A Systemic Understanding of Organisational Life is intended for coaches and consultants who are curious about why organisations often behave in ways that appear irrational, resistant, or stuck, despite careful design and clear strategy. It may be particularly useful for practitioners who want to better understand what is happening below the surface in teams, roles, and organisational systems.
The programme consists of five live webinars, each supported by curated reading and reference materials. Across the series, participants explore key ideas from open systems theory and psychodynamic thinking, including boundary, role and task, anxiety and social defences, group dynamics, resistance to change, and socio-technical design.
Each session combines conceptual input with reflection on lived organisational experience, offering participants a structured way to make sense of complexity and the emotional and unconscious dynamics that shape organisational life. The emphasis throughout is on practical application, supporting more thoughtful and relational coaching and consultancy practice.
Session 1
25th April 2026 at 09.00 UK time (75 minutes)
Introduction to a systemic understanding of organisational life
Session 2
16th May 2026 at 09.00 UK time (75 minutes)
Hidden defences against anxiety in organisational dynamics
Session 3
27th June 2026 at 09.00 UK time (75 minutes)
Understanding Bion and the emotional life of teams
Session 4
19th September 2026 at 09.00 UK time (75 minutes)
Lewin and systems change (ambivalence, resistance, containment)
Session 5
17th October 2026 at 09.00 UK time (75 minutes)
Understanding socio-technical systems
Jennie has worked as a coach and organisational consultant across a wide range of industry sectors, with a particular focus on NGOs, public sector, and government. She brings to her work over fifteen years of leadership experience in the non-profit sector, including at an executive level.
She holds a Masters in Consulting and Leading in Organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust, and various certificates, including Foundation in Groups at the Institute of Group Analysis and counselling at City Lit University. She is accredited at Senior Practitioner level with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and as a coach supervisor.
Jennie is also a visiting faculty member on the Tavistock & Portman Masters Programme and currently directs their Executive Coaching Programme.