Really Useful Conversations
83 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsManagers and leaders need to be able to confidently have 7 Significant Conversations if they are to achieve the desired business outcomes WITH an engaged and motivated team. What are those conversations? How do we have difficult conversations? What about conversations that are challenging, crucial, critical ...
Conversations can change organisations. They can develop relationships, improve standards, increase results - conversations can even save lives.
After 21 years as a freelance Consultant, Andrea Newton shares practical, down to earth advice, learning, tips and techniques to enable you to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and have conversations that matter.
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Episodes
Leadership; Intention v Impact
April 16, 2024 02:00 - 26 minutes - 40.5 MBAs a leader or manager you have the power to make such a difference to your team, their experience of the workplace, and the outcomes they achieve. Just in the way that you behave around them, the style of leadership that you choose and use, and the impact that you have. However, sometimes the effect we INTEND is not always the experience that people are having, and every now and then we have to stop and ask ourselves the question – is there a gap between my intention and my impact? You prob...
The power of human connection
March 26, 2024 03:00 - 33 minutes - 35 MBIn this week's episode I thought it felt like a good time to talk about the power of human connection, there is so much going on in the world at the moment and in organisations that it feels like a good time to remind ourselves about the difference positive relationships and strong human connection can make. We will take a close look at why in the busy-ness of business it matters so much – surely people should just rock up and do the job they are being paid to do, right? Why do we need to co...
Menopause for Managers: Disability in the workplace?
March 05, 2024 03:00 - 28 minutes - 29.6 MBYou may have seen the noise that the recent headlines created, when the European Human Rights Commission confirmed that under the Equality Act (s.6) that menopause symptoms COULD be classed as a disability. In this week's episode I am going to talk through that noise and explain in really straightforward terms what this means, and what you as a business need to be doing about it. Whether you are a Line Manager, HR Manager, Healthy & Safety Manager or indeed a business owner, this news article...
When reasonable adjustments are not reasonable enough
February 20, 2024 03:00 - 32 minutes - 33.3 MBIn this week's episode I get to chat with Alison Colley, an experienced Solicitor and HR specialist, who is passionate about supporting organisations and individuals with any work problems, and giving clear and unstuffy legal advice. This week we talk about the term reasonable adjustments, and ask when is reasonable actually reasonable enough? Following a recent UK EAT Tribunal Case where the panel suggested an employer dealing with a menopause issue had not acted in a way it considered reas...
Time to Talk - Getting Buy In
February 06, 2024 03:00 - 33 minutes - 34.7 MBYou understand the importance of really useful conversations at work. You recognise the impact it has on employee engagement, retention and motivation, as well as forming part of your duty of care as am employer. You understand that conversations of this nature if not done well can have legal, financial and moral implications but how do you get others to buy in too? Whether you are addressing the proactive change to Equality Act 2010 or seeking to implement ISO 45003, you may need to get buy...
Minimising work-related stress
January 30, 2024 03:00 - 36 minutes - 36.9 MBAs UK sickness absence rates are reported to be at a 10 year high and poor mental health being the second biggest reason for workplace absence, it's important that organisations take a more strategic approach to protecting the mental health of their employees. Simply signing up to wellbeing initiatives and appointing mental health first aiders is not the end of it - in fact the Society for Occupational Medicine says there is poor evidence to support that as a solution. So what exactly does n...
Sickness Absence - 10 year high!
January 16, 2024 03:00 - 29 minutes - 30.8 MBIn the most recent CIPD report it shares that sickness absence levels in the UK are currently at a 10 year high, and this is despite the number of organisations who now have appointed Wellbeing Managers and subscribe to various initiatives. Surely if all the employers who talk about the importance of wellbeing are doing these things, consistently and well, we should be seeing sickness absence figures drop? In this week's podcast episode I am exploring why this might indeed be the case and wh...
Communication OR Conversation - why it matters
December 19, 2023 03:00 - 20 minutes - 22.5 MBThe plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, killing 78 people. If only the flight crew had been communicating better. Flight AF90 never made it to it's destination on 13th January 1982, and the need for better equipment when dealing with disasters underground meant the rescues from the July 7th bombings in London were hampered. Communication is simply giving information, direction or guidance - one way and in organisations typically top down - but how about if we created a place where th...
No more sh#t managers with Jo Wright
November 28, 2023 03:00 - 34 minutes - 35.3 MBThis week I get to chat with the woman on a mission to rid the world of rubbish managers - and with the launch of her new book, Jo Wright is passionate about the importance of transformational coaching conversations in organisations as the way forward. Speaker, author, coach and all round fab person with a framework to offer any business who is committed to creating a culture where people and performance thrive, her skill in organisational coaching is definitely worth a look. Find out more...
