Applying lessons from sport to leadership

Keywords

Resilience – Sport – Leadership – Intentionality – Perspective – Success - Purpose

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Stu Crum talks about how after an injury interrupted three-year career in the NFL and USFL, transitioned to a highly successful career in business. Stu realised early in his athletic career that his athletic abilities would not last forever and he needed to plan for life after sports. He focused on his studies and after graduation, he joined Texaco and quickly climbed the ranks due to his operational focus, leadership skills, and intentionality.

Stu attributes his success in leadership to the lessons he learned from sport and how he applied them to his business career. He also explores the importance of perspective in life and the role of intentionality in achieving success in various areas.

 Main topics

•  How Stu’s experience as a kicker taught him about perseverance, resilience, and leadership

• Why people who reach a professional level in sports or the performing arts may feel lost or without the same rush as before when they decide to stop

• Learning from failures and the significance of perspective in sports and life

• The importance of perspective in life and how it is developed over time

• Why losing perspective, particularly in today's social media-driven world, is dangerous and can lead to making bad decisions and a false sense of reality

• The evolution of the CEO role and the importance of being a generalist with a deep understanding of various functional areas

• Having a sense of purpose, making conscious choices, and being accountable for the consequences

• The concept of intentionality including purpose, priorities, distractions, harmony, self-reflection, responsibility, grit, and a smile

 Action items

 You can find out more about Stu at www.stucrum.com His book is "Aim for the Uprights: The Intentional Playbook for Success in Faith, Family, and Business," which offers a playbook for success based on his personal experiences.

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Bolder leadership

Keywords

Resilience - Leadership - Inner Guidance System - Human Connection - Ontology

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Colleen Slaughter, a Transformational Facilitator and Executive Coach, with over twenty years’ experience working with leaders to unlock their true potential. Colleen brings a global and deeper perspective to leadership development, helping leaders understand their worth at a profound level and creating a ripple effect of purpose and service throughout their organisations and lives.

In this podcast Colleen discusses the importance of human connection and the concept of an inner guidance system as well as exploring the complex theme of leadership, emphasising the significance of personal growth, self-awareness, and the need for innovation.

Main topics

• The concept of an inner guidance system and how it can be disconnected

• Why leadership is about mindset and involves self-discovery and personal growth

• Personal growth and self-awareness in leadership

• Innovation in leadership

• Ontology and its importance in leadership

• The significance of practice in developing neural pathways and building leadership skills

• Resilience, experimentation, and adaptation in leadership

• Why we need to learn through experience and shift approaches when necessary

• The importance of accountability in personal choices

Action items

You can find out more about Colleen at www.boldermoves.com

 You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Linking loneliness and burnout

Pre-pandemic employees could spend up to forty hours a week together. This of course changed dramatically and many people have benefited from the increased flexibility and autonomy brought by home and hybrid working. However, it has also created a wellbeing issue where reduced social interaction has led to a lack of connection and feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Now, studies have shown that feelings of loneliness can contribute to and exacerbate burnout with research from the American Psychological Association showing a strong link between the social support we get at work and lower rates of burnout.

There are a number of ways loneliness can increase the risk of burnout. These include:

- Emotional Exhaustion: Loneliness can lead to feelings of emotional isolation and disconnection which can result in feelings of emptiness and a heightened sense of stress. Social interactions provide emotional replenishment and without this employees can become emotionally exhausted.

- Increased Perception of Stress: Without a support system employees may feel they have to handle their challenges alone, increasing the perceived burden of stress and making negative experiences feel more intense as there are no social buffers to mitigate these feelings.

- Reduced Resilience: Social connections provide strategies and advice for coping with stress and without access to these resources employees are less resilient in the face of challenges. Loneliness can also increase vulnerability to stress, as social interactions can serve as a protective barrier against it.

- Mental Health Decline: Loneliness is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression which can drain energy and focus and lead to negative self-perception and low self-esteem, undermining confidence and motivation.

- Reduced Job Satisfaction and Engagement: Loneliness can lead to disengagement which reduces motivation and satisfaction. Without social interactions that provide recognition and validation employees may feel unappreciated and undervalued, leading to decreased job satisfaction.

