The affects of the two sides shown in the illustration above will be highly visible to wider teams and management for very different reasons.
The red zone – not performing well. A plethora of potential reasons will manifest as low performance. Lack of training. Disconnection within the team/management. Lack of a feeling of belonging and so on. Employers will notice the performance and have choices on what to do about that. Hopefully, any planned intervention includes communication, exploration and agreement with the employee.
The green zone – performing well. When this become expected, it can often be taken for granted. This in turn can lead to churn as the employee feels undervalued. If employers are aware of the potential of taking great performers for granted – they can ensure they don’t! Valuing great performance every time, is empowering and creates a connection of belonging.
What can often go unnoticed is the middle section.
This may be the largest group of employees in some organisations. ‘OK’ performance – acceptable, could be great. Why aren’t employees in this section striving to be the best they can? Multiple reasons which can include feeling undervalued, isolated, not respected and so on. As the performance is acceptable, employers could miss the opportunity to increase performance through communication, training, empowerment, responsibility, respect, inclusion and so on.
An employer can deliver training for their core business operations but can sometimes be blinkered on the power of wellbeing and emotional intelligence training which can empower the whole employee.
Let’s consider the humble kettle. At 211 degrees we have hot water but just one degree increase gives us steam! Used across diverse industries from food, beverage, wood production, sterilisation, pharmaceutical, chemical reactions and so much more.
How awesome will organisations and ALL of their staff be if empowerment training is rolled out?
What could employers consider in this area?
Emotional Intelligence Culture Index – see where departments are in 10 key areas
Emotional Intelligence Assessments – see where the gaps are for individuals then close the gaps with coaching
Accredited Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing – self proactive and ‘first responder’ tools
Accredited Understanding and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing – for non-managers
Basic emotional intelligence – how we show up matters
Make better connections
Know your conflict style – and manage it
Components of good conversations
Overcoming procrastination to act
Building self empowerment
How much more productive is a flourishing team to the business compared to one that is not?
“I have the pleasure getting into this program and working with Jane at Growing Talent. Since the whole job market has changed after Covid, many people struggle with finding themselves or finding their confidence for looking for a job.
Growing Talent gives this confidence back to people, who are talented, keen and willing to work but maybe they are just not visible enough to employers.
Instead of going through the same old recruitment process of sending CVs, trying to stand out from thousands of resumes, catching employers’ attention in 6 seconds (which often feels like a battle), at Growing Talent your resume is your personality, your charisma, energy and you have the opportunity to show & talk about yourself the way you want the employers to know about you.
Great companies give you their time and attention in a fun event that can actually lead to your next amazing role. And the best thing is that Jane guides you through the whole process, making sure that you are prepared and perform at your best.
This is such a unique experience that could benefit more companies and candidates – l wish more organisations would operate this way! Thanks to Growing Talent, many of us had the chance to step into a pool of great opportunities.” Fru, Growing Talent participant March 2023 joining SPS Global
Wing, joining Pilgrims Group & Fru joining SPSGlobal during the Orientation and Holistic week.
Growing Talent works because of our 360 collaboration with employers, the currently unemployed, the JobCentre Plus ‘All Stars’ led by David & Anna and of course our awesome funders – a global financial services organisation.
Thank you all with special thanks to those partners taking part this time – as you can see Fru eloquently shows the difference we all make when working together.
Take a bow everyone 👏 👏 👏
Our employers taking part this time: Breyer Group, Office Concierge, ISS, Restore Harrow Green, Honeywell, Portico & SPS, our JobCentre Plus ‘All Stars’ and cheerleaders – David Steeds & Anna Matthews & of course our fabulous Growing Talent Associates: Fru, Wing, Shanika, Ola & Joseph who took the leap to do something completely different 👏 👏 👏
If you are an employer looking to fill your vacancies with some awesome talent in London or someone who has lost their mojo to secure a job they can grow into a career why not check Growing Talent out?
Some incredible opportunities confirmed – some from new employers taking part in Growing Talent for the first time!
Disrupting the traditional recruitment route.
The Growing Talent collaboration delivers a partnership of mentoring to someone who has lost their self confidence.
You’ve likely heard the phrase:
“It takes a village to raise a child”
9 years of running Growing Talent has shown me it takes a multi-stakeholder collaboration to nurture people into permanent jobs, when they can’t see the talent within them, where they not only grow their career and make a difference to their employer but are empowered to be the best they can be for their friends, family and community.