Movember
November 21, 2023 03:00 - 26 minutes - 28.2 MBMovember is an annual global campaign that encourages men to grow those mustaches and participate in various activities to raise awareness about men’s health issues. This has included addressing issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health challenges, and suicide prevention and is intended as a platform for men to discuss their health openly, seek support, and take proactive steps towards a healthier and happier life. But why do we need to be encouraging this? Why are men ...
Confidence & More with Dr Jo Baldwin
November 14, 2023 03:00 - 51 minutes - 50.8 MBCertified coach Dr Jo Baldwin is on a mission to help women aged 40-plus bring oomph and sparkle back into their lives. Jo empowers women who have lost their ‘mojo’ to rediscover it and reach their full potential. Her own lived experience of both perimenopause and empty nest syndrome, combined with a 10-year career in obs and gynae medicine, inform her compassionate and holistic coaching style. In her transformative coaching programmes Jo uses The Women's PowerTypes and is best known ...
Leadership Effectiveness & Climate
November 07, 2023 03:00 - 31 minutes - 32.7 MBIt's all very well and good to encourage Really Useful Conversations about all manner of topics in the workplace but if we don't have the right culture, then people will not feel comfortable to have conversations at all. Organisational climate needs to feel safe, positive and inclusive, and as a leader, you can make a massive difference. In this solo episode I'm going to share some specific points for leaders to be aware of if they are going to create a climate where Really Useful Conversatio...
Stress Awareness Day - Jo Howarth, The Happiness Club
October 31, 2023 03:00 - 34 minutes - 35.5 MBFor Stress Awareness Day who better to talk to than the Founder of The Happiness Club, the marvellous Jo Howarth. Jo is an advanced hypnotherapist and mindfulness practitioner who helps people look after their mental and emotional health on a daily basis. She works in person with schools, organisations and individuals and offers an online resource that supports your mental wellbeing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so if you are feeling down or stressed or anxious OR you just w...
Divorce during Menopause Years with Sarah Woodward
October 24, 2023 02:00 - 34 minutes - 35.6 MBIt is said that 62% of divorces are instigated by menopausal women, and 73% of women blamed the breakdown of their relationship on their menopausal symptoms. That’s one reason why my new book “Could it be your hormones love? And other questions not to ask a menopausal woman” is an absolute essential for all MEN who need to better understand what is happening during the perimenopause years! However if you are a menopausal woman, with a divorce or separation adding to your stress levels, it ca...
The cost of NOT training managers
October 17, 2023 02:00 - 25 minutes - 27 MBAs we approach Menopause Awareness Day here in the UK, it is ironic to note THREE recent employment tribunal cases with menopause symptoms at the root. The cost of NOT training managers is obvious, and not only is the compensation and legal costs significant, but also the potential damage to your reputation as a business and an employer. In this week's episode I share details of these cases, along with a very useful and simple list of things that organisations need to be doing to protect the...
Confidence - inside & out with Sian Fisher
October 10, 2023 02:00 - 38 minutes - 38.7 MBIt can come as a surprise for many previously confident midlife, menopausal women to find themselves doubting, questioning, over-thinking and even shrinking into the shadows. Perhaps body image isn’t as good as it once was, self talk feels more negative, looking in the mirror leaves us feeling disappointed or even finding clothes no longer fit nor flatter! Siân Fisher is on a mission to help women feel truly confident about themselves inside and out. As a confidence coach and personal ...
Could it be your hormones love?
October 03, 2023 02:00 - 31 minutes - 46.6 MBThis month is both World Mental Health Day and Menopause Awareness Month so the perfect time for me to share with you a really useful conversation about a time when both of these issues collided and had me looking for a way out, permanently. I made a promise to the Universe that if I survived, I would use my experience to help others navigate the abyss that I had peered into, and so the work that I do now focuses particularly on menopause, mental health and the increased suicide risk at this...
Good Girl Deprogramming with Michelle Minnikin
September 26, 2023 02:00 - 35 minutes - 36.7 MBAre you a Good Girl? Are you happy being a Good Girl, if so? This week I am chatting with the always wonderful Michelle Minnikin who specialises in empowering her clients to embrace their power and personal agency. With over 20 years of experience as an Organisational Psychologist, her coaching approach blends positive psychology, personal development, and her own journey with ADHD, fostering self-acceptance and empowering clients to break free from societal expectations. Through her upc...
Conversational Wisdom with Sara Hope
September 19, 2023 02:00 - 36 minutes - 36.9 MBTalking today to Sara Hope, whose passion for conversations is as strong as mine, and over the years she has helped leaders to gain clarity, awareness of self, and overcome challenges. She has worked with thousands of leaders across multiple organisations to bring more candour and a human touch to their interactions, be it with clients, customers, colleagues, or their teams. She passionately believes in the importance of growing conversational muscle, as it strengthens employee engagement, re...
