Beyond The Water Cooler

On average someone is diagnosed with cancer at least every 90 seconds in the UK. That's a hard-hitting statistic.  What is also alarming is a finding by a Cancer@Work study that found 50% of people undergoing cancer treatment are too scared to tell their bosses they have cancer. Fear gets in the way. When you add to that the discomfort many line managers have about talking to employees about...

Ever wondered how playfulness and authentic communication could revolutionise workplace culture and accelerate outstanding leadership? In this episode I joined  Chris Marshall , Behavioural Scientist and Founder of The Playfulness Institute, as a guest on his ' The Being Playful Podcast '.  We talked about how creating the right environment enables both people and businesses to flourish....

This is a first! Recording in front of a live audience at  Google  HQ for part of the fantastic  Alliance of Independent Agencies ' Festival of Happiness was exciting if not slightly daunting. But my guest,  Jaye Cowle  of award-winning company  Launch , was an absolute delight to talk with. Why listen? You get to hear about why Launch won the 'Independent Agency Purp...

Did you know that the  Social Metrics Commission  found the current rate of poverty in the UK to be higher than at any other point in the 21st Century? A staggering 24% (nearly one in four) people in the UK are now judged to be in poverty.  That statistic means the impact of the financial crisis is likely to be closer to home than you may originally have thought. And with personal f...

Ever been accused of being a bully? Or of being terrifying? Maybe not. But maybe you have experienced feedback that has shocked you because it was not what you intended.  The void between what we want to communicate and how our communication lands can be enormous. Most of us haven't had the opportunity to learn about how we feedback and challenge. And when this vital part of developing commun...

Fear. Fatigue.  Are you stuck in a rut that is littered with surveys? It's often the go-to channel for getting to know what employees think, but there also barriers that can get in the way of these being effective.  Fatigue is just one of them.  Fear is another. The brave face doesn't simply disappear when presented with written questions to provide our opinions. And that can be a B...

I love Tammy's phrase about wellbeing running through the veins of an organisation. When you achieve that, you are equipped to deal with any conversation that arises. And all because you start by putting people first.  That means being vulnerable and stepping into their space to learn about what someone else is experiencing and what they need. 18th October is menopause awareness day. It'...

"We not only need to work happy, we need to work at being happy." I love that quote by Shawn Achor. So how are you working at that?  The Alliance of Independent Agencies  have teamed up with  Google  to host an event that is dedicated to culture and high performance.  They recognise that leaders are navigating a rapid pace of change; the way people work has fundamentally c...

This was a first and it was hilarious (just watch the outtake next week!). Susan Ní Chríodáin and I got to record this episode of the podcast   outside in the beautiful gardens at Lady Margaret Hall  at the  University of Oxford ,  courtesy of  Andrew Dickinson . After some shenanigans we got to dive into her recently-published book, Leading Beyond the Numbers, which...

Gregg Brown  doesn't hold back!! We took a different approach on this episode of the podcast. Instead of the where-the-conversation-goes-nobody-knows conversation I usually have with guests, Gregg and I discussed a number of statements. ⚠️ Everyone wants to know what the future of work is. ⚠️ Disruption is necessary for work to evolve. ⚠️ Taking action requires the right mindset. ⚠️ We need t...

Purpose-driven businesses have become much more the norm in terms of what people seek.  Companies know that to attract employees they need to provide opportunities that are meaningful and engaging. However, retaining your workforce over time is a different challenge. In this episode of the podcast,  Rachel Steele  of  Huddle   joins me to discuss how to engage a...

Are you looking to develop tomorrow's leaders to be able to take the business into a different place from where it is today? Or, are you looking for future leaders who most closely resemble those in leadership positions now?  That's a great question that  Duncan Targett , my guest on this episode of the podcast, asks when we discuss talent. And who can resist talking with someo...

Martin Drake  ripped up the rule book and invited the "dynamic duo" that is  Gemma Ellison  and myself onto his podcast, Is This Room Free? We're not HR. But we are all about people.  In particular, we're focused on enabling people to be and experience their best self. And enabling them to develop in a way that provides most value to the organisation. All this whilst creating t...

