"This is clearly a unique course. It is extremely powerful."
Richard Petrie, Technical Director, BAA plc
High Performance Leadership
Be you, only better!
Our Praxis programmes are designed for individuals like you, who are looking to build on their personal communication, leadership and people management styles, we help individuals and their organisations to achieve a more successful future.
Firmly grounded in management issues, we provide a radical and innovative edge to conventional thinking.
Highlights
Customer Testimonials
"Great course, the best I have ever had. A lot of useful experience and lessons and great people to work with and an excellent atmosphere!"
Jurgen Hirschfeld, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs DG/RP, Schering AG
Managing People Effectively
"Very much enjoyed the whole course. It was excellent."
Cris Maiden, Information Technology Infrastructure Manager, SX3 Service & Systems Solutions Ltd
Influencing Skills for the New Workplace
"Really fantastic course with a great bunch of people - tutors and participants.
Joanne Boyle, Head of Customer Service Development, Permanent TSB
Increasing Personal Power
"A simply fantastic course! Such a different approach that has me completely convinced and inspired! Thank you so much."
Maria Chandler, Web Manager, Lloyd's
Managing People Effectively
"It exceeded my expectations completely. I found it extremely relevant and like all the best ideas, beautifully simple."
Dorothy Leng, Company Director, Faraday Partnership
Courageous Conversations
"Quite a fulfilling experience. The interaction between the tutors and course participants is very conducive /encouraging for the self expression and achievement of programme objectives.
Bernard Poyi, Head - Agriculture Business & SME, First Bank of Nigeria
High Performance Leadership
"The whole course has been of great help in my personal development of management of others, and how to interact with them to achieve the best results."
Max Giddins, Shift Co-ordinator, Corus Tubes
Managing People Effectively
"Hugely rewarding and thought-provoking on a personal and professional level."
Maureen Dyson, Corporate Banking Manager, Ministry of Defence.
*This is a personal comment, and does not reflect any formal/official endorsement by the MoD
Increasing Personal Power
"Thanks for an outstanding experience."
Gary Miller, Associate Director, Briggs & Forrester
Managing People Effectively
Forthcoming Events
- The Shadow Side of Leadership - 03 February 2009
- Increasing Personal Power - 23 February 2009
- Confident and Creative Presentation - 26 February 2009
- Organisational and Interpersonal Skills in Management - 09 March 2009
- Walking Your Talk: High Impact Performance - 11 March 2009
- Managing People Effectively - 16 March 2009
- Courageous Conversations - 28 April 2009
- High Performance Leadership - 11 May 2009
- Organisational and Interpersonal Skills in Management - 18 May 2009
- Increasing Personal Power - 08 June 2009
- Power and Influence - 15 June 2009
- Winning Hearts and Minds - 17 June 2009
- Managing People Effectively - 29 June 2009
- Organisational and Interpersonal Skills in Management - 06 July 2009
- Organisational and Interpersonal Skills in Management - 14 September 2009
- Confident and Creative Presentation - 24 September 2009
- Increasing Personal Power - 28 September 2009
- High Performance Leadership - 05 October 2009
- Walking Your Talk: High Impact Performance - 07 October 2009
- Managing People Effectively - 12 October 2009
- Organisational and Interpersonal Skills in Management - 09 November 2009
- Winning Hearts and Minds - 11 November 2009
- Power and Influence - 16 November 2009
- Courageous Conversations - 17 November 2009
Faculty Spot
Sandy Cotter BA MA
Programmes
Managing People Effectively
Increasing Personal Power
Power and Influence
Work Experience
All my work is based on the Centaur model of executive leadership, which I developed in 1985. It comes from my psychology background and my life experience.
It is a combination of body-mind-Jungian psychology and the `perennial philosophy of human goodness`, common to all major world religions.
Since 1985, when I co-designed and ran the Managing People Effectively programme, I have been closely involved in body-mind management development at Cranfield, and in 1995 co-founded the Praxis Centre. For almost 20 years, I have worked on the Organisational & Interpersonal Skills in Management (OIPS) programme.
For 17 years, I have worked with one of the `Big Four` accountancy firms and their legacy businesses, developing programmes about personal potential. I have also developed and run executive coaching for the company: this has now reached a very advanced level, with hundreds of senior managers participating over the years.I am currently working with a global banking organisation, developing personal potential.
What are you an expert in?
My training is in psychology and art history. In terms of management development, I am an expert in the tool I have devised - the Centaur model.
In terms of teaching, I am an expert in emotional intelligence and helping people to find their unique potential.
What is it you are currently thinking about/care about in the world of work?
Advancing and expanding consciousness in organisations. Bringing people who are more developed, more robust and morally grounded in to leadership positions.
A lot of people who have integrity have an aversion to organisational politics: they think it is a waste of time or morally wrong. They want to get on with their task.
Consequently, they often do not advance up the organisational hierarchy, where their moral ground is much needed in today`s organisations.
We teach that people can play the political game with absolute integrity - not for their own aggrandisement, but for the greater good. The `good guys` can move the world in a better direction: we badly need leaders of this calibre in organisations.
What would you like to see change in organisations?
A higher level of consciousness. I have a vision of a future in which there is a greater sense of value of care for the community and the environment. People have got to be able to respond to the bottom line, but they also have to grow and evolve.
We need a paradigm shift, but before people develop a higher consciousness, they need to have a robust psychology. I have seen great change in attitude towards this over the last 20 years.
What is special about Praxis?
Praxis has always had a spiritual commitment towards human goodness, but which is applicable to organisational life. It is not just a beautiful philosophy; it works and it makes noticeable changes that serve the greater good and the evolution of those things.
Why does the programme you teach at Praxis matter in business?
Managing People Effectively and Organisational & Interpersonal Skills in Management help people to frame themselves - they become aware that there is more to them than they presently think. The programmes flag a spiritual dimension of depth and potential - a truth that gets mapped out for people.
Power & Influence helps people of integrity to build a relationship with organisational politics, so they can `play the game` and move up to more senior roles. They learn that morality and goodness can make a difference. Too many people are motivated by their own power and self-aggrandisement. We need `good guys` to play the game, so they can climb the hierarchy and make a difference. If you are morally and psychologically robust, what lacks integrity is not entering that arena.
How would you describe your teaching style?
Interactive; inspirational; humorous. I definitely have a `point of view` - so it`s also didactic. I take a stand!
Education and Qualifications
BA (Hons) Psychology, Michigan State University, 1964
MA History of Art. University of London, 1967
Interests
Horseback riding; walking in the countryside; reading; being with friends.
Born Yale, Michigan, USA
Nationality American