Wellbeing

What a bag can illustrate!

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Wandering around the market on a warm, blue-sky day in Lanzarote, this bag jumped out at me.

The stallholders were a local father and son selling the leather goods they made themselves.

Bags and rucksacks of every size and colour, this green one stood out. The intricate pattern in contrasting red on the flap, two zips on the back and long adjustable strap – exactly what I needed for work back home. Few would have such a bag – bonus! I like to be different!

The father with his smiling toothless grin wrapped the bag and off I went pleased with my purchase.

Back in the hotel room a few hours later, I took the bag out of its wrapping. What was that smell? Subtle, yet pungent. I couldn’t find the culprit anywhere until I sniffed the bag – deeply and closely. Urgh – this was a difference I didn’t want!

After a search on Google, I discovered:

🫣 All sorts of hides can be used – including camel
🫣 All sorts of products can be used to tan the leather – including fish oil and urine! – who knew

Pungent smells can occur when inferior hides and tanning products are used as the leather breaks down. There is no cure.

The bag was left behind but clearly illustrates what you see on the surface isn’t always the whole story!

This is true of people too. Especially in the workplace.

People at all levels must deal with pressure and change continuously. This can weigh heavy on them and their colleagues.

What can be done? Give them the tools and knowledge they need:

💡 Raise awareness amongst managers – is what you are seeing the whole story?
💡 Roll out training for staff to proactively build their resilience and thrive.
💡 Provide coaching for neurodivergent team members to tame the impact on them.

I specialise in workplace programmes that enables teams to thrive. Including:

Neurodivergent coaching 1:1 – how to thrive in a neurotypical workplace (I am a certified ADHD Coach)

Awareness of neurodivergence for managers – what you might see, what you might do. Critical for true team inclusion and reduction of risk of an ET (CPD certified programme)

How to be an ally to your neurodivergent colleague – for non-managers (CPD certified programme)

I-Act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing – global programme accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in line with ISO45003. (I have been delivering this programme to global organisations for over four years)

Time to talk about the transformation I can deliver for your team?

One day a year…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Is that enough?….

October sees the arrival of #WMHD2024. 

It’s over 70 years since the World Federation of Mental Health was formed. 

It’s 32 years since the Federation introduced their annual world mental health day on 10th October. Each year, the focus is on a different theme.  For 2024, the theme is…..

“It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”.

This is a global movement observed around the world. So, if businesses have embraced the critical need for positive mental health and wellbeing in the workplace – why do we still need an annual World Mental Health Day?

Could it be an annual focus for just one day is not enough?

What do you think?

Change can take decades to implement if the drive and vision to do so isn’t there. Often with dire consequences.

Consider the case of Dr Ignaz Semmelweis a Hungarian doctor. In 1846 Ignaz connected childbirth deaths to the lack of hand washing. Those doctors who went straight from the dissecting room (mortuary) to the labour room without washing their hands carried infections with them. Ignaz wrote multiple papers with his findings. He ordered his students to wash their hands in a solution of chlorinated lime after each examination and noted mortality rates dropped from 18.27% to 1.27%. However, the establishment wouldn’t accept his findings and continued to infect patients for decades before adopting his doctrine saving countless lives.

So, what has a doctor’s struggle in the 1800s got to do with business today?

The establishment then didn’t listen.  They continued to do what they had always done even though they could see change wasn’t happening. Their arrogance in thinking they couldn’t be wrong cost a lot of lives.

The lessons he gave us then are just as applicable today within workplaces striving to be as mentally well as possible.

Delivering a once-a-year spotlight on mental health is soon going to be forgotten by most.  A mindset change has to happen to deliver the transformation to mentally thriving workplace.

Does the training your workplace delivers:

The solutions your teams need?

Does it raise awareness of the two different minds in your workplace – neurotypical and neurodivergent?

Transform communication within teams?

Enables understanding of behavioural impacts on others?

Understanding of unconscious thinking?

The benefits of critical thinking?

All the above forms a solid foundation to then deliver a course on mental health and wellbeing which will truly give team members the tools and know how to look after themselves and support those around them.

Selecting the right training programme(s) is an additional pressure to already busy managers, procurement and/or HR teams. Which can often be why so many select based on title and popularity rather than is the fit sought there.