- Physical Health Deterioration: Loneliness can contribute to chronic stress which has negative effects on physical health, leading to increased absenteeism and reduced productivity.

- Lack of Social Support at Work: If a team lacks support and camaraderie employees may feel isolated. A lack of mentorship and guidance can leave employees feeling unsupported, making it harder to navigate work-related challenges.

A strong social network can help employees connect more easily with colleagues and benefit from their support and advice as well as from feelings of camaraderie and companionship. The creation of a supportive and inclusive work environment where social interactions are encouraged and mental health resources provided can help mitigate feelings of loneliness and drive the overall well-being and success of employees.

The Path of Awakening

Keywords

Resilience - Poetry - Meditation - Mindfulness - Awakening - Flow States - Zen

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Henry Shukman, a widely published poet, author, meditation teacher and Zen master of the Sanbo Zen lineage, shares his personal story. Henry grew up in Oxford, UK, where his parents were professors and his early love of poetry led to an interest in Chinese Zen poetry, and ultimately to him becoming a writer and poet.

Henry suffered from severe eczema from infancy into his 20’s, along with associated psychological problems, and meditation was a key element in a long journey of healing. He travelled extensively, eventually settling in New Mexico where he became fascinated by the indigenous culture's deep connection to the earth and where he was introduced to meditation and Zen, which in turn influenced his writing.

Main topics

•  The meditative quality of poetry and how it can bring one back to the present moment

• Using poetry in meditation to create a serene atmosphere.

• The differences between various forms of meditation

• The concept of awakening

• The connection between meditation and mindfulness

• The transformative power of poetry and its potential to enrich one's life

• The concept of original sin and its influence on Western culture

• The idea of karma and its physical consequences

• The concepts of mindfulness, support and absorption

• The concept of flow states and how they can be achieved through complete absorption in a task, leading to enhanced performance and increased happiness

• How flow is not limited to specific professions or activities and can be accessed through simple practices like meditation

• The relationship between meditation and religion and the practical and philosophical significance of meditation.

Action items

Henry's book is "Original Love: The 4 Ends on the Path of Awakening" and it has an accompanying meditation app, "The Way."

You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Creating change

Keywords

Resilience – Philanthropy – Creating change – Compassion - Leadership

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, businessman turned charity founder Ali Horriyat, talks about the limitations of traditional philanthropy and the importance of compassion and community-driven solutions. Ali is the founder of social activism non-profit Compassiviste, and he shares his personal journey from the profit driven world of finance to the realisation of the emptiness of his pursuit of wealth and power. He describes how he had a breakdown and decided to take a break from work to travel to Ecuador, where he experienced a different way of life that inspired him to shift his focus towards making a meaningful impact on the world.

Main topics

• The limitations and challenges of philanthropy and the inability of individuals to create significant global change

• The moral conflict and inequality within society and the importance of compassion towards those in need

• The concept of Compassiviste

• The importance of a unified system where the whole ecosystem works together

• The need for artists to connect with their audience and use their platform for a greater cause

• The concept of capacities which aims to bring communities together globally for the betterment of all

• The importance of political involvement and lobbying to enact change, with a focus on creating a critical mass to effect change

• The need for leadership in movements to effectively address issues

• The concept of leadership and its role in society

• Should a leader command and control or guide and facilitate?

• The role of money in society and its potential to divide people due to differing beliefs and values

• The possibility of a future system where people trade based on their compassionate needs

• Community-driven solutions to address societal issues

 Action items

 You can find out more about Ali and Compassiviste at https://compassiviste.com/

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Managing Your Emotional Overdraft

Keywords

Resilience - Emotional Overdraft – Burnout - Emotional Reserves - Invisible Costs - Wellbeing

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Andy Brown, an award- winning adviser and coach for people-based businesses, talks about the concept of 'emotional overdraft'. He highlights its implications for burnout, the need to maintain healthy emotional reserves and the importance of acknowledging invisible personal and emotional costs in business finances, He also explores the idea of building a personal board of experts for support, the significance of prioritising well-being in highly stressed jobs, and the potential of writing a book to share experiences and insights.

