What a fantastic first live session yesterday with peers on ADHD Works Certified ADHD Coaching course. It was better than I ever imagined it could be.
What made it so special?
I could say the safe, inclusive facilitation by Leanne, architect of ADHD Works
I could say the global interest in ADHD with peers joining from Switzerland, Brazil, France and one passionate soul on holiday in New Zealand (middle of the night!). Learning where diverse countries are in relation to their views, support and understanding of ADHD was insightful for me.
I could say the empathy, encouragement and open-mindedness of all the delegates – especially during role play!
All of these points are true but what made it really special to me was the proof of what I have always believed:
Neurotypical and neurodivergent minds can work well together.
A little empathy, compassion and openness to learn from each other delivers such amazing results.
Today I started my journey to become an ADHD Coach which hopefully ends with qualification in May!
Neurodivergent and neurotypical minds have different operating systems – think iOS and Android – therefore, they need completely bespoke Coaching.
I’m looking forward to be able to coach unemployed people going into employment on Growing Talent, as well as individuals pre and post ADHD assessment and managers to ensure they are confident in supporting neurodivergent and neurotypical team members to ensure workplace psychological safety and Equalities Act compliance.
Listening to the radio first thing this morning – which normally passes me by in a background blur – my ears pricked up when Phil Dave, known as The Chic Geek by Paul Ross, came on to talk about all things tech. It’s the main place I learn about the advancements in AI and technology in general. Phil explains things clearly for anyone to understand.
Amongst the other gems he was talking about today, Phil shared the camera technology of a company called SEN is being used at the International Space Station. Already on their website you can view videos of different parts of Earth from space! How awesome! They even have live streaming with a countdown to the next planned stream to block out in your diary.
Having checked out a couple of their videos this morning, I quickly became distracted from the noise of my day ahead and became immersed in curious questions about the wonder I was seeing.
This is a great, free resource for everyone about space and earth not available to generations before us.
Next time the noise of your day is getting too much – why not check http://www.sen.com out and loose yourself in wonder for a while?
Those who know me are already aware of how much I avoid tech. It scares me. I don’t understand it so I switch off.
That is until this morning.
Preparing for an advertising project planned for Growing Talent, an employment programme I devised and run, in May, the easiest way to get interested people to the right place to apply, from the online research I’d done, seemed to be a QR code leading to a bespoke landing page.
OMG!
Thanks to the power of YouTube I learnt what many of you probably already knew – just how easy it is to do yourself!
There are so many free options to generate a QR code online.
The picture features my ‘test’ – also my first attempt – using Canva.
This QR code should take you to the ‘freebie’ resilience building tools on this website.
The message of this post is – don’t let perceived fear of “I can’t” stop you learning to see ‘I can’
Another ‘click bait’ title! Don’t worry – I haven’t hit my head against a wall this time!
Who knew there was so many things to consider when re-branding? Definitely not me!
Anyone who knows me can appreciate how tough it is for a design team to work with me. It’s not my forte nor is technology and now the two are combining for Growing Talent’s rebrand!
So, empathy for Pete and Nick from our funders design team! Amongst my highly, descriptive brief to them was “no heavy colours, not too corporate and can we make it fun?”. Growing Talent isn’t just about getting a job. It’s gaining lifelong strategy tools to get to where you want to be and progress onwards.
A sneak peek yesterday at the four unique design options Nick and Pete have designed was a revelation to me at how good I am at giving a design brief!!!! There were two standout designs for me that encapsulated everything I had in my head. How did the Guru and Wizard do that?
Click bait, I know, but I couldn’t resist using it!
After 10 years of success partnering unemployed people in the UK into permanent roles through our collaboration with insightful employers, the unemployed, JobCentre Plus & community partners, the time is now right for a ‘refresh’!
Over the coming weeks changes will be afoot with our design team’s creative juices in full swing to devise a new logo and brand colours.
We’ll be launching these in time for our Facebook campaign ahead of the London Growing Talent taking place in May.
I came across this thought in a post by Pete Matthew of Meaningful Money who has just read Adam Grant’s book on rethinking. As an aside – Pete’s YouTube channel on Meaningful Money is worth a look too for insights into money management. It’s a resource I check in with now and then – don’t receive commission from – just to avoid any assumptions!
It got me thinking!
How true it is.