Surely, the first step is to start a conversation with an independent coach and trainer who can explore your needs before collaborating with you on a transformative programme?

I offer a free exploration call to discuss business needs.  If I can’t help you, I will tell you so.

Bespoke training is not as expensive as you might think and can save you time, money and reputation when compared to the loss of talent from your business. 

I’m Jane. I work with employers to deliver enhanced training in mind health, resilience and wellbeing. I’m also an ADHD Coach. Working virtually, I can help employers across many different time zones.

Is it time we talked?

Collaboration delivers results….. do you agree?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Exciting meeting with @DavidSteeds & @Maddiemum @JCPinSthLondon yesterday planning @Growing_Talent 2023.  Four programmes will run throughout the year enabling forward planning for all involved. Targeting London based employers and unemployed people looking for a different journey into work.

In these challenging times, now more than ever this unique collaboration is needed to deliver positive results to all.

Thanks to all involved over 9yrs Growing Talent has run changing lives by delivering real social mobility 

What will the next year hold for Growing Talent?????

Who knows! One thing is for sure, we’re ready to roll that bowling ball!

This is the best workplace mental health and wellbeing course I deliver….

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I have delivered multiple mental health and wellbeing licences courses for clients keen to empower their teams in this critical area.

The introduction of ISO45003 – psychological safety in the workplace – in September 2021, coupled with the legacy of Covid left on many has seen an increase of interest in this area.

But how many organisations continue to keep engaging non-accredited, reactive, non-global uniformed programmes because:

  • It’s the product they’ve always used – (without exploring if it worked maybe?)
  • The product has ‘First Aider’ in the title (without evaluating if the resulting knowledge makes someone capable of being a ‘First Aider’)

I-act training is, by comparison, head and shoulders above the competition in this field, in my opinion. It delivers so much more, including:

  • Global delivery virtually – delivering uniform knowledge with local support resources
  • Accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists
  • Carried CPD points
  • Training in over 50 tools for proactive self care that can be used reactively on someone experiencing emotional pain
  • Robust manual for onward learning
  • Access to resources, news, films as well as international news in this field for the entire 3 years accreditation
  • Bespoke course for managers – which includes legal responsibilities
  • Bespoke course for non-managers

The feature picture above shows a recent group of newly accredited Practitioners from a leading UK University. An additional consideration for their commissioning organisation was the fact this accredited course would give them the ‘edge’ in their career search as a key differentiator. A great session sharing & learning together critical, accredited life skills for the workplace and beyond!

Learning proactive mind muscle building techniques ensures we are better able to look after ourselves as well as those around us.

What’s not to like?

Why would employers choose anything less for their most valuable asset?

If you are interested to learn what difference this training could make to your employees, why not contact me direct to find out more….?

Emotional Intelligence – what does it mean?

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Literally it’s understanding our emotions, recognise when they are triggered and the impact on those around us if we don’t.

In addition to bespoke workshops I deliver to clients on building better connections within teams, utilising emotional intelligence thinking in communications, I deliver the Genos International suite of Emotional Intelligence assessment and coaching tools which illustrate how we think we are ‘showing up’ compared with the reality of others.

Exploring the gaps and developing tools to close them.

A logical science when you think about it. Those around us are rarely mind readers. They have no awareness of what our intention was when we spoke/interacted with them. They naturally make assumptions based on how we made them feel.

Maya Angelou said it best:

“People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.”

With Emotional Intelligence training, we will be more successful in making them feel how we intended.

What do you think?

Making it happen!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

For many global companies, taking part in Growing Talent is a challenge because it disrupts the global recruitment policies in place.

Growing Talent is a mentoring journey for both employers and their potential unemployed new talent which delivers a mutual ‘test drive’ to see if the permanent role on offer is right for both parties.

Due to the unique partnership over nine years with JobCentre Plus in the UK, participants retain their benefits, have their travel paid, get paid by the employer, undergo a week of orientation and holistic workshops including qualification in the accredited i-act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing aligning with ISO45003 psychological safety in the workplace and a dedicated mentor for the journey. This raises their empowerment and confidence before they start the four week mutual test drive with their employer.

What’s not to like?