Man up. Does that phrase make you squirm or is it acceptable to you?  We've all been brought up with a set of beliefs and thoughts about how we should behave. But that puts pressure on people to show up in a certain way. It may no longer be considered acceptable or helpful. And it may mean we're covering up what's really going on. So, what about permission to be authentic?  My guest,&nbs...

Nick O'Neill  of  Oriel Chambers outlines a modern approach for mental health in a traditional industry that is the legal sector. He explains that law is known for being a male dominated culture, attracting alpha characters. And that presents a challenge for addressing a very human need, particularly when you consider that many men of the generation that struggle to engage with ment...

I'm talking about  compassionate leadership  because it is mental health awareness week. How are those linked, I hear some of you ponder? Well, as those of you who know me well, I'm not really about initiatives or individual-level intervention without thinking about the wider context. You wouldn't put a flourishing seedling in a dark room without water. And, I've been doing quite a lot of work lat...

➡️ Sick notes are on they way out, according to Sunak.  What does that mean for people needing support to get themselves into a place where they feel ok enough to re-engage with work? ➡️ Employees are more aware of their rights and expect more in terms of 'care', with access to services that aren't about making them 'better' but about enhancing their lifestyle.  How do companies know whi...

From dodging bullets to becoming an executive senior leader of Defence,  Phil Holdcroft   knows a thing or two about leadership and teamwork.  Phil is a decorated combat pilot with a 20-year military career that culminated in designing and delivering the senior leadership programme at the UK Defence Academy. Drawing on life-lessons and experience, he created the ultimate playbook fo...

Two psychotherapists in conversation... This episode of the podcast is an interesting one.  James Elliott , of the  Sarena Clinic , explains what needs to be done now to shape a healthier workforce for the future. And it's simple stuff.  We need to equip employees with the knowledge and tools to empower themselves and their children to experience meaning and fulfilment, and that sup...

Luckily for us,  Dr Jill McGarry  is "a geek!"... her words, not mine! The good news about that is she has a real love for actionable solutions to improve sleep. 💤 And who doesn't need a bit of that in their lives? 😴 In this episode of the podcast   we hear, very clearly, why we need to banish beliefs such as... "YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE!" And we get to grips with practical advice for...

What is self-harm? Possibly not something you associate with yourself. And not a behaviour that you attribute to your colleagues, friends or family members.  But the reality could be very different and that is why this episode of the podcast and the free resource is so important. Self-harm is not uncommon and therefore you need to know about it. Yaj Buljeean  is a trainer and clinician a...

My LinkedIn post  in January that asked the question, 'Do soft skills need a rebrand?' attracted over 40 comments.  Clearly people are interested in this topic. So it seemed only natural to continue the conversation with someone who shared his view on that post,  Andrew Bardsley , Founder of  JackHR . As someone who focuses on helping tech companies stand out and keep good peop...

Do you know... 🏢 What your office is for? ✅ Which elements to consider when designing workplace where people actively want to spend time? 🌍 What global research tells us about how we can help people do their best work in the many places that work happens? 😊 How to cultivate a joyful workplace environment? 💭 The link between physical workplaces and psychological wellbeing? 🙌 Strategies and fr...

The people who need the most development and most time are leaders, but they are precisely the people who don't invest in themselves. Are you one of them? That's why  Gemma Ellison  of Heart Leadership and I created Labs.  Leanne Ledger , Senior Brand Strategist and Partner at  Emperor ,  and  Sarah Cockroft ,  Manager at OceanWise Ltd   join Gemma and I in...

Did you know... Only 46% of employees trust their manager to do what is right, dropping to 32% for senior leaders? 72% leaders report they feel used up at the end of the day, an increase of 12% from 2020? Fewer than half of leaders find their jobs purposeful. Yet, leaders with a strong sense of purpose are 9 times more likely to feel engaged? Only 29% companies train for the crucial skills that le...