More roles are expected over the next week for this London based initiative.
Meet the latest accredited Practitioners in the global I-act Understanding and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing course.
With over 50 tools to use on themselves and those around them – at home and work – coupled with the steps to consider in having a conversation on emotional pain – and how to compose boundary statements to always stay safe – all are now empowered to recognise a change in someone, start a conversation, enabling them to get the help they need and deserve whilst ensuring personal safety.
Delivered in four hours virtually – the course is ideal for any work environment across any industry.
Monday night saw the relaunch of Growing Talent at the London HQ of our host and sponsor PwC.
With over 90 people present the pre-event networking was a hub of energetic networking. Interspersed with ‘OMG it’s been so long’ as ex-Growing Talent Associates over the years met-up for the first time since their journey began.
In addition to these awesome people, guests included members of JobCentrePlus, senior management of DWP, community organisations including SLAM, Southwark Care Leavers and Breyer Foundation as well as employers – veterans of Growing Talent and those new to the collaboration – looking to find out more.
The co-ordinator of Growing Talent kicked off proceedings explaining what Growing Talent was and when it started, why, in their view, it is as important today as when it started, the social value it has delivered and the benefits to all taking part.
We were incredibly lucky to have Ian Elliott, Chief People Officer at PwC join us to share why social mobility programmes like Growing Talent are so important to the Firm, why they support these initiatives and how important it is for businesses to engage with their local communities to gain innovative talent to grow effectively.
Following Ian, David senior manager from DWP, a long-time staunch supporter of Growing Talent, shared why they support Growing Talent when it is not a Government programme.
Following David, were the stars of the event – ex-Growing Talent Associates Charlie-Ray and Rehana – sharing their experience, where they were at the start of their journey and where they are now.
From a starting point of no confidence nor direction at the start of his journey on Growing Talent, Charlie flourished and won promotion to his current position as Senior Welcome Host with Portico leading a team of 30 direct reports!
He’s taken ownership for a lot of diverse projects nationally, including a secondment for a number of weeks to help mobilise a new regional office ensuring new staff feel they belong and have a strong sense of connection. This secondment was meant to be a one day trip!
Rehana was next to share her roller coaster journey on Growing Talent. Working with Portico for a few years as Welcome Host following completion before returning to full-time education to study to be a Counsellor – a long held passion.
But how to fund such an intensive course?
Rehana started her own craft business ‘Sealed with a Stitch’ selling crochet items within the UK and internationally – ideal for corporate gifts, unique birthday presents or to mark a special event.
Easter Bunny example of Rehana’s work during Covid!
Rehana juggles this business with her position as a Counsellor supporting vulnerable people with Headstrong.
Charlie and Rehana both shared the power of what saying ‘yes’ to someone can have.
Neither of them would have been recruited by their employers in a traditional recruitment process – but look at the awesome talent that would have been missed!
Allen, Head of Information Management Services at PwC as well as lead for Growing Talent at PwC, was last to speak and share his personal experience of supporting Growing Talent over the last nine years, from holding roundtable discussions on basic finance considerations to being a judge on our previous social enterprise challenges.
It was powerful to listen to Allen share his thoughts of meeting the Growing Talent Associates at the start of their journey and see the empowering transformation they underwent. He still sees many working in the PwC offices continuing to grow every day.
It was fantastic catching up with some of the ex-Growing Talent Associates and learning of where they are now…..
Chloe and Sophia joined Growing Talent virtually during Covid in August 2021.
Several promotions later for each of them, they are still working for PwC and ‘so happy’ – their words.
Sophia is now Team Leader and PwC Support Specialist coaching and developing many team members into other areas of PwC’s business. Sophia shared she can now make ‘grown-up’ decisions on investments and pensions.
Chloe is now an Executive Assistant organising and supporting her managers delivering projects.
In addition to clearly loving their careers, both shared how making their children proud of them was a powerful realisation.
L-R – Stephan, Miyuki from ISS, Kieron, Bernie of Swiss Post Solutions, Anna – JobCentre Plus lead who has taken countless early morning calls to sort out any issues participants were experiencing over the years, Charlie-Ray of Portico, Navin and Jamie of Swiss Post Solutions with Chloe & Sophia – PwC.
