CUBO Book Club reviews The Challenge Culture

CUBO Book Club Review: The Challenge Culture by Nigel Travis

Nigel Travis's "The Challenge Culture" offers a compelling perspective on how organizations can thrive in an ever-changing and competitive environment. Drawing on his extensive leadership experience, including as CEO and Chairman of Dunkin' Brands and his work in turning around the culture at Leyton Orient Football Club, Travis emphasizes the value of embracing challenge and encouraging pushback within an organization.

One of the key takeaways from the book is the idea that organisations, including universities, should create an environment where all staff, from the latest recruits to senior leadership, are empowered to voice their opinions and question established norms without the fear of retribution. This notion should be particularly relevant for universities, where academic freedom, open discourse, and innovation are crucial.

The group discussed how a Challenge Culture could be implemented in a university setting. Here are a few tips the book club attendees suggested:

1. Fostering a Culture of Innovation: Universities are centres of learning and innovation. By implementing the concepts discussed in the book, campus professional leaders can encourage staff to challenge existing ideas and practices. This can lead to the development of innovative student experiences initiatives, EDI projects, and administrative process improvements.
2. Open Dialogue and Debate with staff: Embracing the challenge culture in a university means promoting open dialogue and respectful debate. There should be regular opportunity for teams/ departments to question current processes, department strategic direction and policies, ultimately leading to a richer campus experience.
3. Empowering Students: Students are the greatest source of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Universities should empower students to voice their opinions and contribute to decision-making processes, making them feel more engaged in the academic and campus community. Working closely with Student Unions is key.
4. Effective Conflict Resolution: The challenge culture emphasises discussing difficult issues civilly. Training should be put in plan to support teams to challenge and implement conflict resolution strategies to ensure that discussions remain respectful and productive, even when dealing with contentious topics. An example of this is getting your team to complete a ‘dealing with difficult conversations course’ to give them the skills to deal with challenge.
5. Continuous Improvement: Encouraging pushback and critical thinking can help campus professionals steadily improve their programmes, services and administrative processes. It can lead to the development of more effective and responsive campus service.

In summary, the CUBO Book Club members really enjoyed reading the "The Challenge Culture" and agree it provides valuable insights into creating an environment that promotes constructive challenge and continuous improvement within organisations.

When applied to a university/campus setting, these concepts can enhance innovation, foster open dialogue, and empower all staff member and students of the campus and academic community to contribute to the institution's success.

This book can be a valuable resource for CUBO members looking to create a culture that supports positive pushback and positive change.

Next book and meeting

Our next book has a EDI focus and will be the fantastic Sunday Times bestseller ‘Invisible Women’ by Caroline Criado Perez. This book is focused on exposing the gender bias women face every day.

Invisible Women takes on the neglected topic of what we don't know - and why. The result is a powerful, important and eye-opening analysis of the gender politics of knowledge and ignorance. With examples from technology to natural disasters, this is an original and timely reminder of why we need women in the leadership of the institutions that shape every aspect of our lives. -- Cordelia Fine

We'll meet to discuss the book on 1st February 2024.

Sign up for the next Book Club meeting.