Michael Wash

Cert Ed, Dip Hum Psych, MA

Free

Organisational Healing through Leadership Development Expert

Michael Wash Quick Facts

About Mike Wash – Author At the age of 15, after spending 18 months in Catholic School training for a life of a religious teacher as a ‘De La Salle’ brother, I decided to come home and face the realities of a different type of ‘family’ life. The desire within me to help others was still strong and on the eve of me leaving to do Voluntary Services overseas, at the age of 17, an opportunity to join the school of psychiatry as a student nurse was too much of a coincidence to ignore. Those first few years working in a large mental institution in the early 1970’s, wiped out any sense of remaining naivety or innocence about the capability of the human mind to destroy itself and others. My path was set, but I was unhappy to be constrained by ‘institutional walls’, so after psychiatry, I trained as a general nurse, then as a tutor – and in my private practice, qualified as a counsellor and psychotherapist. The constraining nature of the ‘health’ profession was still too much, so I decided to explore outside, and my horizon changed significantly when I was offered a job in a large telecommunications company. Here, I introduced counselling and the value of developing a supportive, facilitative change management style of leadership. My premise was that large organisations damage your health – and it doesn’t have to be that way. The irony was that during this time, I battled for 6 months against cancer, which created a greater strength and determination to carry on the path of ‘healing’, whether in the context of work or family life. During these very formative years, I also experienced the tragic death of my mother. Following an accident, she was left in a coma for several years. Also, my little sister, who was on kidney dialysis for years before succumbing to hepatitis and kidney failure. I was married young and one of the most proud moments of my life was witnessing the birth of my twin sons. The strain of tragedy, illness and personal change was too much for my marriage, and divorce eventually cut the chains – which enabled us both to be free and to find new happiness. I have been running my own business for the past 17 years and feel very privileged to work with people and organisations passionate about wanting to change and discover their true potential.

I am very happy, married to Mave and enjoying my Grandfather status, and the attention of my sons and step-children. The journey continues . . . . . . . .

Mike has a Masters Degree in Business and Economics and a counselling diploma in Humanistic Psychology. Previously registered as a Psychiatric Nurse Tutor and author of several books on organisation and personal development.

Free Articles & Book Excerpts

The 54 Series

www.mwauk.com

Articles by this expert

SelfGrowth articles and saved writing connected to this expert.

2 total

Article

Becoming a Change Agent

An Image of a Change Agent - by Michael Wash The questions that this paper begin to address are the following: - What are the appropriate development experiences for me as a change agent? - Where do the experiences that are available now fit?

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Article

A Book That May Change You And Your Life.

Review Even if not a fan of self-help books, any reader will find 54 Simple Truths with Brutal Advice at least enjoyable. This also because probably “self-help” genre is not properly the right category to place this book in. Self-examination is not what this book is about. If anything, this ...

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Websites & resources

SelfGrowth-published websites, downloads, and contributor profile websites connected to this expert.

3 total

Website

54 Self Help Books

Interactive discussion forum where free professional advice is available and other self help resources for a better life

January 3, 2011

Website

54 Simple Truths with Brutal Advice

Contains many free samples of articles and interactive exercises to assess yourself of stress, time management, effective teams, leadership also inspiring poetry from the 54 Series of books by Mike Wash

October 10, 2008

Website

Personal and Organisation Development

Books from the '54' series of personal and organisation development and many self assessment exercises free online and downloadable. Many useful articles and resources for those individuals wishing to improve their leadership skills and make work a better place to be.

August 20, 2008