Main topics

• The concept of 'emotional overdraft' and how it can be managed

• The dangers of misusing the term 'burnout' and the need to refresh the meaning of terms like 'stress' and 'resilience'

• Acknowledging and maintaining healthy emotional reserves for personal and professional success

• The concept of an "invisible line" in business finances, referring to the hidden personal and emotional costs of pursuing profitability

• Maintaining a healthy "emotional bank" balance to avoid excessive strain

• Building a personal board of experts to help overcome challenges.

• Discipline as a better approach to building habits and achieving goals

• The role of motivation in funding work

• Why leadership development needs more focus

Action items

You can connect with Andy at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybrownprofile/ and his book is available at https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Overdraft-balancing-business-wellbeing/dp/1788605136/

You can complete the free Emotional Overdraft Self-Assessment at https://emotionaloverdraft.com/self-assesment/, follow Emotional Overdraft on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/andybrownauthor/ and get all the latest Emotional Overdraft articles at https://emotionaloverdraft.com/

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

How to support neurodivergent employees in the workplace

With research showing that around one in seven of the UK population is neurodivergent there is a very good chance that someone in your organisation will have ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia or Dyscalculia. The characteristics of these conditions bring a variety of strengths to the workplace and allow neurodivergent employees to use their unique qualities to excel in specific areas and provide new perspectives to old challenges.

Whilst there are tasks and roles that neurodivergent people are well suited to, there are others that may not be right for them or environments that don't play to their strengths. Workplaces and work patterns are generally designed by neurotypical people so often will not provide ways of working that allows neurodiverse people to perform well.

Supporting neurodivergent employees in the workplace involves creating an environment where they can thrive. Here are some of the ways to achieve this:

1. Education and Awareness: Educate employees about neurodivergence to foster understanding and reduce stigma. Training sessions or workshops can help raise awareness about different neurodivergent conditions and how they may manifest in the workplace.

2. Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer flexibility in work hours, breaks, and workspaces to accommodate individual needs. Some neurodivergent employees may benefit from remote work options or adjustable schedules to manage sensory sensitivities or other challenges.

3. Clear Communication: Provide clear and concise instructions and be prepared to offer additional support or clarification when needed. Neurodivergent individuals may interpret information differently, so it's essential to communicate in a way that everyone can understand.

4. Accommodations and Support Services: Work with neurodivergent employees to identify accommodations that can help them perform to their best. This might include assistive technologies, quiet work areas, or access to support groups or counselling services.

5. Structured Feedback and Evaluation: Offer regular feedback and structured performance evaluations. Providing specific feedback and setting clear expectations can help neurodivergent employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

6. Sensory Considerations: Be mindful of sensory sensitivities and make adjustments to the work environment as needed. This could involve reducing noise levels, providing noise-cancelling headphones, or allowing for breaks in quiet spaces.

7. Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Foster a culture of acceptance and celebration of diversity in the workplace. Encourage neurodivergent employees to contribute their unique perspectives and talents to projects and decision-making processes.

8. Mentorship and Peer Support: Pair neurodivergent employees with mentors or peer support groups to provide guidance and encouragement. Having a support network can help individuals navigate challenges and build confidence in their abilities.

9. Continuous Learning and Development: Offer opportunities for professional development and skills training to help neurodivergent employees advance in their careers. Tailor training programs to accommodate different learning styles and preferences.

10. Regular Check-ins and Supportive Management: Schedule regular check-ins with neurodivergent employees to discuss their progress, address any concerns, and provide ongoing support. Managers should be approachable and empathetic, creating a safe space for open communication.

By implementing these strategies, employers can create a more inclusive and supportive workplace where neurodivergent employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

Changing perspective to overcome challenges

Keywords

Resilience – Mindfulness – Breathing – Breath Work – Wellbeing

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Michael O’Brien, a qualified meditation teacher, executive coach, and endurance athlete, talks about stopping a bad moment becoming a bad day and accomplishing hard things through mindfulness. Michael shares his career journey in healthcare pharmaceuticals and his personal experience with a near-death cycling accident.

Michael discusses how his perspective on life changed after the accident, which occurred when a driver crossed over into his lane, causing a head-on collision. He shares his bleak prognosis from doctors following the accident and how he struggled with anger and uncertainty about his future roles as a father, husband, and employee. He also highlights how a mentor helped him adopt a more positive perspective by emphasising the importance of self-labelling, practicing gratitude, and mindfulness. This shift in perspective helped him overcome his challenges and gradually move forward in his recovery journey, which included both progress and setbacks.

