Episodes

  • When People Are Assets: Building High Performance Teams With Laide Abel

    When People Are Assets: Building High Performance Teams With Laide Abel
    Mar 29 2021
    In this episode of Truth Serum Laide Abel and I discuss her new book 'People as Assets: Building High-Performance Teams'. Naturally, I was interested in the book because I saw "People As Assets". I know for a fact that most organizations in Nigeria are yet to fully understand how to treat their people like the assets they really are. Laide provides her insights about mental capital in the workplace, how people can be engaged and valued as assets and what managers need to do to get their teams engaged. Laide explains the concept of T_POTT (The Philosophy of The Thing) and how it applies to every area of life (very interesting). She talks about the possibility of doing one's work, not just because of the organization but because YOU the individual, believe that level of excellence is your way of being (wow!) We also discussed the value of assessment centres for getting employees who are the right fit for the organisation and the need to set (and communicate) very clear targets. Take a listen and find out more!
    Show more Show less
    45 mins
  • Mental & Emotional Capital: Diary of a Nigerian Woman with Abisola Longe: MD/CEO HCDC and Founder Worthy Woman Network

    Mental & Emotional Capital: Diary of a Nigerian Woman with Abisola Longe: MD/CEO HCDC and Founder Worthy Woman Network
    Nov 23 2020
    I grew up largely unparented. My parents wanted a boy. (thank God they have one now) My sisters and I just never mattered. In my 5 years in boarding school in Ibadan, my parents never visited. My childhood was really mentally miserable. I learned to be resilient. - Abisola Longe.Abisola is the MD/CEO of HCDC and the proud founder of the Worthy Woman Club - a network with the sole aim of ensuring financial literacy for its members. Bisola's desire to ensure that she helps women become financially independent came out of her own pain. In this episode of Truth Serum, Bisola draws on her personal experience and speaks deeply about Mental and Emotional Capital and the Nigerian woman. Interestingly, I am working on an elearning course titled "I have 4 girls but I need a boy" (out in 2021). Listening to Bisola, I was struck by the many facets of the Nigerian woman's condition; and how important mental capital is. Listen, leave your comments, rate, subscribe!
    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • Mental & Emotional Capital: Diary of a Nigerian Woman with Olufunke Adio

    Mental & Emotional Capital: Diary of a Nigerian Woman with Olufunke Adio
    Nov 16 2020
    Mental and Emotional Capital is very critical in the development of a family or home that will produce the leaders of tomorrow. I dare to say that when parents lack these forms of capital; then we are really impoverished and the nation is in 'big trouble' so we are searching the Diary of a Nigerian Woman to find out what mental and emotional capital means to her and how it affects the home and the nation. Recently, Youths in Nigeria demanded an end to police brutality and bad governance. The city of lagos - Nigeria's nerve centre, was subsequently 'torched' by some misguided youths who were not a part of the original #ENDSARS protesters. Now, we all have more questions than answers. In this episode of Truth Serum Olufunke Adio and I explore the concept of mental and emotional capital and the lessons to be learned in the aftermath of #ENDSARS: How does mental capital affect parenting? What sort of mental capital does a Nigerian woman need? How important is her mental capacity in the development of the home and equipping Nigerian youths with leadership skills? What role does the self esteem of a mother play in the home and ultimately in developing young leaders? What role does the Diary of a Nigerian woman play in Nation building and what can we all learn from this diary? Mental & Emotional Capital: Diary of a Nigerian woman is an ongoing conversation. We welcome your contributions. Do subscribe, so that you do not miss any of our episodes.
    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • Mental and Emotional Capital: Implications for Policing and Security in Nigeria

    Mental and Emotional Capital: Implications for Policing and Security in Nigeria
    Oct 22 2020
    Nigeria is 60! With regards to security and policing, What are we celebrating? So, what does it take to be a good cop? Who is a good cop? How do we ensure that another attempt at reforms actually yield the sort of 'dividends' the country needs?.This interview with AIG Austin Iwar, (Rtr) was recorded on the 3rd of October 2020, just before the #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria. I was keen to explore the concept of Mental and Emotional Capital and its implications for Policing and Security in Nigeria. My conviction is that any reforms and manpower development for the police force that does not adequately address the following would be ill conceived: Psychological Services Welfare Reorientation As we discuss, we talk about previous reform attempts and you will hear that previous proposals and attempts at reforms have always been about getting more Equipment Cars Uniforms Building more stations While these are important, they are certainly not the most critical things. I believe the most critical thing is to define the man to be given these resources: to ensure he/she has the 'mental' capacity/mental resources to manage the physical resources including trust, that is given to him/her. The following are critical mental resources: Resilience, Self-motivation, Self-efficacy, Flexibility, Self-esteem, Relational Agility, Assertiveness, Trust, Memory, Beliefs, Empathy, Optimism/hope, Efficiency at learning, Self regulation, Self- awareness As we talked, it became evident how important MENTAL CAPITAL is for Security and Policing. Again recent events in the USA and the #ENDSARS protests here in Nigeria lend more credence to this point. Listen. Subscribe, Rate, review and leave your comments or questions.
    Show more Show less
    54 mins
  • Mental Capital and its Implications for the Workplace: Insights, with Mrs Bunmi Ajani Lawson, MD/CEO EdFin Microfinance Bank.