With all these positive elements to Growing Talent, Lauren had a role she knew would be appropriate. After securing UK managements’ approval, she then had to tackle the European heads! No easy task – but she did it!

Lauren made it happen and you can see just how confident and awesome Lee is from the photo above with Lauren. Feed back from Lauren and her team is Lee is learning so quickly and picking up things fast. He’s a positive addition to the team – and this is just a few days into the journey! From Lee’s view, he’s enjoying it and has no complaints.

It not easy to start a new job during train strikes – but Lee made it happen too!

Vision, determination and passion = positive real results. So, let’s all ‘make it happen’!

Let’s talk workplace positive mental health and wellbeing…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

With over 15 years experience of delivering a range of mental health and wellbeing products in the UK, i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training is the only workplace designed course on the market I’ve come across that delivers lasting knowledge, real tools and steps for colleagues to gain confidence in supporting each other whilst giving knowledge on how to demolish workplace stigma – perceived or real- removing the fear in disclosing to ensure early intervention, help and support. It aligns perfectly in supporting #iso45003 employer guidelines.

In addition, a strong focus on prevention enables staff to learn tools to build their own resilience to deal with life/work events more effectively whilst enabling them to ‘bounce back’ quicker when low mood strikes.

Accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists it gives confidence a meaningful programme of effective knowledge will be received rather than a ‘tick in the box’ exercise.

With hybrid working homes are now completely or partly also workplaces making the division between home and work spaces more blurred.  

In addition the global fiscal crisis means money in all areas is tight. So it makes sense to select the most effective training programme that will deliver the right results for employees and employers – doesn’t it?

Working with a leading UK University recently, the first to gain #iso45003, the interaction, sharing and clear growth of knowledge amongst the delegates was awesome to be part of.

But, what did they think?…………

“Thank you so much for delivering the i-act course today, it went above and beyond my expectations and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone already in or moving into a management”

“That was a fantastic course- thanks so much!”

“Thanks for the excellent course today, I gained a lot of knowledge from it”

How psychologically safe is your workplace?

#wellbeing#work#positivementalhealth

Day one – Mental Health Awareness Week….

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It’s amazing to think it was 21 years ago the Mental Health Foundation introduced the idea of an annual week putting the spotlight on raising awareness of mental health.

Here we are 21 years later with many people still:

  • living in silence
  • self stigmatising
  • hesitating to start a conversation when they’ve spotted a change in someone
  • not practising non-negotiable, regular windows of wellbeing everyday
  • learning proactive tools to maintain their wellbeing and increase their resilience
  • not seeing how critical self-care is not only in preventing mind ill health and also in recovery plans

In recognition of Day One of this important week, I share one of my favourite wellbeing windows for self-care that I teach.

When brushing your teeth, set the timer on your mobile to 2 minutes, play your favourite dance tune and cut some moves in the privacy of your bathroom. It gets your blood pumping, clears your mind AND IT’S FUN!

Try it.

How fit is your brain?

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I had a really interesting conversation with Kate from Food For The Brain Foundation an innovative charity that teaches the impact of nutrition on the brain – all backed by academic and scientific research.

Check them out – it’s free to register and receive their newsletter also free to take their cognitive test – see if your lifestyle and nutrition is going to impact your brain health in the future.

What do I mean? Did you know only 1% of Alzheimers is caused through genes?

Check out their website below….

https://foodforthebrain.org

A huge amount of information can be found on the drop down menus from nutritional advice for different mental ill health issues through to the ideal nutrition for different ages throughout life – currently under development.

There are diverse articles with tips on issues from sleeping well to how gut health affects moods and so much more.

So check out this mine of information website and analyse how fit your brain is now and how fit will it be in the future!

The power of small changes

Jane JamesLeave a comment

It’s easy to overlook the power of small changes – in business, at home, in ourselves, Governments etc.

Think of hot wanter. I know, a bit random but stay with me…….

At 211 degrees Fahrenheit it’s just that – hot water but one small increase in focus and attention it grows to 212 degrees Fahrenheit and becomes steam.

As the feature picture shows, that small change delivers a powerful impact.

What about if we made small changes in ourselves and ‘how we show up’ at work, at home, with friends etc. What powerful impact could we make?

#kindness #emotionalintelligence #empowerment