Life Beyond The Numbers

#137 Leading Beyond the Numbers

Over the next six weeks there will be a slightly different format to Life Beyond the Numbers episodes. 
As I'm focusing on a specific project I needed to free up space and time. So, instead of the regular format I will share a brief update on the week - the progress, struggles and insights as well as a short story, or speech, that I wrote during my time at Toastmasters - these will focus on different aspects of work-life. 
These episodes will be on average about 15 minutes duration. It is up to you whether you come along on this brief detour or not. And we will be back in September with the regular format. 

#136 What You Stand For - Phil Dorman

"We always stand for something. And fulfilment and success [ ] is gonna come from actively choosing that thing that you stand for. We are not neutral. [ ] The way I translate that into the work I do is by helping the people I work with to work out what they stand for. I'm politically agnostic about what they choose to stand for. It's about them [ ] It's about knowing what you stand for. Deciding what you stand for." Phil Dorman
 
Phil and I talk about that point people reach in a leadership trajectory where they need to actively choose and define what they stand for. And how many people allow external factors, such as societal expectations and professional success, to define their identity and values. We talk about the importance of developing self-awareness and raising levels of consciousness. We touched on the tension between having a holistic view of the world and the narrower focus required to drive progress. According to Phil, the route to fulfilment starts from within. And for him fulfilment is a journey towards making a positive impact on the world and leaving it better than we found it.
 
 
Phil Dorman is a leadership coach and founder of Not Neutral. He partners with rising leaders in fast growth companies to unlock their potential. Through 1 to 1 coaching he supports them in building strong performance that drives business results. His work is grounded in the belief that by building deep and true connections to ourselves, to our colleagues and to the context in which we operate, each and every one of us has the capacity to deliver meaningful impact in the world and find fulfilment and joy in the process. Prior to founding Not Neutral, he worked as an entrepreneur and innovator in the media, marketing and management consulting sectors. He lived and worked in China for 16 years before relocating to the UK in 2017. 
 
Connect with Phil:
Through his website 
On LinkedIn 
 
Resources Mentioned:
Plum Village and Thich Nhat Hanh
Paulo Freire
 

#135 The Twin Trails - Achim Arnold

"The Shamans, from the Native American people, talk about the twin trails. This whole going inward, going outward, going inward, going outward. The more we grow internally, we can grow externally." Achim Arnold
 
Achim Arnold and I discuss his interest in purpose-driven connections which is largely influenced by his upbringing and desire to be part of a community. We explore the concept of having aspirations instead of putting immense pressure on oneself to constantly do things. We talk about finding our inner team. And about slowing down, the importance of caring for oneself and others and the need to resource oneself properly in order to support others effectively. We wrap up with a discussion on staying connected to our humanity and the impact of technology on our sense of self.
 
Achim Arnold partners with clients to find innovative solutions, from boardroom to field; procurement to sales. He uses his experience in the Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Agricultural, Automotive and Social Media sectors to bring different cultures and diverse groups together to collaborate and co-create solutions for more sustainable business. Over almost two decades he has worked in 25 countries and speaks English, German, Portuguese and Spanish. He holds a graduate degree in business and management as well as a postgraduate degree focused on organisational behaviour, change management and strategic decision-making. He is certified as a systemic coach and change manager and accredited as a holistic counsellor. He is a trustee and a non-executive Director in two educational charities. His favourite activities are ultra trail running and mountaineering. He is a father of 2 young sons who bring joy to his life and fuel his commitment to work on ESG challenges.
 
Connect with Achim
On LinkedIn
 
Resources Mentioned
Craigberoch Business Decelerator 
Cologne University Systemic Coaching & Change Management

#134 I Feel Like Me Again - Jo Hunter

"I thought, oh, now I feel relaxed. Now I feel like me again. And so it wasn't about removing imperfection, it was like just busting out of my being, so full of love and of happiness that I was like, oh yeah, why would I box myself in with that again?" Jo Hunter
 
Jo Hunter shares her personal journey with perfectionism and how it affected her life. Jo eventually broke free from the constraints of perfectionism and rediscovered her creativity. Jo also discussed the need to nurture creativity in all individuals. She believes creativity is essential, and it should be cultivated from an early age. Creativity allows us to transcend ideas, rules, and patterns to create new ones. We also talked about creating work environments and cultures that foster creativity. Trust and safety play a crucial role in these environments, and they can be cultivated through creative activities. Jo emphasised the importance of embracing uncertainty and delving into difficult issues to find creative solutions. If you are unsure how to explore your creativity Jo suggests engaging in micro-creative moments. It can be as simple as writing for five minutes or noticing patterns in your environment. These small creative practices can lead to significant changes over time. 
 