Main topics

• The concept of mindfulness and its benefits

• Using breath work to manage stress and improve focus and decision-making

• The importance of creating space between stimulus and response

• Cultivating a more thoughtful and neutral approach to decision-making

• The importance of connecting with one's breath for overall health and well-being

• Different patterns of breathing

• Using shorter mindfulness practices to promote mindful living and improving overall health and wellbeing

 Action items

You can find out more about Michael at https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/pause-breathe-reflect/

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

But you look so normal

 Keywords

Resilience - Hearing Loss - Isolation - Communication - Disability Awareness

photo by Anita Scharf.

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Claudia Marseille talks about her personal experiences and struggles with hearing loss, including her journey of overcoming this challenge and pursuing a successful career in the arts. Claudia also discusses the significant impact of hearing loss on various aspects of life and the importance of social and cultural changes in increasing awareness and accommodation for people with disabilities. and the need for better communication skills in pacing for better understanding, especially for those with hearing disabilities.

Main topics

• Learning to lip-read and developing visual acuity.

• Why Claudia attributes her resilience to her parents, who instilled a belief in her that she could achieve anything professionally.

• How a social nature and love of music helped Claudia cope with feelings of isolation.

• The challenges of hearing loss, and how it's not just a volume issue but difficulty in distinguishing speech over background noise.

• The importance of pacing in communication, especially for those with hearing disabilities.

• Developing resilience through personal connections and technological advancements, such as digital hearing aids and closed captioning.

• The significance of social and cultural changes brought about by legislation to increase awareness and accommodation for people with disabilities.

• The positive changes in attitudes towards accommodating people with hearing loss in modern society.

Action Items

You can find out more about Claudia at her author site claudiamarseilleauthor.com or her painting website claudiamarseille.com

Claudia’s memoir is But You Look So Normal: Lost and Found in a Hearing World

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

 

Mindset Mastery

Keywords

Resilience - Mindset – Focus – Change – Goals - Control

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Paul Gencarella Jr., the founder of Mindset Mastery, talks about how shifting your mindset to focus on positive outcomes enables professionals to achieve remarkable personal growth.

Paul has experienced first-hand how hardships and challenging circumstances in life can take their toll. He spent time in a psychiatric hospital, lost the only job he knew and was on the verge of suicide. After a fall his 5-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer and one month later, Paul himself was diagnosed. From that point, Paul realised it was not what happens to you but how you respond that matters. 

Paul embraces the thinking that when you change your mindset, you change your life. Success in life is a matter of following a system and when you do, you will be in harmony with anything you desire in life.

Main topics

• Determining your goals and how to achieve them

• The similarities between resilience and the insurance business

• Changing your life by changing your thinking

• Why it’s not what happens to you it’s how you respond

• Controlling thoughts, feeling and actions

• The positivity of repetition

• Why willpower can work negatively

• The importance of knowing why we want to do something 

 Action items

You can find out more about Paul at Mindset Mastery or through his LinkedIn

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Maintaining a positive mindset

Keywords

Resilience – Mindset – Relationships – Toxic Behaviour – Emotional Intelligence – Coping Tools - Grief

Summary

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled, Naomi Riley a brain injury survivor turned influential motivational speaker, discusses the concept of resilience and shares her personal experiences with adversity, including being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a child and a brain injury in a car accident in 2017.

Naomi emphasises the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, even during challenging times and also talks about the challenges of dealing with difficult relationships at work, particularly those involving toxic behaviour. She also discusses the need for self-defence and professionalism, her work on emotional intelligence and coping tools, and the importance of celebrating the positive aspects of life, even during times of grief.

