Being a Critical Friend

Being a Critical Friend

I have more than 10 years of experience in acting as a trusted and honest critical friend. This work has includes asking thoughtful and challenging questions, providing objective feedback, probing underlying assumptions and offering alternative perspectives and evidence. It focuses on issues arising when developing and implementing strategies, frameworks, projects and processes and improving organisations. This work is delivered in several different ways including 1-2-1 conversations with leaders and managers and participating in and facilitating workshops.

To learn more about my approach to being a critical friend, please see:

I mainly offer three kinds of support:

  • Supporting Organisations and Institutions in Developing Visions, Strategies, Frameworks and Networks

I develop and deliver workshops that support organisations and institutions in turning their broad ideas into visions, strategies and frameworks that align with their values. In addition to developing and facilitating these workshops, I ask critical questions that help stakeholders develop authentic, clear and implementable visions, strategies and frameworks. This work also includes developing and delivering workshops that focus on initiating and developing networks between organisations with similar visions.

  • Supporting Organisations in Developing and Implementing Projects

I participate in workshops organised by organisations that focus on developing and implementing particular projects. Here I ask critical questions and advise about a range of issues including inclusivity, participation, engagement, agency, relationship building, intersectional identities and co-creation.

  • Supporting Leaders and Managers in Developing Their Organisation or Addressing Specific Challenges

I ask critical questions and provide advice to leaders and managers about how to develop their organisation or how to best to address specific challenges they encounter in their organisation. These are normally 1-2-1 conversations that focus on issues such as leadership, governance, inclusivity, vertical and horizontal relationship building, role descriptions, funding, communication, accountability, adaptability and stakeholder engagement.

Examples of my work

  1. Supporting the Somali government in developing a framework for reconciliation. 

This work included:

  • Co-designing and delivering workshops.
  • Asking critical questions about the underlying assumptions and evidence underpinning the framework and its cultural grounding.
  • Asking critical questions about inclusivity especially regarding the inclusion of women and minorities.
  • Providing short presentations on key aspects of the framework.
  • Critically reviewing plans for the framework.
  1. Supporting the European Council of Religious Leaders in developing a new shared vision

This work included:

  • Designing and facilitating a workshop focusing on using envisioning to imagine a shared vision.
  • Asking critical questions about shared values, challenges and collaborations.
  1. Supporting the manager of a local organisation initiate a national network

This work included:

  • Designing and facilitating a workshop that got key stakeholders together.
  • Asking critical questions about the vision and strategy for the development of the network.
  1. Supporting Peacemakers in developing the Planting Seed of Peace Education programme

This work included:

  • Participating in workshops and online meetings.
  • Asking critical questions about key assumptions and inclusivity.
  • Making short presentations.
  1. Supporting Network for Dialogue’s work with migrants and refugees

This work included:

  • Participating in four European Policy Dialogue Forums.
  • Asking critical questions about a range of issues including inclusivity, agency, relationship building and social cohesion.
  1. Supporting the manager of a local faith-based organisation onboard and maintain volunteers

This work included:

  • Asking critical questions and providing advice about welcoming volunteers, providing training for volunteers, building relationships between volunteers and upholding boundaries between volunteers and participants.
  1. Supporting the manager of a regional organisation develop the organisation

This work included:

  • Asking critical questions and providing advice about leadership, governance, membership, inclusivity, MEAL frameworks, training, expectations, strategies, programmes and processes.

Please contact me on MLBCandT@gmail.com to initiate a conversation about how I can help you and your team develop impactful resources that will significantly improve your practices, projects and processes.

“As usual with you, the conversation was incredibly rich, and it helped me gather my thoughts! 

Feedback from a client