personal growth

The power of kindness

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Whether I am delivering I-act, or workshops on communication, conflict identification and management, making better connections, building an emotionally intelligent team, empowerment, career development or running Growing Talent, I always lead with kindness and I share the power of doing this with all delegates.

Whatever we say or do, only we know our intention behind that. Those we are speaking with, don’t. They may receive a completely different message based on how we’ve made them feel.

It makes sense in every area of life – work and personal – to lead with kindness.

We don’t always know what someone is dealing with in their life nor the impact it’s having on them.

Leading with kindness enables us to stop, think and empathise – building better workplaces and relationships with little effort or cost.

I was blown away yesterday after speaking with a delegate who had attended one of my I-act courses just over a year ago. They took time out to send me this lovely email (edited to protect them and their organisation).

If anyone doubts the power of kindness, give it a try. The results will astound you.

@I-Act

GT35 – next stage commenced today….

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Our final Growing Talent programme of 2023 reached the next stage with the commencement of the Orientation and Holistic Week.

As a result of employer requests, Gabriel has found himself in the unique position of being the only one on this section of the programme. The first time this has happened in 10 years Growing Talent has been running!

Rising to the challenge of collaboration a different way, Gabriel has embraced this unique experience which ended today with a meeting with Lauren – his soon to be line manager!

Still smiling and laughing – that’s a great sign of things to come!

With Workplace nailed, tomorrow we commence the Holistic section.

More learning, sharing and collaboration ahead….

The road of opportunity is open for some….

Jane JamesLeave a comment

What an awesome Employer Speed Dating event – 1st stage selection on Growing Talent today.

Hosted by our funders close to London Bridge we had five amazing employer teams and over 30 hugely talented, but currently unemployed people looking for their next opportunity.

The road to new opportunities has started.

What will be the outcome? Watch this space!

Huge thanks to the applicants who overcome their nerves to come along today – lots of laughter in the room indicates the experience wasn’t as bad as first expected!

Initial thoughts from one of these amazing people:

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the dynamic recruitment session and networking event. It was truly an enriching experience, and I’m thankful for the chance to engage with such a talented group of individuals.

I thoroughly enjoyed the session and the chance to network with professionals in different fields. It was not only informative but also inspiring. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.

Thank you for your support and for making this event possible. I look forward to the future and the potential it holds.

If you ever need an assistant in your workshop count me in. 😊”

Isn’t that awesome?

Massive thanks to our awesome employer teams this time around:

Master-Fix Properties – Martin
Pilgrims Risk Management – Lasse, Tia & James
SPS UK & Ireland – Lois & Bob
Pertemps – Sharaz & Jamie
Honeywell – Lauren & Andra

What a change, what a change, what a mighty fine change…………….

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Amongst the employers attending @Growing_Talent’s 35th Employer Speed Dating event on 31.10.23 will be Haj joining her colleagues from @Pertemps and Tia joining her colleagues from @PilgrimsRiskManagementGroup.

Both joined their employers via the Growing Talent programme, now they are involved in giving others the opportunity they had.

How awesome is that?

The power of a chance to change…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

A chance to change for some willing to take the leap into the unknown has arrived!

The 35th Employer Speed Dating event on Growing Talent takes place Tuesday 31 October in London

Weeks of preparation have led up to this point. Information sessions, job fairs, marketing on social media – not my strongest attribute!!! – completion of registration forms, security, hospitality and venue arrangements just to name a few things.

Of course none of this would be possible without our funders, the work coaches in JobCentre Plus – passionate to support some of their customers into jobs a different way – the customers themselves taking that leap of faith to go through a recruitment process that doesn’t involve a cv or traditional interview and the trailblazing employers willing and open minded to seek their new talent in a unique way.

34 hugely talented, but currently unemployed people are invited to our event on Tuesday.

What will the outcome be? You’ll need to check back to find out!

David Steeds
Pilgrims Risk Management Group
Honeywell
Masterfix GB Limited
Pertemps Network Group
SPS

Sometimes a little disruption to the norm is needed!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

The screenshot above is part of a post Bolaji issued on linked it and contained a number of her excellent suggestions on who to recruit better.

I reposted Bolaji’s thoughts with my own and how we’ve disrupted the recruitment norm:

@BolajiShote illustrates what recruiters of integrity have been saying and doing for years! The points Bolaji sets out are simple, clear and logical for recruiting employers to follow. I might put them in a slightly different order of importance to me.