Main topics

• The importance of maintaining a positive mindset

• How gratitude meditation helps focus on the good things in life and set a positive tone

• The importance of emotional intelligence and how it can help us navigate through life

• The significance of being aware of our emotions and how they are affected by others

• The necessity of letting go of individuals who are toxic or bring us down

• Dealing with difficult relationships at work, particularly when faced with toxic behaviour

• Maintaining professionalism and not letting personal feelings get in the way of work

• The importance of emotional intelligence in creating a peaceful society, particularly for youth

• Coping mechanisms such as mindfulness and deep breathing

 Action items

You can find out more about Naomi and her work or access resources at https://naomilriley.com/ or find our more about Text Pledge at https://textpledge.us/

You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

Leadership challenges and opportunities in non-profit organisations

Keywords

Resilience - Leadership – Non-profits – Self-care – Wellness – Emotional Intelligence – Self-reflection – Communication - Expression

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Rikimah Glymph, a traveller, writer, author, health/wellness coach, advocate for social justice and Founding Partner of Glymph Consulting, LLC, talks about the challenges and opportunities in non-profit leadership. This includes the need for a new approach and the tensions that can arise when personal passions and organisational priorities conflict.

Rikimah also highlights the importance of enhancing emotional intelligence among leaders, emphasising the need for self-reflection, understanding the communication styles of others' communication styles and creating a safe environment for expression. Additionally, Rikimah stresses the importance of self-care and wellness, including the social, emotional, and environmental factors needed for leaders to thrive

Main topics

• The need for a new approach to traditional leadership

• The tensions that can arise when employees' personal passions and the organisation's priorities diverge

• The unique challenges of blending family businesses with non-profits

• The intergenerational nature of business and the need for a flexible leadership structure

• The differences and similarities between leadership in the non-profit and profit sectors

• Why having a supportive network of like-minded individuals, who have undergone similar leadership experiences, can be beneficial for growth and feedback

• Why self-care and wellness, including social, emotional, and environmental factors, are crucial for leaders to thrive 

Action items

You can find out more about Rikimah at BWell365 or through LinkedIn Rikimah’s book is Total Wellness: A Millennial & Gen Z Guide to Living a More Balanced Life  

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.   

The impact of learned helplessness in the workplace.

Learned Helplessness, the concept introduced by the American psychologist Martin Seligman in 1967, refers to a state of mind where someone believes that they have no control over their situation. It can develop after repeated experiences of adversity or failure and may lead to individuals feeling helpless and unable to change their circumstances.

The impact on behaviour can be significant. People become passive and resigned to their situation with a lack of motivation that affects organisational dynamics as well as the individual. In the workplace it’s therefore important that leaders are aware of the signs of learned helplessness and take action to deal with it. Things to look out for include:

Decreased Motivation: Employees become disengaged and lack motivation to perform tasks or take the initiative. They believe their efforts won't make a difference which can lead to reduced productivity.

Poor Performance: If individuals feel unable to change their circumstances, they may not make the effort necessary to achieve goals or meet expectations.

Reduced Problem-Solving Skills: Individuals may struggle with problem-solving and decision-making or avoid challenges or difficult tasks, leading to stagnation and an inability to adapt to changing environments.

Negative Work Environment: Learned helplessness can contribute to a negative work environment with low morale, cynicism, and a lack of collaboration, which impacts team dynamics and hinders organisational effectiveness.

Increased Turnover: Employees who feel helpless and unsupported are more likely to seek other opportunities. High turnover rates disrupt workflow, increase recruitment costs and diminish organisational stability.

Impact on Leadership: Leaders may exhibit learned helplessness if they feel overwhelmed by challenges or perceive a lack of support from higher management. This can affect the morale and performance of their team.

Innovation and Creativity: Learned helplessness can stifle innovation and creativity so employees are less inclined to propose new ideas or take risks if they believe their efforts will be futile.

Health and Well-being: The stress and frustration associated with learned helplessness can have negative implications for mental and physical health with increased absenteeism, presenteeism, and healthcare costs.

To deal with the negativity of learned helplessness, organisations need strategies that build a supportive and empowering work culture where employees can access the resources and tools they need to succeed. Establishing clear objectives and providing skill development and growth opportunities help reduce feelings of helplessness and overwhelm whilst mentorship programmes and the promotion of open communication channels that help people feel comfortable expressing themselves and asking for assistance can also help.

Reconnecting with your heritage

Keywords

Resilience – Heritage – Personal Experiences – China – America – Culture – Family History

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Richard Hsung discusses his mixed Chinese and American family history, including his grandparents who were medical missionaries in China. Richard was born in China in 1966 and was one of the first teens to leave China legally after Mao’s Cultural Revolution.

