We’re in MBA Starter season! New intakes in the Executive, the Flexible and the Full-time modes of study for the Henley MBA are all in flow during September and October, not just at Henley in the UK, but also in Denmark, Ireland and Trinidad. As a result, we’re delivering the three-day starter workshop a number of times. It’s a challenge but very rewarding. Each group is different, but somehow the same – quite a trick.
My new role is a novelty. No longer have to worry about every aspect of everyone’s arrival and departure – I can focus my mind on the Personal Development module. And it’s making me think about what that means, too. We’ve improved the starter with several very well-thought-through session on critical thinking, and conceptual thinking, as well as reading and writing skills. If Critical Thinking is “the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it” (www.criticalthiking.org), then critical thinking applied to Personal Development has a purpose closely connected to reflection in learning. Working with experienced and motivated managers on these ideas right at the beginning of a major educational endeavour is a real buzz!
I have also now been able to start to draw in some of the ideas and thinking from my reading for the PhD, and it’s really helping me to internalise many of the strands on education, learning and development.
Chris Dalton's Personal Development Blog 