    Mental Capital and its Implications for the Workplace: Insights, with Mrs Bunmi Ajani Lawson, MD/CEO EdFin Microfinance Bank.
    Oct 22 2020
    Women need to learn to speak up in the workplace. They need to be assertive . . .not aggressive. You need to make sure you develop yourself". Mrs Bunmi Ajani Lawson. The world of work the way we know it has changed; the world the way we know it too, has changed and is continuing to change in a manner different from what we have ever seen or been used to. This means we need new, relevant skills to live and work in the new world. Skills like Resilience, Self-motivation, Self-efficacy, Flexibility, Self-esteem, Relational Agility, Assertiveness, Trust, Memory, Beliefs, Empathy, Optimism/hope, Efficiency at learning, Self regulation, Self- awareness All these are forms of Mental Capital and skills we must be able to deploy in the new normal. In this episode we are honored to have an amazon and innovator/disruptor in the financial sector https://www.linkedin.com/in/bunmilawson (Mrs Bunmi Ajani Lawson MD/CEO EdFin Microfinance Bank), join us to explore the topic. She speaks about her career and the skills that helped her achieve her goals in an industry largely dominated by men. She also has some words of advice for other women rising up the ladder in the workplace. Bunmi admits candidly that we should not expect the world of work to go back to the way it was - ever. Take a listen.
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • FEAR: The Deeper, Hidden Meaning of Your 4 Responses

    FEAR: The Deeper, Hidden Meaning of Your 4 Responses
    Sep 28 2020
    Seriously, what happens when FEAR conceals itself in your life and skillfully becomes the program that determines your actions, decisions, moods and relationships? Yes, it is possible for you to be operating on FEAR and not even know it. In this episode we explore our 4 responses to fear: Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn. Beyond the physical manifestations of these responses, there are hidden more complex ways that these 4 responses show up. All of these responses affect our ability to set personal goals and succeed. They also affect our relationships. For example a physical manifestation of the flight response is running away. The deeper more complex and sometimes 'concealed' manifestation is when a person continually runs away from commitment, responsibility, is unable to have awkward or tough conversations with spouse, team mate, unable to set personal boundaries or assert his/herself. Our emotions are forms of 'capital' that should yield returns that help us prosper. Self-regulation skills are therefore crucial for success in life. Listen, Share, Rate, Leave your Comments, and Subscribe. Oh, Stay with me. I promise to keep improving.
    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • Depression and Suicide: Learning from Seun.

    Depression and Suicide: Learning from Seun.
    May 25 2020
    In the previous episode of Truth Serum, we listened to Seun talk about his battle with depression and his attempts at suicide, which he has documented in his new book: 'HOW NOT TO LEAVE'. In this episode of Truth Serum, we discuss depression and suicide, taking the learning from Seun's story: The turning point for Seun How Seun ensures he does not get depressed again. I also respond to 4 questions by listeners Is it not cowardice and selfishness that makes a person commit suicide? How do you move on when a loved one has committed suicide? How do you help somebody who is suicidal? Is it not the parents fault? Our thinking styles can make us more prone to depression and suicidal thoughts. It is important to work on thinking styles and thinking errors. Listen, and share with others.
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • When Suicide is an Option: Seun's Story.

    When Suicide is an Option: Seun's Story.
    May 10 2020
    In recent years we have had an increase in depression and suicide in Nigeria.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) tells us that depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. With COVID 19, that figure is likely to increase. According to the WHO, depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.. Depression can lead to suicide. And we know of families in Nigeria who have lost children to depression and suicide. This will continue to happen if as a nation, we do not make a conscious effort to stem the ugly tide. Yet, there are effective psychological and pharmacological treatments for moderate and severe depression; in other words it can be cured or managed so that people can go on to live a full life and be productive. When does it become okay to take one's life? How do people get to the point where they can take the decision to kill themselves.? In this episode, we listen to Seun’s inspiring story. Oluwaseun Akisanmi is in his forties and now runs the ELO Photos Studios (www.elophotos.com) which he founded. He is a photography facilitator in the Daystar Skill Acquisition Project {Dsap}, Seun has a Bsc in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois, U.S.A.  Seun’s book: How Not to Leave is a journey into the world of a young man who battled with depression and suicidal thoughts for years. Seun Akisanmi documents vividly how he was on the brink of suicide in 3 different seasons in his life. The climax of the journey isn't just about his experience in the valley, but also about the steps he took to ensure that the second chance he got at life would be maximized to the fullest. In his book He outlines 5 of the different healing steps he took that got him onto the pathway of recovery. Seun says he believes that implementing one or more of the steps will result in a turnaround in a person’s life that will enable them see the beauty in second chances. It's been 19 years since his last attempt at suicide and he says he has been living life to the fullest even amidst the many trials that still come his ways. How Not to Leave is a recommended recipe of inspiration and encouragement to anyone who is down, depressed and suicidal. In the next episode we will conclude this topic by taking a deeper look at some of the points and issues raised by Suen. This is a timely discussion because the season is likely to overwhelm people's ability to cope and suicide and depression may become an epidemic. Our thinking errors can make us more prone to depression. In addition, these thinking errors can make it very difficult to get out of depression and more willing to consider suicide. Everybody is encouraged to choose to become more aware of errors in thinking so that they can change their perspectives and be in a better position to avoid or recover from depression.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 29 mins