Life Beyond The Numbers

#172 Really Listening - Rob Lawrence

"Most of the time we're not listening, really listening. We're actually just thinking, what do I want to say next or what shall I say next? And just listening for the odd word or phrase that we need to hear in order to meaningfully respond in a way that satisfies us." Rob Lawrence
 
Rob Lawrence and I talk about the power of sound, the art of listening, and the journey of discovering and living one's truth. We delve into how our truths can be buried under societal expectations and the significance of listening — to both our inner selves and others — in uncovering and aligning with our truths. We also touch on the power of sound beyond its conventional appreciation, highlighting Rob's deep connection with sound and its impact on him. Rob shares insights from his personal journey, including a pivotal choice. He also talks about his podcast 'Inspirational Creatives,' its evolution, and his passion for collaboration and helping others find their voice and truth. 
 
Rob Lawrence is a qualified audio producer, author, podcaster and certified coach who helps creative entrepreneurs, high-achieving professionals and business leaders embrace the power of sound to broadcast messages worth listening to. As an audio production coach, he helps his clients hear the meaning and messages beyond their words, before helping them use technology and broadcasting tools to guide their audiences into powerful explorations, dialogues and conversations of the topics that matter most to them. Prior to this Rob had a 21-year career in Information Technology and audio production, led award-winning teams and helped revolutionise communications for major European and Australasian corporations and brands.
 
Connect with Rob
On LinkedIn
Through his website
 
Resources Mentioned
Inspirational Creatives Podcast

#171 Books with Dr. Susanne Evans, David Lee & Me

"Basically it's books that we recommend a lot or books that have really changed our practice." Dr. Susanne Evans
 
In honour of World Book Day and the value of reading Dr. Susanne Evans, David Lee and I recorded a conversation that explores a wide range of reads that have significantly impacted us including personal development, reflective practice, storytelling, neuroscience and touching on historical events such as the Rwandan Genocide. We each share insights on books that have changed our life, practice, or perspective, accompanied by anecdotes and a deeper look into the themes and lessons of selected works. This conversation offers listeners a rich tapestry of knowledge and a massive list of 'must-reads' for anyone looking to expand their understanding of themselves and the world through literature. 
 
The following titles are included in our conversation
The Right Questions by Debbie Ford
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds
Frequency by Penny Pierce
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
The Joy of Appreciative Living by Jacqueline Kelm
Reflective Practice in Medicine by John Launer
On Being Certain Robert A. Burton
Don't Bite the Hook by Pema Chodron
Season of Blood by Fergal Keane
Bittersweet by Susan Cain
The Long Win by Cath Bishop
The Soul's Code by James Hillman
Time to Think by Nancy Klein
Quiet by Susan Cain
Prayer to the Great Creator by Julia Cameron
Dealing with a Difficult Co-Worker by David Lee
Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ni Chriodain
ChangeStories by Dr Susanne Evans
 
Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves, and she is the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.
 
David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.
 
Connect with Susanne
On LinkedIn
Through her website: Feldspar Consulting
Listen to Change Stories podcast
 
Connect with David
On LinkedIn 
Through his website Human Nature at Work
 

#170 Leaping Forward with Helen Joy

"Imagine if we create this whole chain of psychologically safe environments that every single individual in that chain had that sense of psychological safety. The innovation, the creativity and the sheer drive, growth, productivity and all of those things mean that we would be leaping forwards in terms of how we do things and generating new opportunities and new ways of doing things and better ways of doing things." Helen Joy
 
Helen Joy and I talk about how innovation and psychological safety are intrinsically linked. Helen highlights that a lack of psychological safety in the workplace stifles innovation by preventing people from expressing their ideas out of fear of judgment or humiliation. We chat through practical steps for fostering psychological safety at the individual, team, and organisational levels to create a conducive environment for innovation. Furthermore, we explore the challenges of maintaining such an environment across different parts of an organisation and the critical role of trust in building psychological safety. By addressing these challenges, organisations can unlock the full potential of their teams, enhance retention, and drive innovation.
 
Helen Joy is on a mission to change workplaces for the better by supporting that critical middle management level to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to lead. She has more than 20 years experience in management training and her passion is in Leadership and Management Development, particularly for new and aspiring managers. Through People Sparks' bespoke, interactive programmes, Helen coaches businesses to create and motivate great managers, develop skills and confidence, and build environments that drive success. 
 
Connect with Helen
On LinkedIn
Through her website People Spark
 
Resources Mentioned:
Amy Edmondson
How Psychological Safety Powers Innovation on YouTube
 
 

#169 Insights Compilation

"Insights" is a compilation episode that explores themes of resourcefulness, inner resources, and personal responsibility in accessing those resources.
 