The ripple effect of the positive impact on those around the Growing Talent Associates is clear. One example, Navin shared the huge recognition his dad, Nalin, received from his employer recently (met on Growing Talent in 2019). Nalin has won so many testimonials from guests and colleagues over the years, the hotel recognised this commitment by awarding him a visit to New York taking his wife and Navin along for some shopping and sightseeing! How great is that?
Of course, I had to get in the photos too!!!!
The post event networking went on longer than anticipated with wonderful bitesize canapes and drinks. Thanks to the team at Baxter Storey especially the particularly tasty beetroot bites!
Employers were buzzing about what roles they could ring-fence to take part in the next programme and community groups were thinking of the awesome clients they could refer.
It was certainly a night to remember!
The Growing Talent story continues…….
Let’s recap the benefits so you can decide to get involved:
Potential applicants
No cvs nor job descriptions = no assumptions.
Mentored to grow into a permanent role which you can turn into a career
Empowering orientation and holistic week which includes a qualification in positive mental health before going on the employers site
Retain your benefits, have all fares paid and get paid by the employer during the mutual ‘test drive period’
Be confident the role, employer and team is right for you
Start to believe in the talent you have within you
Cost free robust pre-onboarding process aiding retention
Differentiator with competitors in commercial bids
Fish from an innovative, diverse talent pool to grow some awesome new talent
Confidence the match is right before making a permanent hire
If you are an employer with vacancies to fill in London, why not recruit a different way? Contact me for more information or see https://www.growing-talent.co.uk/employers/
What are you waiting for? Experience the power of saying yes!
A big thank you to all organisations including Pertemps, MasterFix Properties, Swiss Post Solutions, ISS@PwC and Aviva, ISS UK & Ireland, Office Concierge, Honeywell, Portico, Baxter Story, senior management from PwC, ex-Growing Talent Associates, members of DWP and JobCentre Plus, community groups including SLAM, Breyer Foundation and Southwark Care Leavers who gave up their personal time to attend.
A very special thank you to Adrienne Simpson who juggled her ‘day job’ as Allen’s Executive Assistant with organising the whole event start to finish – Ads – you are a superstar!
In these economically critical times, investment in the right training is crucial. Selecting a training programme that meets your employees needs’ to maintain their optimum wellbeing levels is clearly a ‘no brainer both for them and your business’.
But how do you know the training you’ve invested in meets the desired goals?
Well, first you have got to ask your delegates to give their robust and anonymous evaluations, but as delegates, we have got to tell our employers and instructors what we thought – even when we aren’t asked . It’s the only way, training will be effective.
Next time you are on a training course, don’t wait to be asked your thoughts on the content, tools and instructor……
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….?
I’ve been working on a new project for a number of weeks focussing on collaborative empowering of the spouses, partners and adult children of currently serving UK Armed Forces personnel.
The Armed Forces in the UK, rightly, have the spotlight of support and training on them. They have taken the decision to protect the UK’s security.
The power behind them, did not. Without strong families supporting their loved ones, who are also our Armed Forces personnel, they can’t completely focus on their role.
But what about that often invisible power? Who puts the spotlight of empowerment on them?
On meeting Carolyn and Linzi from Military CoWorking Network, I discovered a kindred passion for the same thing. The organisation is run by spouses and partners of all Armed Forces for their peers. With classrooms on military bases to virtual workshops, all kinds of inspiring training is delivered.
The Military Reboot page on this website gives more detail on this exciting niche area.
Military CoWorking Network are hosting a webinar towards the end of November for their membership where I will share the content of Military Reboot and the planned start date in January.
Sneak Peak!……..
This morning was a rollercoaster of emotions – mainly frustration! – that arrives from trying to compile an information video to introduce Military Reboot when technical av software is not my forte!
Luckily, I practice what I teach!
For years I have been practising non-negotiable proactive self-care in short timed windows throughout my day to calm my mind which in turn has built the mind muscle essential when emotions run high to challenge the negative thoughts that automatically arise.
Finally, after cutting too much video, reinstating it, then cutting too much audio, I felt a sense of satisfaction when I finally uploaded the film to Vimeo for Military CoWorking Network to share!
Hugely proud to be involved with the excellent work JointForces@ISS are doing with ex-Forces personnel – especially their spouses, partners and adult children over 18.
It’s easy to forget they all serve too!
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