Stress levels and mental health is a hot topic and rightly so. It is effecting the productivity of every workforce across the planet. With particularly industries being reported as at ‘Breaking point’, the organisations are feeling the struggle as people become transiant in their jobs, seeking out the illusive happiness that the world talks about. We are more enlightened than ever before and this in turn is ensuring that no one wants to settle. A huge cost and impact on organisations. With the research saying that there is a steady growth of this across the working world for individuals, we r ..read more

Honesty can be elusive in the workplace. We have a fear of saying, ‘I don't know’. We don't want to say who we truly are as it might not fit with the company. For example, you put on the mask of the finance manager you hope the company wants you to be to get the job, rather than the human that you actually are. Everyone has had a job like that at some point and if you haven't you are very lucky. Never be afraid to say you've made a mistake. If we fired people for a making a mistake I wouldn't be here. Sally Waterston We make mistakes and then in poor company cultures we are too afraid to own ..read more

‘Does what I do really matter?’ Whether it’s a political vote, or if you don’t put that can into the recycling, the question will have passed through everyone’s minds at some point. Does what you do really matter to the world? It makes us question if our tiny action really will make a difference in the millions of other actions completed by our fellow humans. My research on kindness has given me the conclusion that maybe it does matter. However, when I interviewed the formidable Pam Warhurst I was reminded of this fact very clearly. I was given Pam’s details because a friend had heard her spea ..read more

Relationships are all about finding connections, building trust and showing appreciation to other people. There is no better way to do this than to focus on another person’s character strengths and express yours. There is a good reason to make this a priority. Research (77) indicates that one of the most powerful pathways to happiness is creating and maintaining positive relationships. The values held by you, your people and your organisation have to be the focus for all decisions in normal or tough times. It should govern behaviours. Your team must find a way to identify where they currently ..read more

Who needs you? It is the basis of who we are as human beings. Who needs me today? Giving people time was undoubtedly the value that was unanimously highlighted among the guests interviewed in season 1 of the Culture of Kindness podcast. They said it was essential for ensuring you have the best team around you. Being present and, of course, listening. Ben Mathes is founder of the social movement, Urban Confessional: a free listening movement. Since he started it in 2012 it has grown to over 80 countries with thousands of volunteers holding simple handwritten signs that say 'Free Listening'. Ben ..read more

Simon Kempton was a podcast guest that I quote often in my work. This episode was full of golden nuggets and is one I recommend for everyone to listen to, it stretches across every area of our lives. We talked about a lot in society and with 18 years in the police force, he has seen the journey. This episode was recorded in 2019 but it feels as relevant three years later as it did then. I wanted to ask about the effect kindness has had on Police, how easy is unkindness to police, is it possible to change society and what does the impact of budget cuts have on the ability to do the job. It was ..read more

First, Care! Care about your people. Who exactly it is you are taking care of? Johnson and Johnson famously had a disaster with Tramadol that had a negative effect on their customers. Their mission statement included a line about them caring about every single man, woman and child that they served in making sure they deliver something that will help them. They made the decision to bring every single tramadol bottle off the shelves. It cost them millions. They were not afraid to say, we don't know, we made a mistake, we will find a way to remedy it. Now that brand has grown year on year. Own th ..read more

The opposite of courage according to any good thesaurus is fear, timidity or cowardice. We are going to focus on the first two in this section. There is a wonderful saying, 'the opposite to courage is not cowardice it is conformity'. We know that conformity when it comes to a process is a good way to function within a business. However, conformity when it comes to creativity, when making positive change and development, is perhaps less good. We have to be brave in breaking the routine and the norms to really move things forward. Nigel Prideaux, Communications Director for Aviva, whom I intervi ..read more

I am not a speaker who, given the choice, turns up at an event, speaks and disappears. Firstly I like to be prepared, get to the venue, double-check technical, and get comfortable. More importantly, it’s the people I love. I enjoy being able to see how the day plays out for everyone, what am I being part of and most importantly hear the stories from people about their lives. When I stand on that stage, the audience sees into my life and my research. They get to understand who I am as a person, as part of that storytelling journey and from there I find that we build an unseen bond. People alwa ..read more

I am not sure I went into speaking when was a child to inspire, I just enjoyed it. I would get a distinction in Speech and Drama when I was 8, winning a speaking competition when I was 12 for a talk on puppies. I remembered every part of it, practising every day for months. It had been written by my English teacher and I had delivered it to a packed room of parents. However, life took me in a different direction, and it was only as I started to do endurance-style challenges and become a researcher on the value of human connection that I ended up back on the stages again. What I found was that ..read more