#Ghosting – remember, people will never forget how you made them feel. Not feeding back after an interview can leave people feeling worthless and negatively impact their performance at their next interview. But here’s the other thing to remember that could directly impact those ‘Ghosters’ – the candidate you have ghosted could be interviewing you in a few years time – they won’t forget you…. ever.

Growing Talent we recognised a little disruption to the norm was needed.That’s why almost 10 years ago Growing Talent commenced – no cvs, no formal interviews, therefore, no assumptions. Almost 200 people aged 18-64 from all different social economic backgrounds have secured jobs they have grown into careers which they would never have secured through the traditional recruitment method.

Our collaboration with #JobCentrePlus, their partners, #Employers our global
business funders and the #GrowingTalentAssociates going on the journey delivers an empowering, confidence boosting experience building connections and support on the journey into work.

The #Orientation and #Holistic week delivers core workplace and personal skills that last a lifetime including accreditation in a global mental health and wellbeing programme in line with #ISO45003 enhancing the onboarding and retention experience with the employer.

An assigned mentor for both the employer and Growing Talent Associates ensures a smooth journey.

Doing things differently:

·     Advertising – via David Steeds & his work coach warriors at JobCentre Plus & partners.

·     Their interested customers join an information session 

·      1st stage selection – Employer Speed Dating – fast, loud with a lot of laughter in the room as people put down their ‘armour’ and be themselves.

·     2nd stage is a 1-2-1 meeting with the employer on their site to find out all
aspects of the role. 

·      Orientation and Holistic week

Finally a mutual evaluation paid period in the permanent role commences. This means at the point permanent contracts are issued, both sides are confident the match is right for them – without a single “what is your strength and weakness” question! 

No recruitment costs either!

Keep doing the same things, you will keep getting the same results.

Thank you to all our collaborative partners over recent times:
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Pertemps Network Group
Masterfix GB Limited
SPS UK & Ireland
Pilgrims Risk Management Group
Honeywell
ISS A/S
Portico
BaxterStorey

LIMITLESS – AREN’T WE ALL?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Last Friday, I spoke with Chyna who is on the @Growing_Talent journey with Pilgrims Group.

She is an inspiration for all unemployed people dealing with that very loud voice of self-doubt struggling to get into work.

Apart from the ebb and flow of self doubt at each stage of @Growing_Talent – she conquered that voice, pushed through the fear, completed her SIA licence and is now ready to go on site with her employer team at Pilgrims Group in London.

Self doubt didn’t stop her. Nor did Covid!

Now Chyna knows her ability is LIMITLESS!

Whatever the future holds for Chyna, she knows she will nail it!

Very proud to receive this today!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Over the years I have worked with diverse people from all backgrounds. Treating people with kindness, respect and honesty has crossed all barriers.

However, I felt I wasn’t always connecting with people with neurodiversity as well as I could. Asking someone “what support do you need at work” isn’t useful when people honestly don’t know what would work for them.

I stumbled across a post on Linkedin from Leanne Maskell and had a ‘lightbulb’ moment. Her struggles through education and into work, with friends and social situations rang true for me looking back at some of the awesome people from this area who I’d worked with on both the Real Apprentice and Growing Talent.

Leanne’s experience of not only how difficult it was for her to ‘fit in’ but also for those around her to support her led to her forming ADHD Works and set about training employers and neurodiverse people to learn what’s really going on for them.

One of Leanne’s quotes on the course stood out to me – and I will be using it all the time going forward! – is ” if a flower isn’t flourishing, you change the environment not the flower” how true.

I know I will be able to work better with neurodiverse people on Growing Talent using the tools I learned with ADHD Works to ensure they have a smoother journey.

It’s shocking to discover it takes on average 7 years to secure an NHS assessment for ADHD meaning many children/young people going through the process of assessment won’t get a result until they are adults. The angst this will cause them, those around them and their employers will be stark and potentially impact mental health and wellbeing levels.

Questions on ADHD are being asked more and more in @I-Act training sessions I deliver. Out of all the mental health and wellbeing licenced products I’ve delivered over the years, @I-Act is the only one that touches on issues which might affect someone’s mental health and wellbeing but not be a mental health issues in themselves. This section includes ADHD. I’ll now be able to deliver this course more knowledgeably too from now on.

Everyone should do the ADHD Champion online course from @ADHDWorks – it really is priceless for inclusion and belonging.