Richard also talks about his personal experiences reconnecting with his heritage through visits to China and his mother's experiences during World War II. He also talks about the historical impact of the wars between China and America, the resilience of Chinese culture, and the significance of history.

 Main topics

• How Richard has reconnected with his heritage and learnt more about his family's history

• Richard’s mother's experience during the Chinese 1931 flood that killed millions

• Richard’s family's historical experiences during the Japanese and Korean wars

• The political dynamics between China and America

• The resilience of Chinese culture

• The importance of human connections within social contexts

Action items

You can find out more about Richard and his family at Yangtze River by the Hudson Bay

 You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.      

Reconnecting with life

Keywords

Resilience – Love – Relationships – Connection - Expectation

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Steffi Seefeld, a global speaker and facilitator, discusses her work in helping people find love and reconnect with life. She explores the concept of love and how it can be chosen and cultivated as well as the importance of maintaining curiosity, presence, and appreciation in relationships. She emphasises the need for conscious effort to sustain a relationship or professional connection and the importance of hiring well and becoming the person one wants to attract in order to have fulfilling relationships or professional partnerships.

Steffi also talks about the importance of effective management and leadership in hiring decisions, the need for realistic expectations in relationships and the challenges of finding a perfect partner or team member. The conversation touches on the idea of having multiple deep relationships in different areas of life without diminishing their value and of polyamory as a concept that goes beyond romantic relationships and extends to other meaningful connections.

Main topics

• Transmuting neurochemistry and creating mindful, choiceful practices

• The importance of being attentive and not rushing through relationships or work

• Why building teams requires measuring relationships in the real world and establishing boundaries

• The importance of hiring well and finding partners with clarity and understanding of each other's boundaries and trajectories in life

• Self-awareness and mental rehearsal in reinventing oneself

 Timestamps

1: Introduction and Guest Introduction.  00:03-00:24
2: Steffi's Background and Work. Steffi explains that she helps lovers and leaders overcome feelings of stuckness and lost connection in relationships, allowing them to fall in love with life again. 00:34-01:25
3: Unpacking the Work. Russell and Steffi discuss the concept further, exploring how our upbringing and conditioning influence our relationships and how we can consciously change our patterns. 01:30-04:23
4: Importance of Hiring Well and Finding Clarity in Relationships. Steffi draws parallels between joining an organisation and entering a relationship, emphasising the need for clarity, boundaries, and understanding one's trajectory. 08:04-09:19
5: Endurance and Commitment in Relationships. The conversation shifts to the importance of endurance and commitment as partners face challenges together, and how this cannot be fully known until the first difficult phase is encountered. 16:49-17:24
6: Reinventing Oneself and Reprogramming the Brain. Steffi discusses the work she does in helping individuals become the creators of their own lives by becoming self-aware, letting go of old habits, and using mental rehearsal and brainwave patterns to reprogram the mind. 20:05-24:01
7: Connecting with Steffi and Recommended Resources. : Steffi shares her website and LinkedIn profile for those interested in learning more about her work. She also recommends Dr. Joe Dispenza's book, "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself," as a resource on the science behind creating our own lives. 24:32-26:38
8: Closing Remarks. 26:38-27:24

 Action items

Find out more about Steffi at steffiseefeld.com

   You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.     

Are we really supporting neurodivergence in the workplace?

It is thought that around one in seven of the UK population are neurodivergent with conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Aspergers, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia or Dyscalculia. These conditions share some common features in the way people learn and process information and increasingly, it has been shown that these characteristics bring a variety of strengths to the workplace.

Research from Birkbeck College however has found that neurodivergent employees face significant barriers when disclosing their neurodivergence to their employer and further research from O2 revealed that 81% of neurodivergent employees felt their employer could provide them with more support. At the same time, employers said they experienced barriers in making adjustments for neurodivergent employees with 69% of those surveyed saying that a lack of disclosure is an issue. So, employees don’t feel safe enough to disclose, but without them stating their needs, employers don’t know how to support them.

