True Tales of Organisational Life: Using Psychology to Create New Spaces and Have New Conversations at Work

By: Barbara-Anne Wren

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Synopsis: The context in which healthcare is delivered continues to be one of extreme organisational turbulence and increasing workload, factors that exacerbate the anxiety felt by staff about keeping themselves, and their patients, truly safe. At the same time there is a focus on so-called 'failures of compassion' in healthcare services. The need for creative conversations to promote flexibility, hope and resilience in staff has never been greater. In True Tales of Organisational Life, the author describes ways in which space can be created to strengthen the capacity to withstand suffering, whilst acknowledging the creativity and meaningfulness of healthcare work. She describes the application of systemic and narrative psychology to develop interventions at an individual, team, group, and organisational level. The success of these interventions to develop caregivers' confidence to manage the relationships with their patients and with themselves, as opportunities for healing and compassion, is compelling. Case studies illuminate the work described throughout, and the link between storytelling and health is explored.