➡️ 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 which specialists are credible, who work as a team, and that provide data to leaders to inform them about their work environment?

Individual and organisational wellbeing go hand-in-hand 🫱🏼‍🫲🏼.

That's why I invited Jamie Humphrey, CEO of ReechUs Wellbeing, to join my podcast. He brings the employee part of the solution to the table, around which I sit, with leaders looking to do something different, meaningful, and that has impact.

Are you looking at the whole solution or have you zoomed in one just one part?

Reech out to Jamie to find out more about ReechUs Wellbeing. He's got space for one more foundational member!

While you're at it, let's chat about the bigger picture in terms of your culture.

It's time to join the dots. It's time for change that reverses the decline in the health of our workforce.

Jamie Humphrey is the CEO and founder of ReechUs Wellbeing, a corporate wellness program that gives employees remote access to Therapists, Nutritionists, Personal Trainers and Financial Coaches.

LinkedIn:

Jamie Humphrey

ReechUs Wellbeing

Website: www.reechus.com

Watch this episode on YouTube

Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Resources | It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Wellbeing by Design - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Why are we so ill? The working-age health crisis - BBC News

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (2024) by Jonathan Haidt (amazon.co.uk)

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisapsychology

Website: www.itstimeforchange.co.uk

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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 for leadership, resilience and high performance. And that’s what we discuss on the podcast today.

Now officially a veteran (and he's younger than me!), Phil is continuing to pursue his life’s purpose, having founded High Performance Journey, helping others to conquer their Big Hairy Audacious Goals.

Join us to find out...

• what resilience is really about
• how to reverse being unprepared in leadership roles
• the power of purpose (and how to find it)
• how the 'grandad test' can measure shared vision
• how adversity allows us to grow
• how increasing diversity reduces blind spots

Phil shares his very moving story that proved pivotal in how he engages with others.

What has been your 'a-ha' experience that caused you to question your practice?

Or are you still sitting comfortably?

A twenty year first career in the Royal Air Force spanned from leading missions on the battlefield as a helicopter pilot, through to senior leadership roles, designing and delivering strategy for Defence.

Phil's journey took an unexpected turn in 2014 when his youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia. Helplessly sitting on the side-lines led to an epiphany. Phil realised his passion for endurance sports could be channeled towards raising critical funds for the miracle workers who saved her life. A near-impossible series of extreme challenges followed, culminating in a 3,000-mile unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Now a military veteran, Phil has set up 'The High Performance Journey' to pursue his passion for equipping others with the knowledge, skills and mindset for high performance.

LinkedIn: Phil Holdcroft

Website: www.thehpj.com

Watch this episode on YouTube

Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

13 Skills to Build Resilience (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Future Ready by Experimentation – with Gemma Ellison - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Transcending Leadership - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

'Peak Performance' by Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness (amazon.co.uk)

'The Obstacle is the Way' by Ryan Holiday (amazon.co.uk)

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 supports good mental wellbeing.

And we need to demonstrate empathy, based on knowing our teams well, so that we enable human needs to be met....

You know those days when your head is elsewhere because something significant is occupying your brain? Your teenager has become alien to you and you're concerned. Your finances are too tight. You're worried about a medical issue.

What do you need most?

Probably, someone who knows you, who trusts and respects you, and who will give you the time and space you need.

What happens then? You're able to focus on what is front of mind and resume work.

That's better than the common alternative which is to continue work as normal whilst holding the strain of being unable to do what feels most important. Think about the different outcomes in terms of performance, sick leave, burnout and resentment.

What gets in the way of you being human?

James Elliott is a psychotherapist, resilience coach, ex British airborne forces, multiple world record holder, father, and author, with an MSc in War + Psychiatry.

As the Head of Psychotherapy at Sarena Clinic, he leads a team of qualified and compassionate professionals who provide high-quality and personalised health care to our clients. James has over 4 years of experience as a psychotherapist, working with veterans, prison leavers, and other vulnerable groups to help them cope with their challenges and find their way in life. He is passionate about using his clinical and academic knowledge to create a supportive and respectful environment for clients, where they can explore their emotions, beliefs, and behaviours, and achieve their goals.

