Aiden is an insightful organisational development consultant, strategist, facilitator and writer. He is also an expert in the role and purpose of narrative and storytelling in organisations. By harnessing the power of conversations, Aiden seeks to help leaders to discover, connect and leverage the value that their people bring to organisations.
Detailed bio
With his background in organisational development, narrative, human resources, psychology and education, Aiden works closely with companies and institutions in facilitating the connection with their employees. He believes strongly that an organisation’s culture is captured in its narrative and that it is the organisational narrative that mobilises a company towards its strategic goals.
Aiden has three degrees including a Masters in narrative. Having obtained his BA (Honours) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Aiden completed his Masters in Narrative Therapy through UNISA at the age of 25. In addition to his work in organizational development and workshop facilitation, Aiden is especially focused on how people make sense of their worlds through narrative and how organisations can explore, map and utilise their organisational narrative. Aiden is an accredited Cognitive Edge practitioner who's approach draws primarily on insights from the cognitive sciences and the science of complex adaptive systems.
Aiden is an astute writer who has been published in a number of South Africa’s leading business journals. He also has his own blog (web blog) where one can find his daily musings and reflections on the worlds of organisational development and narrative (AidenCholes.com).
Along with his engaging character, Aiden communicates tangible wisdom that provides refreshing perspectives and searching analyses on people development issues. He finds himself most at home when standing in front of people presenting and facilitating discussions regarding people and their role within organisations.
Some more details
Aiden is currently a consultant with the futurist strategy consultancy TomorrowToday (www.tomorrowtoday.biz) where he assists in helping companies understand the shifts taking place in an emerging economy rooted in relationships and connections. He does this by being a Specialist Group Facilitator and Organisational Narrative Mapper.
Working with organisations and their senior management, Aiden maps an organisation’s narrative so that leaders can improve and direct the corporate culture towards its strategic goals. He also facilitates discussions on talent management, generational theory, HR strategy and knowledge management.
Having spent some time as an educator, Aiden joined a company in the industrial wholesale and retail sector while completing his research into narrative. It was here that Aiden cut his teeth as a management advisor and strategic facilitator.
Aiden is currently a National Judge and Facilitator for the Anglo American Sowetan Young Communicators Awards competition where he helps young South Africans become pioneering leaders through developing public speaking and communication skills.
Aiden also sits on the Executive Committees of several non-profit organisations.