Jo Hunter is the co-founder and CEO of 64 Million Artists, an organisation dedicated to unlocking the creative potential of every human being in Britain. She started the company back in 2014 and  now leads the company day to day. One of her favourite things about being the CEO is having space to think big and strategically, and empower others in the team to dream up ideas, respond creatively to briefs and develop themselves as people. She loves running leadership programmes, seeing the way that being in a different environment can help people find the space to discover more about themselves and challenge themselves to think and act in new and interesting ways.
 
Connect with Jo
64 Million Artists website
Creative Switch Newsletter 
 
Resources Mentioned
Brené Brown - The Gift of Imperfection
Street Wisdom website
 

#133 At Our Best - Susan

"It's about who we can be and how can we be the best version of ourselves, and we owe that to ourselves. You are the only one who truly knows how you feel, how you think, and why you act the way you do. And increasing our own self-awareness is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. Taking an honest look at ourselves, our thinking, our feelings, our behaviour, and asking ourselves when are we at our best?" Susan
 
In this episode I reflect on the impact of stress in a work-life experience and how it can gradually increase to an unmanageable level. However, many of us might normalise our stress levels and believe we are coping. Are we? I look at some of the factors, such as workplace stress, lack of support and toxic work environments, that contribute to stress and overwhelm. I talk about the importance of taking responsibility for our own part in maintaining our own well-being. 
 
I work with leaders and teams who want to feel more like themselves at work. I focus on inner growth and development for impactful social connection and collaboration. My vision is to create more emotionally aware workplaces where we can all be at our best. I do not have a one-size fits all approach and adapt my style to the uniqueness of the individuals I work with. I also facilitate workplace events and leadership development workshops. 
 
Connect with me:
Through LinkedIn 
Through my website
 
 
Resources Mentioned:
Javed Bobat - Episodes 12 and 117
Moving the needle on burnout: what does the data say? McKinsey Health Initiative
 

#132 Inner Development Goals (IDGs) - Katharina Moser

"The whole idea around the IDGs emerged a few years ago with a few institutions in Sweden sitting together looking at the current status of the world and wondering why it is that we are not really progressing further and faster towards the SDGs and why crisis are to the contrary getting bigger and bigger and more complex and everything seems to be just more daunting." Katharina Moser
 
Katharina Moser and I talk about the importance of inner work for outer change. She introduces the IDGs, a framework that describes the 23 inner science-based skills and qualities that help us to live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives. The skills fall into five categories: Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating and Acting. And she emphasises that inner development is not just an individual pursuit but a collective one. We discussed the potential impact of bringing these frameworks into workplaces and society. Katharina shared some insights on companies that are embracing the IDG framework, such as Google, and how they are incorporating the IDGs into their programs and tools. She also mentioned the upcoming IDG conference in Stockholm, which she is organising, and how it aims to create an experiential space so people can learn about the IDGs and how to use them. Katharina shares her own story of how she became involved with the IDGs and talks about how to deal with your own 'critical guardian' as she calls it. 
 
Katharina Moser is a designer of meaningful connection to foster collaboration on global challenges. She has designed, organized, and moderated around 300 events, focusing on making them more human. In 2022 she joined the Executive Board of the Inner Development Goals, leading the design of the summit 2023. Previously, she worked for the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the British Council, and the European Forum Alpbach, before she founded the creative agency MOSAIK in 2015. (one of her projects was awarded the State Prize on Europe). She is on the board of Bürgerforum Europa; the Austrian Society for European Politics, a founding member of Alliance4Europe, and a member of the BMW Responsible Leaders Network.
 
 
Connect with Katharina:
Through her website
 
Resources Mentioned:
Inner Development Goals (IDGs)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
IDG Tools website
IDG Summit October 2023
 
 

#131 Our Expectations - Paul Karvanis

"How do we start to understand ourselves enough that we can say our expectations might be realistic to the situation we're in, but they mightn't be the optimal expectations that we could have of ourselves." Paul Karvanis
 
Paul Karvanis and I talk about how to have a good life well lived. A former corporate lawyer, Paul shares his journey from feeling unhappy with his life to pursuing a satisfied and contented one. We delve into the concept of personal potential and how it's already within oneself. Personal growth is not about becoming someone new but rather about flipping the coin and looking at the other side of oneself. We also talked about the importance of self-compassion and realistic expectations. Paul emphasises that choosing less is more important than choosing more, and choosing what matters most is key to success. 
 
