marshall TEMC August 2006 Slide 3 Eastern Institute of Technology Slide 4 Slide 5 Slide 6 Slide 7 Shapes in management shaping up lines circles squares or boxes triangles Slide 8 Connected Triangles In any organisation there are triangles of relationships. The communication of information creates triangles. Slide 9 PM You Project management Slide 10 PM You Consultant Contractor Others Client Others Client Project management Slide 11 PM You Consultant Contractor Others Client Others Client Triangles in project management Slide 12 PM You Consultant Contractor Others Client Others Client The Triangle Triangles in project management Slide 13 The existence of these triangles leads to the multi-user collapsing triangles ultimate paradox = MUCT-UP Slide 14 The worm farm Client Project Manager Slide 15 The worm farm Client Project Manager Helful person Slide 16 The worm farm Client Project Manager Helpful person Slide 17 If you let triangles overwhelm you then you can be lost in connected triangles = LICT Slide 18 The roof.. Consultant Project Manager Slide 19 The roof Consultant Project Manager Client Slide 20 The roof . Consultant Project Manager Client Slide 21 If you are aware of and alert to the existence of these triangles then you can address connected triangles = ACT Slide 22 Triangles Tools for untangling Interpersonal Messes Pat Ruzich HR Magazine July 1999 Slide 23 Triangles occur when : when two people are having a problem and instead of addressing the problem directly with each other one of them gets a third person involved. Slide 24 FredBill Relationships Slide 25 FredBill Relationships Slide 26 FredBill You The triangle Slide 27 FredBill You The triangle Slide 28 These triangles extend well beyond your sphere of influence Slide 29 You FredBill Slide 30 You FredBill A N Other Slide 31 You FredBill A N Other A N Others Slide 32 You FredBill A N Other A N Others More Others Slide 33 FredBill You The triangle Slide 34 How to deal with triangles ? Strengthen communication between the parties on the hot leg of the triangle. FredBill You Slide 35 The Hierarchy of responses Your response can be at the high end of de-triangling through to the low-end of encouraging triangles Slide 36 The hierarchy of response . reroute complaints, dont carry messages for the sender facilitate a meeting and coach the parties in communicating directly Slide 37 The hierarchy of response . transmit verbatim messages and coach the receiver carry the message but protect the senders name soften the message to protect the sender Slide 38 The hierarchy continued add your spin to the message to protect the sender do nothing, the participants will triangle with someone else do nothing and spread the gossip, you will triangle with others. Slide 39 Managing triangles Look for triangles, not people to blame Step out of the emotional pull Focus on the hot leg Reroute complaints in constructive ways Avoid indirect message channels Reinforce changed behaviours Slide 40 Connected Triangles In any organisation there are triangles of relationships. The communication of information creates triangles. Slide 41 Connected Triangles Slide 42 Tertiary Education Management Conference 2006 Morning Tea Please reconvene at 11.15am