Through excerpts from previous episodes in 2024, you are introduced to various perspectives on living vibrant lives, self-leadership, the significance of listening to one's inner voice, and taking personal responsibility for one's joy and mindset. 
 
Insights includes excerpts from:
02:30 Karina Rook, Episode 159 Freedom to be Human
05:45 Claudia Anghel, Episode 161 All Roads Lead to Centre
09:30 Nathan Simmons, Episode 167 A Future Possibility
13.45 Caroline Tanja Banz, Episode 158 Wake Up!
17.45 Beth Stallwood, Episode 165 WorkJoy Formula
19:15 Andy Brown, Episode 166 Emotional Overdraft
22:00 Karina Rook, Episode 159 Freedom to be Human
 
 

#168 Leading. Beyond. The Numbers. - Solo Episode

"This book is about telling a different version of a story. That might begin to rebalance and imbalance. It is about leading beyond the numbers and still knowing our worth contribution and value. It is about recognising people as people and not as numbers on a payroll or statistics in a report." Susan Ni Chriodain 
 
In this solo episode I talk more about my upcoming book, Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work. The focus today is on the title. I talk about leading - leaders and leadership. I talk about 'beyond' and what that means. And I talk about 'the numbers' and leading beyond them.  
 
I am the host of Life Beyond the Numbers Podcast. I've recently written my first book which will be out in May '24. I believe that the future of work relies on us harnessing the power of conversation so we interact with one another with intention and integrity. I help people have more fulfilling work-lives by guiding them to see their uniqueness to let it shine through. 
Connect with me:
On LinkedIn
Through my website: Beyond the Numbers
 
Resources Mentioned:
Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work will be published on May 14th 2024. It is available for pre-order online at major booksellers and on Amazon.
Episode 145 Facilitate People with John Fairhurst

#167 A Future Possibility - Nathan Simmonds

"What we need to then do, though, is, rather than trying to create tomorrow based on all the clutter and the stuff that has and hasn't worked, we need to rewire to a future possibility." Nathan Simmonds
 
Nathan Simmonds and I discuss the importance of facing life challenges, overcoming personal struggles, and finding the strength to embrace a new path. Nathan shares his compelling life story, detailing how he navigated through personal challenges, including overcoming Crohn's disease, teenage bullying and a battle with drug addiction. Utilising his experiences and learnings, Nathan highlights the importance of understanding human dynamics, psychology, and adopting a reflective approach to address and overcome life's obstacles. Furthermore, he delves into the realms of leadership, hypnotherapy, and the effectiveness of future progressions in realising one's potential.
 
Nathan Simmonds specialises in delivering training experiences that go beyond the ordinary to ignite self-motivated, deeply aware, and conscious leaders. His training programs are designed to cultivate stronger relationships, enhance communications, and instil deep empathy while nurturing the talent of the future. He does this by combining practical tools, leadership psychology, and neuroscience, as a catalyst for innovation and creative problem-solving that propels leaders and businesses forward.
 
Connect with Nathan
Through his website 
Through LinkedIn
If you have a more spiritual slant check out
https://www.spiritmedicine.world/
Yet to launch eutopianpeople.com 
 
Resources Mentioned
Hurt people, hurt people by Dr. Sandra Wilson
The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope 
Dr. Joe Dispenza
Tony Robbins
Karina Rook episode #159 Freedom to be Human
 

#166 Emotional Overdraft with Andy Brown

"An Emotional Overdraft is the way that founders and entrepreneurs and leaders subsidise a business at the cost of their own mental or physical reserves and that can be very unhealthy and very damaging." Andy Brown
 
Andy Brown and I discuss how acknowledging and understanding our emotions is crucial, not just for business owners, but for anyone in a workplace. Although emotions and feelings might not be mainstream thinking for all business leaders yet Andy assures us it is coming. We delve into his book 'Emotional Overdraft', and Andy explains that an emotional overdraft leads to burnout, overwhelm and is causing “invisible damage” with hidden costs. We might think it is inevitable, it isn't. Andy takes us through some of the ten drivers of an emotional overdraft. He also tells us that if he had a tattoo it would say: Your feelings are a measure of your thinking.
 
Andy Brown is a Non-Executive Director, leadership coach, speaker and author. He provides coaching to leaders in people-based businesses, enabling them to make better decisions and to build more valuable businesses. Over the years, Andy has recognised that most leaders subsidize their companies at the expense of their own wellbeing, which he refers to as the ‘emotional overdraft’. This insight has enabled him to save numerous clients from burnout and stress and, at the same time, made their businesses more resilient. Andy was voted ‘Outstanding Non-Executive Director 2021’. Andy produces a twice-monthly newsletter for entrepreneurs, founders and leaders, called “Rambling On About Emotional Overdraft”. He has written hundreds of articles on leadership and business growth and has lectured at the University of Brighton.
 
