EPICC helps workplace chaplains with their challenging roles

EPICC, the organisational consultancy arm of Workplace Matters, has led a workshop for senior workplace chaplains in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) June 12, 2012 - The event provided an opportunity for the chaplains to take stock of their roles, workplace issues and the challenges they are facing; enabling them to determine how they can support leadership within the organisations in which they serve.

EPICC, which has brought together leading Christian consultants and practitioners who have a combined wealth of expertise in leadership and organisation development, cares about the spiritual poverty that many people experience at work. To help address deeper issues, the consultants work experientially with clients using a holistic approach to development.

The model that EPICC uses has recently been written about in the book, 'The Map of Meaning - a guide to sustaining our humanity in the world at work' (Lips-Wiersma & Morris, 2011, Greenleaf).

"The value of EPICC's approach is that it can help people to surface their own sense of what is 'meaningful' for them about the work they do," said EPICC consultant, Sue Howard, who helped to facilitate the workshop. "The model has been proven in many contexts to generate profound insights which can lead to a greater sense of engagement and productivity.

"The 'Map' has three core benefits," she added. "It enables people to talk about meaning in a constructive manner; it provides an axis to work between inspiration and reality, and it helps individuals to take responsibility - personally and collectively."

At the workshop - held at the premises of vehicle manufacturer, Vauxhall, in Luton - all the participants found working with the map was a constructive and valuable way to think about their work from different perspectives.

The Rev Tony Ruffell, Senior Chaplain to Hertfordshire's Police and Fire Services, commented that the workshop had been a 'good collaborative process', while the Rev David Alexander, the Chaplain at Vauxhall, said: "When our vision for the future hits the messy reality of our present circumstance, our world can become a confusing place.

"The workshop was extremely helpful - and indeed inspirational - in enabling participants to map the different aspects of their lives in relation to their 'inspiration', with tensions between conflicting demands. I found it clarified which areas of my life needed rebalancing.

"I'd highly recommend a workshop such as this one," he added. "This workshop could help individuals but it can also help any organisation to find greater equilibrium, motivation and success in pursuing its goals."

EPICC offers:
• Team Workshops - to engage teams in valuing each other and the work they do
• Action Research - to explore how to change working life for the better
• Development - of projects to support organisational and individual transformation
• Mentoring - a reassuring supportive relationship for leadership reflection

For further details of EPICC (http://www.workplacematters.org.uk/consultancy), its services and how they could help your organisation, contact Alison Crookes or Ancilla Andrew at Workplace Matters on 01727 818144.

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About EPICC

EPICC (http://www.workplacematters.org.uk/consultancy) - part of Workplace Matters, an ecumenical charity which takes Christian values into the workplace - represents a way of working which is ideally placed to deal with social paradigm related business issues.

Unashamedly Christian but open to listen to, and learn from, other faiths, EPICC helps organisations wanting to make the workplace a better place to be; where people want to work because it gives them real meaning and purpose; which enable people to develop to their full potential in body, mind and spirit, and come to work as their complete selves. EPICC offers collaborative partnerships to business leaders, using action research to create a practical bridge to the new paradigm with a focus on:
• Purpose - to be engaged and motivated, staff need to believe in the value of the work they do and what the organisation does overall
• Experience - when staff are at work they have, and create for others, an experience, either positive or negative, based on the way people behave to them and with each other
• 'Person' - the world's best managers treat people as individuals, helping them build their self-belief and confidence rather than using fear to drive them.

About Workplace Matters (http://www.workplacematters.org.uk/)

Workplace Matters (WM) is an ecumenical charity which takes Christian values into the workplace. Among its chief activities is supplying Workplace Chaplaincy. Workplace Chaplaincy provides expertise in pastoral and spiritual care in the workplace regardless of faith or gender to all employees. The basic principle of chaplaincy is to provide an independent and confidential 'listening ear' encouragement and mutual support to all employees. It is a unique personal level of support that is impossible to get anywhere else. WM networks with a range of faith groups and networks and recognises that faith is deeply entwined with every aspect of community and working life.

Further information from:

Sue Howard, EPICC, 01582 831073, suehoward ( @ ) holisticleadership dot co dot uk

Alison Crookes/ Ancilla Andrew, Workplace Matters, 01727 818144, workplacematters ( @ ) stalbans dot anglican dot org

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405, bob.little ( @ ) boblittlepr dot com

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