Clinging to long held thoughts and opinions are fine, in my view if:
We’ve reviewed them regularly to ensure they still align with our values and ethics today
Listened to others’ contrasting thoughts and opinions with an open mind to either change our view or agree to differ with them. Of course, we may change their views once they’ve listened to ours with an equally open mind!
What isn’t right, in my view, is:
Shouting down or seeking to cancel someone if their view is different to ours
Sharing someone’s view without truly understanding it – especially when reposting
How do we understand what are the right views for us – whether long held or planted by someone else?
For me, asking curious questions to explore why we think, feel or behave a certain way will aid us to always remain true to our personal values.
Leading with kindness at home and at work will support curious questions.
As an I-act Instructor in managing, understanding and promoting positive mental health and well-being, I get to share knowledge with a diverse range of company employees globally.
From corporates, facilities, manufacturing, utilities to higher education facilities. The diversity of experience in different industries, as well as countries, increases my knowledge too.
Having delivered I-Act courses virtually to delegates in India, China, Singapore, USA, Canada, Germany, Poland and throughout the UK, a few things stand out to me:
The need to learn proactive self-care is pivitol everywhere.
The medical language used in mental ill health is scary and stigmatising to non-medical people. This adds to the self-stigma and negative feelings someone receiving a diagnosis may feel.
Humans often fear what they don’t understand making supporting others difficult.
The empathy to support others is a skill not yet nailed by AI!
All humans can learn how to lead with empathy (feeling with someone) rather than sympathy (trying to fix with “at least…..”)
It’s critically important that all organisations, large and small, ensure they are delivering training that enhances the psychological safety of their environment and people – their most important asset.
Whilst I am the Instructor, I’m also the student. I’ve learnt so much on key issues experienced in different sectors, countries and cultures over the years.
Talking about our emotions and putting our own proactive self-care first doesn’t come naturally. We are not brought up to talk about our feelings. A bit like ‘he who should not be named’ (Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter). Not talking about something doesn’t make it go away!
The impact of not talking about our feelings can become overwhelming – potentially leading to catastrophic results for individuals. Yet, empathy and kindness are the foundations of most humans the world over. Coupled with the knowledge and key steps of I-act, we can connect and collaborate with those around us to make a difference where painful thoughts and emotions may be involved.
Seeing how delegates views on their own self care intentionally increase by the end of the training is awesome!
Yesterday, I worked with a leading UK University delivering the I-Act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing course – a re-accreditation for some and a first-time experience of others. All levels of staff, including some with pastoral care as part of their remit, all learnt new tools, skills and shared their insight along the way.
I always take a below and after poll to share with the commissioning client who can easily see the value of their investment from the results.
The start of the poll indicated 100% felt that looking after their own self care was critical in supporting others (question 2). BUT 100% selected choice two in question 1 – they only practice self care when they feel the pressure is on.
As we explored during the course, practising self-care when the pressure is on, is reactive. We’re already starting to feel pressurised! Building routine fun windows into our daily routine creates an automatic habit over a few weeks building our own mind muscle and resilience to deal with pressure better.
The end of session poll on the right shows a 100% shift in the delegates view on self-care – question 1. Which is awesome!
How amazing is Rob Matthews (Anna) – seen below receiving her 25 year service award from #dwpWhat’s even more impressive is Anna started with the #civilservice 29 years ago! What a career.
For the last 8+ years, Anna has been a prolific driver of Growing Talent supporting #jcp Work Coaches across London in referring some of their clients to go into work a different way.
This has been in addition to her ‘day’ job. Her passion and drive is inspiring.
Yesterday we met to plan the next London Growing Talent brainstorming new ideas and thoughts.
10 years strong and the collaboration core of Growing Talent continues to grow!
In addition to Anna, I take this opportunity to say thank you for the #dreamteam at JobCentre Plus led by David Steeds, our awesome employers, community partners and of course, the unemployed participants keen to get into work a different way!
Our next programme runs in May in London. If you seek new talent in your business, can you afford to miss this free, business-led programme? Contact me to find out more.
A big thank you to those employers who joined us in 2023 ….
Just after 03.20 this morning, a message came in from a fellow i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health TrainingInstructor based in Asia requesting help to share with their friend based in the UK. Myself and Instructors based in England, Wales and Bahrain shared our knowledge to give the critical information to help the friend and their family through this critical time.