LinkedIn: James Elliott MSc

Website: james-elliott.mykajabi.com

Instagram: @jameselliottofficial

The Sarena Clinic: Sarena Clinic

Watch this episode on YouTube

Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Engagement Action Plans - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Stress Mapping - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Tackling Anxiety Collectively - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

The Emotional Needs Audit - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

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 individuals and employers, including:

✔️ coffee as a recommendation (yes... from a sleep expert!)

✔️ what to do when you can't sleep

✔️ equality

✔️ flexible working

✔️ 4 key factors for sleep hygiene - do YOU know what they are? Are you putting them into practice?

Check out the excellent resources that Jill shares, including those for managers, in the show notes. STOPBANG should become part of your toolkit.

Dr Jill McGarry is a consultant clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience in working with mental health issues in the NHS. During this time she has become skilled and experienced in supporting people with sleep issues. In October 2023 Jill decided to leave the NHS because she recognised that companies were a missing piece of the jigsaw in improving sleep for individuals. By focusing on providing support and training to companies regarding sleep we can joinlty reduce staff fatigue, improve team effectiveness and ensure that companies excel.

LinkedIn: Dr Jill McGarry

Email: info@sleepbetterdoctor.co.uk

Website: www.sleepbetterdoctor.co.uk

Watch this episode on YouTube

Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Leveraging ’Shuteye’ for Resilience (youtube.com) - Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce webinar

NHS choices (www.nhs.uk)

YouTube Matthew Walker TEDx Sleep talk, others and his book Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker | Waterstones

Fast Asleep by Michael Mosley | Waterstones & BBC programme in 2022

Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires (ESS) Epworth Sleepiness Scale | Asthma + Lung UK

(asthmaandlung.org.uk)

STOP BANG questionnaire: Is it possible that you have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)? STOPBang Questionnaire (britishsnoring.co.uk)

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisapsychology

Website: www.itstimeforchange.co.uk

Sign up to be kept in the loop:

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 at Harmless, the national leader in this field. She joins me to explore what we mean by self-harm, the stigma around it, and the prevalence and risk factors. Crucially, Yaj provides practical advice for companies to support their employees who are using this behaviour to cope with underlying distress.

If you're reading this thinking this topic isn't relevant. Think again.

According to the WHO, 16 million people worldwide are reported to self-harm. We know that is likely to be an underestimate. My experience alone is that clients hide their behaviour... from their partner, their friends, their employers.

Shame and embarrassment keeps mouths shut.

Convenient for companies? That's no longer okay.

No idea how to think about it or where to start? That's understandable.

And that's why the free, downloadable resource that covers a breadth of mental health disorders, as well as self-harm, has been created. It is a must for anyone looking to demonstrate care towards their workforce. You can get hold of your copy here: It's Time for Change: Resources

Stop passing the buck. National Self Harm Awareness Day is on 1st March. Be part of raising awareness around what is often a misunderstood topic. Find out more and request your media pack to help coordinate your effort here: National Self Harm Awareness Day 2024 - Harmless

Additional resources and podcast conversations about Depression & Anxiety and Addiction can be found here: It's Time for Change: Resources

Yaj works for Harmless CIC, a user-led self harm prevention service based in the East Midlands. With nearly 3 years of professional experience and 20 years of personal experience, Yaj aims to normalise the conversation around both self harm and suicide to enable anyone who's struggling to be able to reach out for support. As a trainer and clinician, breaking down barriers to access support is a high priority for her.

LinkedIn:

Yaj Buljeean

Harmless

Website: harmless.org.uk

Facebook: The Academy at Harmless: Letstalktraining

X: @Yaj_Harmless

Email: yaj.buljeean@harmless.org.uk

Watch this episode on YouTube

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 people, Andrew has some great insights into a world of both hard and soft skills.

💻 We unpick how soft skills sit alongside tech.

🧠 We consider how AI and human skills will feature in the future of work.

♂️♀️ We explore gender differences and the teaching of soft skills.

🚧 We tackle some of the barriers to investing in the development of these critical skills.

💥 We offer our opinion on how soft skills should be positioned in business to have greatest impact.

🌙 And we discuss getting lost on the moon!

Whether you're interested in leadership development, management development, recruitment, onboarding, learning and development, emotional intelligence, coaching, or psychological safety, there are some little nuggets of wisdom that could just shift some important parts of your practice.

Listen to or watch us talk, and let us know how you go about positioning and developing the not-so-soft-skills in your organisation.