Paul Karvanis is a lawyer turned coach committed to living life all-out and without regret. He spent long portions of his life being miserable, and so he has made it his life's mission to be content and to fully live life. He is also doing his best to make a difference broadly and in the lives of others. And he is a Runner, Reader and Proud Nerd. 
 
Connect with Paul:
Through his website Leader Rising
 
Resources Mentioned:
Episode 121, Courage with Robbie Swale
Giovanni Marsico Archangel 
Nick Wignall's weekly newsletter called "The Friendly Mind"
James Clear's Atomic Habits
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Behold Retreats 

#130 Do the Right Thing - Dan Foley

"Doing the right thing probably starts when you go into the organisation rather than when you leave it. Because at that stage, you may not have actually have the chance to do the right thing." Dan Foley
 
Dan Foley and I discuss the importance of doing the right thing in business and the role of values, leadership, and collaboration in driving positive change. Dan shares his experience of working with a leader who had a who had a significant impact on his leadership style and introduced him to the JEDI concept of leadership. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of common sense, collaboration and diversity in achieving success in business. And Dan highlighted that the ability to honestly self-reflect and identify areas for improvement is also crucial in building a high-performing team.
 
Dan Foley is a renowned international award winning senior professional and leader with over 20 years’ experience in various dynamic blue chip organisations, such as Premier Foods, ITV, Mouchel and M&S. He is a well-known figure in the world of financial shared services and a respected speaker at international events on topics that affect financial strategy, governance and management. He has significant business transformation, organisational, operational and change delivery/management experience; excellent operational, commercial, business, process and finance knowledge as well as matured CRM and programme management skillset. 
 
Connect with Dan:
On LinkedIn
 
Resources Mentioned:
The Frank & Walters 

#129 Team Engagement

"Brian was in charge of team engagement. And it was interesting because he said 30 plus years ago, Brian was talking about things like empowerment, self-motivation, involvement, personal responsibility, voice and alignment."
 
In this episode, I relay the remarkable story of Derek Redmond, a former 400-meter sprinter turned business coach, and his experience preparing for the Olympics in 1992. I talk about the importance of teams and team engagement, expanding your comfort zone, making small changes that can lead to greater results and self-awareness. 
 
I work with individuals, teams and organisations who know that putting people first generates the greatest return. If you would like to feel more like yourself, at work, let's have a confidential conversation about coaching. If you are interested in creating more emotionally aware workplaces let's chat about your requirements. Or if you are looking for a facilitator for team workshops or leadership development workshops I'd love to hear from you. 
 
Connect with me:
On LinkedIn
 
Resources Mentioned:
Helen Joy of People-Spark
Derek Redmond 
Tokyo 1991
Barcelona 1992

#128 Alignment - Ana Bernardes

"For me this concept of embodiment is very related to being in alignment. So an alignment between what I feel, what I think and what I do." Ana Bernardes
 
Ana Bernardes and I discuss the concept of embodiment and how it relates to being in alignment with our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Anna shares her personal experience of discovering her superpower through an embodiment exercise, where she explored different shapes and movements of her body. We explore ways for listeners to start expanding their own awareness of their body and emotions and how crucial it is to reduce dissociation between our mind and body. Ana emphasises the importance of bringing embodiment work to how we work together and we chat about inner leadership and how it relates to connecting with oneself and others in the workplace. 
 
Ana’s core work is to create spaces where people can grow. She guides learning journeys towards the development of inner leadership using awareness-based tools. By accessing body wisdom through conscious movement, somatic awareness and human connection, each person can promote the connection with oneself, improve the quality of relationships and rediscover creativity. Ana holds a degree in Psychology and is trained in Holistic Dance and Movement Pedagogy, Social Presencing Theater and Embodiment, which she combines with her experience of working in Business Consulting, Corporate Training, Event and Experience Design and Game Design, as well as 20 years of teaching social dances. Her path made her a believer that only by bringing more consciousness into organisations we can create a lasting impact in living a purposeful and balanced life, both individually and collectively.
 
Connect with Ana:
Through her website 
On LinkedIn
 
Resources Mentioned:
Gabor Mate
Frederic Laloux