Connect with Andy:
Through his websites https://emotionaloverdraft.com/ and https://etc.co.uk/about/
On LinkedIn 
 
Resources Mentioned:
Emotional Overdraft by Andy Brown
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
Carole Robbin Interpersonal Dynamics "Touchy Feely Course"
Three Principles
Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett
Episode #162 Never Think You Are Reaching Too High with Mags de Valois
 

#165 Work Joy Formula - Beth Stallwood

"I always think about the work joy formula as how do you actually go from where you are to getting more joy in your life?" Beth Stallwood
 
Beth Stallwood highlights the importance of personal responsibility for one's joy in a work environment. She talks us through her journey of discovering joy in her work. She cleverly contrasts work joy from work gloom. We cover the three key components of work joy: Engagement, Energy, and Experimentation. Beth also highlights the importance of self-awareness and responsibility in creating happiness at work. She proposes the concept of 'squads' that you build from your network, and discusses six roles they can play in your career. She further suggests tracking joyful moments at work to build a more joyful experience. 
 
Beth Stallwood is a consultant, facilitator, podcast host, author and qualified executive coach with over 15 years’ experience. Her mission is to help people create and cultivate more WORKJoy. Beth’s coaching style balances support and challenge in equal measure, enabling people to empower themselves to achieve their goals. With experience across commercial, public sector and not-for-profit environments, Beth’s diverse background has allowed her to be highly agile in her approach, adapting to fit the context, culture and needs of each person on the WORKJoy Way programme. With a focus on the UK market, she has honed her skills in developing future leaders who can adapt, contribute and lead in an ever-changing world. 
 
Connect with Beth: 
Through her websites: Beth Stallwood and Create WorkJoy
On LinkedIn
 
Resources Mentioned: 
WORKJoy: A toolkit for a better working life by Beth Stallwood
Resources to download from Beth's website
WORKJoy Jam Podcast
Episode 128, Alignment, Ana Bernardes
 

#164 A Look Inside My Upcoming Book

"I delve into that in the book - the fact that none of us ever really know what's going on for someone else." Susan
 
In this solo episode I talk about my upcoming book, Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work. I talk about the inspiration behind the book. I read out some of the endorsements I have received to date. And I read some extracts from two separate chapters that include personal anecdotes and reflections on the importance of emotions and the integration of mind and body in the workplace.
 
I am the host of Life Beyond the Numbers Podcast. I've recently written my first book which will be out in May. I believe that the future of work relies on us harnessing the power of conversation so we interact with one another with intention and integrity. I help people have more fulfilling work-lives by guiding them to see their uniqueness to let it shine through. 
Connect with me:
On LinkedIn
Through my website: Beyond the Numbers
 
Resources Mentioned:
Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work will be published on May 14th 2024. It is available for pre-order online at major booksellers and on Amazon.
How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett
Emotional Agility by Susan David
Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett
Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser
Episode 28, Breakthrough with Gib Bulloch
Episode 80, Why Do I Have to Fake it? with Greta Solomon
Episode 107, Be In the Room with Ellen Leith

#163 Pick Your Lane - Sally Oddy

"If there's one huge piece of advice I can give, it's pick your lane and stay in it .... Don't worry about what anyone else is doing, just decide what you want, decide how you're going to get that and focus." Sally Oddy
 
Sally Oddy, an established entrepreneur, shares insights about her journey from being an employee to become a successful business owner. We delve into the details about her experience with burnout in a corporate environment which led her to change her career path and start a marketing consultancy. She shares how she transitioned from this to teaching others to do their own marketing. Sally outlines detailed advice for anyone planning to start a business, highlighting the importance of thorough planning, getting the basics right, and making strategic decisions based on long-term rather than short-term goals. Sally also shares her views on the challenges faced in the online business world and the misconceptions around 'quick success' in this field. The concept of 'membership' and 'mastermind' programs are explained with their respective benefits. If you are thinking about starting your own business or in a start-up phase this episode is one you won't want to miss.
 
Sally Oddy is a Strategic Powerhouse who shares no-nonsense systems, tactics and strategies that will completely transform how you operate your business! Working with Self-Led Soulpreneurs, she pours over 20 years experience into their hearts, minds and businesses and turned running an online business into a simple and clearly defined system enabling you to make a consistent income online and have the confidence, tools and skills to make it happen! She is on a mission to inspire you to fulfil your potential, live life to the full, and impact thousands of lives along the way!
 
Connect with Sally:
Through her website
On LinkedIn and Instagram
 
Resources Mentioned
Episode 76 Limitless with Emma O'Brien