The key is greater awareness from both sides. Aspects of good neurodivergent support and management are applicable to all employees - clear instructions, ensuring staff are not overloaded and providing a working environment that is free of distractions - but specific knowledge about neurodivergence should be shared. Only then will employers and employees be able to understand, be able to accommodate their co-workers and provide support if and where it’s needed. Strengths-based management that focuses on enabling people to do what they can and love to do (whilst avoiding the things they can’t) can align these abilities to what the organisation is trying to achieve and get the best from all employees.

There are great benefits for organisations having employees who think differently. Creativity, lateral thinking, a different perspective and the development of highly specialised skills enables companies to be more innovative, spot new solutions and make better decisions. Ultimately though, neurodivergence in the workplace is about helping everyone thrive and seeing everyone as talent - no matter how their brain works.

Turning tragedy into purpose

Keywords

Resilience – Grief – Identity – Loss - Image – Changing the narrative – Labels – Vulnerability – Connection – Purpose – Rebirth Day

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled J R Martinez shares his journey from the battlefields of Iraq to ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’.  J R talks about how he joined the military and went to war at 19 but was injured after just one month, suffering 34% burns and inhaling so much smoke it was thought he might not survive. He was in a coma for 3 weeks and, when he came out of it the reality of the injuries and scars to his body left him thinking there was no way he could live in society. Eventually though he realised there were a lot of things that he could still do and he turned tragedy into purpose, sharing his story and expanding his career into acting, advocacy, non-profit work raising awareness for injured military personnel and writing his memoir.

Main topics

• Why resilience needs to be conditioned and exercised

• How our early life conditions us for the difficulties we meet later

• Grieving for the loss of an old life so you can accept the reality of a new one

• Losing your sense of identity

• The difference between being alive and living

• How we can all have a ‘rebirth day’ when roles evolve and change

• Choosing to jettison parts of your old identity

• Creating a new image and changing the narrative

• Negative words and embracing the labels given to us by other people

• How society and culture conditions men to be tough and avoid talking about emotions

• Why vulnerability needs to be expressed in different ways Seeing the individual, not the injury

• How connecting as humans beings can change the narrative and the way you look at anyone else you come into contact with

 Action items

You can find out more about J R at https://jrmartinez.com/ or through his social media Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
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Dry promotions. The pros and cons.

Getting promoted is generally an exciting time. It’s a recognition that hard work, talent and commitment are paying off. However, an element of that excitement probably comes from the increase in pay that comes with the promotion. Now though, an increasing number of employers are offering ‘dry promotions’, a job advancement or change in position that doesn't come with a salary increase or a significant change in substantive benefits.

A recent report by compensation consultant Pearl Meyer showed that 13% of employers chose to give their employees new job titles instead of a raise, an increase from 8% in 2018. Another survey of 900 companies from benefits-advisory firm Mercer discovered that more employers are allocating less of their 2024 salary budgets to promotion-related increases than in 2023. 

Dry promotions can happen for various reasons, such as organisational restructuring, a reduced budget for pay increases, or as a temporary measure to recognise someone's potential or contribution while awaiting more substantial changes. They of course come with pros and cons which vary depending on specific circumstances and individual perspectives.

From an employee perspective it’s a recognition of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for growth within an organisation and something that may enhance their long-term career prospects by offering opportunities for skill development, networking, and exposure to new challenges and responsibilities. The most obvious downside is the lack of immediate financial reward. Without a salary increase, an employee may feel undervalued or frustrated, especially if they were expecting a raise with the promotion. There may also be perception issues with peers and subordinates, who perceive a dry promotion as hollow or lacking in substance.

Employers benefit by retaining talented employees by demonstrating that the organisation values their contribution and is willing to invest in their career growth which can assist in raising morale and motivation. A dry promotion may also be part of a strategic plan to position an employee for future advancement or to fill a critical role in the organisation once resources become available. However, if an employee's expectations for a promotion includes a salary increase or other benefits, a dry promotion may lead to disappointment and demotivation and, if they continue to feel undervalued or see no prospect of advancement in the future, they may ultimately choose to leave the organisation.

Overall, while dry promotions can offer some benefits in terms of recognition and career development, they also come with potential drawbacks related to financial considerations and employee morale. It's essential that organisations carefully consider the impact of such promotions and communicate effectively with employees to manage expectations and maintain engagement.

