John Cosgrove is the Managing Director for Arbinger Oceania. With a colourful background, including a leadership career in the New Zealand Police, ‘Cossie’ brings material alive through his stories and his humour.
Cossie spent 18 years in the New Zealand Police with responsibilities ranging from front line policing to diplomatic protection and from hostage negotiation to restructuring. Over his time ‘in blue’ he developed expertise in Organisational Learning, Change Management, Organisational Design, Performance Management, Leadership Development, Training Design and Delivery, Coaching and Mentoring. All paths converged into his lasting passion - developing leaders who can create the space where people can unleash their potential and consistently deliver outstanding results.
(Team photo after a 'mud run' with Auckland Metro Constable's Leadership Development Course 2008)
John finished his service at the rank of Inspector in charge of leadership training for staff who had been promoted within the organisation. After leaving the police in 2005 he set up a leadership development company that focused on transforming potential supervisors into influential leaders. In 2006 he discovered Leadership and Self Deception and, like the guy who used the razor and bought the company, sought out Arbinger and secured the license to lead their work in Oceania.
('Setting a scrum' with Arbinger Founder C. Terry Warner and Executive Director Jim Ferrell)
Cossie and his wife, Trish, have six children. He enjoys good movies and plays some golf in his spare time.
“I have come to appreciate that the quality of the relationships in an organisation has a direct effect on the quality of the results achieved by that organisation - and that for any organisation to be truly successful they need to effectively deal with self deception.”
(posing at the entrance to Zion National Park - a great place to get perspective)
“John is one of the best facilitators I have seen working and he is able to ensure that even the most disengaged person will be turned around by the end of his programme. I have seen him deliver the Arbinger model and it is very good - especially to ensure people are really contributing and delivering in a team. This will be a worthwile programme for any of your people to attend.”
Sue Christie (former HR Manager: Leadership Development at NZ Police and former GM:HR at Ministry of Social Development)