If you want to find the right space for developing such skills in your organisation, Leadership and Manager Labs might just be your thing. Check them out here: Leader & Manager Labs | It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

Employee retention is a £1Billion problem here in the UK which is why, in 2023, Andrew decided to launch JackHR - a business dedicated to helping scaling tech companies keep hold of their amazing talent.

Andrew's journey started in the North West of England, before making the 300 mile trip north to study Philosophy at The University of Stirling. When he left in 2013, the job market for ancient Greek philosophers was quiet, so he started in HR instead.

Andrew has spent the last decade working with businesses to better support their managers, provide teams with amazing growth opportunities and help individuals thrive through 1:1 coaching.

LinkedIn:

Andrew Bardsley

JackHR

TikTok: @jackofallhr

Website: jackhr.com

Watch this episode on YouTube

Focus on 'soft skills' at our Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)

The Most In-Demand Skills for 2023 | LinkedIn

11 Essential...

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 frameworks for building a work environment that amplifies productivity, happiness and job satisfaction?

As part of Leicestershire's Innovation Festival session at De Montfort University on 12 February, I'll be joining Rob Day and Chloe Sproston of Blueprint Interiors, Kris Newman of Steelcase, Nicky Harding and Lis Ku from De Montfort University to discuss 'Designing Tomorrow's Workplace'.

Blueprint Interiors have a unique approach to designing workplaces, based on putting people first.

In this podcast, Rob focuses on the psychology behind design, encompassing the Human Givens.

Find out more by listening to or watching the conversation and then book your place at the event here: Event Details for Designing Tomorrow's Workplace: A Blueprint for Innovation (evolutive.co.uk)

Having studied at the University of Lancaster for a degree in Management Science & Marketing, Rob Day spent a 15-year career in Sales, Design & Project Management in the Commercial Office and Leisure sectors.

In 2001 he founded his business - Blueprint Interiors Limited, a specialist design & fit-out company focused on designing and redeveloping commercial interiors. The company is now recognised as the leading workplace consultancy in the Midlands and this approach has led to significant growth as the economy comes out of the pandemic crisis.

They are firmly established in Ashby de la Zouch – celebrating their 23rd birthday this year - and employ 18 staff directly with many more subcontractors indirectly dependent upon their business throughout the Midlands.

As Chairman & Founder, Rob has successfully overseen the growth of the business and the succession plan to bring the next generation of leaders into the organisation.

LinkedIn:

Rob Day

Blueprint Interiors Limited

Facebook: @BlueprintInteriorsLtd

Instagram:

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 this podcast to share the impact that a new approach to development has had for them.

We contrast a conscious process that centres around being human, with traditional models of leadership and manager training. We hear how Labs have changed practice in terms of creating space for people to become more self-aware, to think, to plan and to perform well.

And that's hugely important when people in these roles usually focus on supporting others; turning the lens to look inwards is empowering.

Using a test and learn approach requires analysis, hypotheses and creativity. When we apply that process to our real-world challenges, we grow and innovate.

Whether the focus is about understanding your place and purpose as a leader, or feeling confident to try new things and reduce pressure on ourselves to be perfect, there is real value from engaging with these topics. Learn about what's most relevant to you. Could that be...

❓ how you show up for your team or within your peer group, and for your self in terms of mental wellbeing?

❓ how to lead aspects of your business better, from change and uncertainty, to emotional intelligence, psychological safety, or having effective conversations?

What is it that Leanne or Sarah say that appeals to you? I'd challenge anyone to listen to their experience and not feel a teeny bit inspired! 💡👏🏼

Find out more about the Labs here or drop us a line to have a chat.

If you're interested in bringing Labs in-house, 🏢 reach out to Gem or I. We're excited about the interest we've had in a company-based approach to developing people.

2024 might just be your year for trying something new!

Leanne Ledger is a Senior Brand Consultant at Emperor, a corporate communications agency. She works with businesses to help define and articulate what makes them distinct, relevant and authentic to create a strategy and positioning that will elevate their reputation, inspire and motivate their people and make them more competitive and successful. With over 20 years in advertising and brand strategy, Leanne is also passionate about people development, ED&I, allyship and sustainability, so is involved in other initiatives as well as being lead singer in a ten-piece band (which has its own joys and challenges)!

LinkedIn:

Leanne Ledger

Emperor

Website: emperor.works

Sarah has just started at