Wholistic Solutions for More Effective Organizations
- Appreciative
Inquiry - Executive
Coaching - Gestalt Practice
in Organizations - Leadership
Effectiveness - Organization
Effectiveness - Team
Building
The ultimate goal of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is to galvanize the entire system through total system participation and engagement. Clients realize that the simple introduction of the principles of AI: Constructionist, Simultaneity, Open Book “Poetic Principle,” Anticipatory, and Positive --- can create a climate of collaboration, optimism, and empowerment among employees that is powerfully transformative. AI education or training follows the AI 4-D Model: Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny. Services are customized in alignment with philosophical underpinnings of AI and client designed outcomes. 
MA Rainey Associates's executive coaching is assessment based, goal driven, and involves on-going feedback and experimentation. It can extend from 6 to 18 months depending on desired outcomes. It is a customized developmental experience for senior to executive level leaders who have taken on a new role, must broaden their scope of responsibility, increase their leadership capability, or expand their leadership presence. One-on-one sessions take place either face-to-face or virtually with the support of a competent and experienced coach. Self-awareness and personal presence are core components of the work.
Our Gestalt Practice includes the following performance improvement solutions:
The International Gestalt Organization and Leadership Development (iGOLD) ProgramDeveloping a Compelling Presence at Work
The Four Roles of the Gestalt Intervener
Gestalt Approach to Working with Resistance to Change
Gestalt Approach to Coaching
Gestalt Approach to Working with Two-Person Systems, Pairs, Dyads and Trusted Business Partners
Gestalt Approach to Working with Groups
Gestalt Approach to Working with Large Complex Social Systems
Relationship Strategy Vision Performance (RSVP) Fundamentals of LeadershipThe RSVP Fundamentals of Leadership Model was developed by Mary Ann Rainey and David A. Kolb. The authors firmly believe the adaptive ability necessary for success in today’s rapidly changing environment requires leaders who are willing to engage in continuous learning. The RSVP Model identifies the primary components of a holistic and integrated approach to leadership that is consistent with experiential learning theory (Kolb, 1984): Relationship Mastery, Strategy Mastery, Vision Mastery and Performance Mastery. Effective leadership necessitates competence in all four areas to steer organizations through the myriad of adaptive challenges they face in the world today. An assessment process identifies the areas of strength and development that will guide a consulting or custom training program.
Our Organization Effectiveness (OE) consulting involves working with organizations to clarify purpose and goals and to achieve those goals while maintaining healthy relationships among organizational members and other key stakeholders. Attention is given to both organizational and human needs through (1) scientific inquiry that is practical and applicable, (2) adhering to a democratic process, and (3) developing a collaborative client-consultant partnership. Organizational Effectiveness consulting is similar to Organization Development (OD) consulting but can be distinguished from expert or technical consulting. In OE, task issues are addressed less through what the task is (a new technology system, job redesign, restructuring) and more through how the task is accomplished (clarifying goals, roles, and work processes) and relationships are maintained. MRA services include the following in combination or alone. 
Our team building process is designed to help members of a group work more collaboratively together as they attempt to achieve shared goals and maintain a supportive and trusting environment.Self-awareness is a by-product of team development. Members learn about their personal assumptions, tendencies and biases in group settings. Interpersonal skills are sharpened as members enhance their ability to give and receive feedback.
Team building interventions are led my highly trained consultants who are knowledgeable and competent in group process and development, communications, decision making, conflict, diversity, and issues of leadership, power and authority. Consulting and education programs are customized to meet client desired outcomes.
About MA Rainey Associates
MA Rainey Associates is a global organization and leadership development consulting practice. For more than 25 years, we have helped executives and executive management teams of some of the world's most prestigious companies improve their outcomes and effectiveness through our wholistic approach to organization and leadership development.
We serve clients in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their businesses span a variety of sectors: energy, retail, healthcare, government, education, banking and finance. A partial client list includes: Boehringer Ingelheim, Educational Testing Service, Office of the President of Champlain College, ONTOS Global, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ralph Lauren, Society of American Archivists, Yale New Haven Hospital System and YSA Developing Leadership.
Mary Ann Rainey, PhD
Our founder, Dr. Mary Ann Rainey, is an organizational effectiveness consultant and executive coach based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in the application of wholistic perspectives to improve individual, team, and organizational performance. Her work with leaders focuses on developing executive presence and increasing leadership effectiveness using her RSVP Fundamentals of Leadership Model.
Mary Ann has broad executive leadership experience as former Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness for Exelon Corporation and former Vice City Manager of the City of East Cleveland, Ohio. She is co-founder of GestaltOD Partners LLC and co-chairperson of the International Gestalt Organization and Leadership Development Program (iGOLD Program).
Currently serving as Adjunct Professor of Business Ethics and Responsible Leadership in the Executive MBA Program at Loyola University in Chicago, Mary Ann also teaches in certificate programs in change management and organization development in Oxford, England; Mumbai, India and Singapore. Other teaching experience includes management and doctoral programs at Case Western Reserve University and Benedictine University.
Mary Ann holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, a M.S. in counseling and human resources and a B.S. in business management. Her published works cover leadership, personal presence, and organizational change and resistance. Professional affiliations include Academy of Management Association, Organization Development Network (ODN), and NTL Institute of Applied Behavioral Science.
Many of her published works are available in our Resources Section. Feel free to download any that would be of value to your business, non-profit organization or consulting practice.
Organizational Effectiveness Resources
Mary Ann has conducted considerable research on organization effectiveness and development, resulting in a significant body of published work. We have compiled some of her most popular work in our Resource Center. You may download them here.
In addition, she has delivered numerous presentations to audiences around the world. We invite you to view several here.