The continuity of consciousness

Keywords

Resilience – Consciousness – Spirituality – Personal Growth

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Smita Joshi, an award-winning author, avid yogi and yoga teacher, and high performance and transformation coach, discusses consciousness, spirituality, and personal growth. Smita talks about her passion for living life to the fullest and exploring her talents and potential. She mentions that she believes in the concept of consciousness as a continuum and cites ancient Indian texts as a major influence on her beliefs. The practical application of these theories is discussed, emphasising personal responsibility and making choices aligned with one's innate nature. Smita explains how signs of discontent can indicate areas where change is needed, and suggests taking profound action through self-reflection, skill development, and seeking guidance from others.

Main topics

• The continuity of consciousness.

• Why being conscious of thoughts and actions helps us to take responsibility and make the best of ourselves and our circumstances.

• Aligning one's actions with their innate design.

• Why finding one's innate nature requires self-reflection and breaking down old thinking patterns.

• How emotional intelligence and developing skills in communication and other areas improves life.

 Timestamps

1. Introductions. 00:04 - 01:07
2. The Concept of Continuum. Smita discusses the concept of consciousness as a continuum and the idea of exploring different lifetimes. 01:11-01:58
3. Association with Indian Texts. Smita explains her association with Indian texts and how they align with her own experiences and viewpoints. 03:01-04:27:
4. Applying the Philosophy in Daily Life. Smita discusses how this philosophy helps her be conscious of her thoughts and actions, take responsibility, and make the best of herself and her circumstances. 04:56-05:41
5. Discovering and Tapping into Innate Nature. Smita explains that tapping into one's innate nature requires self-reflection, giving up certain things, and adopting new perspectives and frameworks of thinking 10:18-12:10
6. Affecting Change and Transformation. Smita talks about acknowledging areas of discontent and taking profound action to bring about change and transformation in one's life. 12:22-14:50
7. Importance of Meditation and Mindfulness. Smita discusses the central role of meditation and mindfulness in her approach, including the breath as a focal point. 15:04-17:20
8. Accessing Smita’s Meditations. Smita provides information on how to find her meditations on her website, smitajoshi.com, and offers a gift code for listeners of the podcast. 19:36-21:07
9. Conclusion. 21:57-22:16

 Action items

 You can find out more about Smita at smitajoshi.com,  The Self Discovery Channel or Instagram and TikTok

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.    

 

Building relationships for success and impact

Keywords

Resilience – Relationships – Connection - Success – Impact 

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Patricia Bathory, a psychotherapist and the founder of a thriving import/export business, talks about how our connections influence our achievements in both business and life. With master's degrees in business administration and counselling psychology, coupled with advanced training in psychoanalysis and family dynamics, Patricia has a blend of experience that gives her unique insight into the personal and professional problems that entrepreneurs and leaders face every day.

For the past eight years, she has also been researching and studying interpersonal dynamics, including how our relationships directly affect our ability to succeed in business and in life and she believes that by improving our relationship skills and strengthening our connections, we feed the wheel of good and position ourselves to make a lasting impact.

In this podcast Patricia discusses the importance of personal growth, cultural awareness, and understanding diverse perspectives in building better relationships. She also explores the potential of therapy to reimagine and re-engineer relationships, and the concept of a "Happy Ever After Contract" for outlining the terms of a relationship.

 Main topics

• The significance of personal growth and self-improvement in building better relationships

• The complexity of relationships and the value of diverse perspectives

• How some relationships may seem dysfunctional but can work well for the individuals involved.

• Why trying to impose our own perspective on others can lead to problems

• The importance of cultural awareness and the ability to adapt to different situations

• Bringing together different perspectives, experiences, and cultures to lead to a better understanding of ourselves and others

• The importance of action in utilising these differences to improve relationships

• The challenge of diverse generations and the importance of building a supportive "village" of connections

• The need for a variety of relationships

• Investing in relationships to combat the "loneliness epidemic

 Action items

 You can find out more about Patricia at https://reconnect.dev/ Her book is Connected: Building Relationships to Achieve Success and Make a Lasting Impact

  You can listen to the podcast in full and find out further information here. Our upcoming guest list is also available along with our previous blogs.
Find out more about our innovative Resilience and Burnout solutions.