WSPD - Menopause and Suicide Risk
September 10, 2023 02:00 - 29 minutes - 30.6 MBEuropean research tells us that women of the perimenopausal age are as much as 7 times more likely to have thoughts of suicide than women pre or post menopause. Why is this? In this episode I explain why the fluctuation in hormones during this period of our lives can impact both our mental health and brain health, and how those two factors can lead on to an increase in diagnosis of anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders, as well as the difference between clinical depression and...
What exactly is a ‘really useful conversation’?
September 07, 2023 09:24 - 11 minutes - 11.2 MBConversations can change and even save lives. They can inspire, enthuse, educate and motivate and as we launch Season 3, I hope you’ll find a golden nugget within each episode. Whether Confident Conversations or Crucial Conversations or simply a Caring Conversation, they can make or break relationships, improve standards, increase performance and instigate change. What really useful conversations do you need to be having?
I am so very sorry!
July 26, 2023 05:00 - 5 minutes - 9.11 MBWhat is it they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Unless it is the Three Blind Mice or the Three Wise Men and I have missed a chapter, it is something to do with however carefully you plan, things can still go wrong, right? And things did, which led me to being AWOL - so no talk of conversations of any kind, useful or otherwise! Give me just 5 minutes of your time and let me explain ....
Mental Health Awareness Week - Anxiety
May 09, 2023 16:05 - 23 minutes - 25.7 MBMental Health Awareness Week this year is focussing on the theme of anxiety - especially relevant at the moment as the UK population is currently said to be experiencing widespread levels of stress, anxiety and hopelessness in response to financial concerns, according to a new survey commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation. Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 15th to 21st May and various initiatives and campaigns will help us understand that although anxiety is a very natural and nor...
Driving High Standards or bullying behaviour?
May 01, 2023 16:41 - 29 minutes - 31.4 MBIf you are a leader responsible for managing a team, and you are keen to do a good job of that, then this week's episode will be useful for you and offer a fantastic mirror moment to consider your own leadership style too. Using the recent news reports of Dominic Raab, our now ex deputy Prime Minister, we can see how one person's perception is definitely not the other person's experience. Mr Raab says he was simply encouraging high standards and being clear with his communication style, whils...
Action Changes Things
April 24, 2023 02:00 - 32 minutes - 33.8 MBThis year the Stress Management Society are asking us to step beyond simple awareness and take deliberate action to change things. They have been using #ACT to encourage people to act - reminding us that awareness only goes so far and ACTION is where it is at. But what action can you take? Why does it matter? In this week's episode we briefly explore why stress is an issue but more importantly we focus on strategies that we can choose to use to change things for us. Ranging from Steven Covey ...
Sleep and why it matters
April 18, 2023 02:00 - 38 minutes - 38.8 MBWe are often told that sleep is such an important thing, which sometimes is much easier said than done! If you are feeling stressed, anxious, even menopausal, sleep can be the much desired state that frustratingly we can't seem to achieve. What is it about sleep that makes it so important and how do we get a good quantity and quality of it so that we wake feel refreshed? This week's episode is a Really Useful Conversation with Sleep Expert Frances Taylor, who has been working in the wellbein...
Stress Awareness Month
April 08, 2023 02:00 - 12 minutes - 14.9 MBApril is Stress Awareness Month – and that’s not just younger folk climbing the career ladder, or working parents with childcare demands and lots to juggle BUT stress is also something that can affect us at all times in our working lives. I want to focus specifically on the impact that stress can have on the menopause AND vice versa and am presenting TWO free online webinars this month as my contribution for the call to take ACTION over simple awareness. April has been stress awareness mont...
Stress, suicide and the menopause
April 03, 2023 17:58 - 28 minutes - 29.6 MBFollowing the tragic story of the death by suicide of a 56 year old lady which reported how menopause is not routinely considered a contributing factor among women with low mood who need help, this week’s episode is recorded to raise awareness about such risks and encourage everyone, whether employer, HR Manager, mate, partner or spouse, male or female, to better understand the significant impact that menopause can have. As we head into Stress Awareness Month it is a good time to reflect on...
Working Mums, Work Life Balance and Burnout
March 28, 2023 03:00 - 33 minutes - 35 MBIn the month of International Women's Day and Mothering Sunday here in the UK, I read some shocking statistics suggesting that women are more at risk of burnout than men, more likely to step down, go part time or leave jobs completely, and are STILL more often the primary carers for families. So it was a real opportunity to speak to Vicky Harrison this week as to why that might be AND more importantly how to overcome it. As a busy Mum herself, a transformational coach helping driven women ac...
Putting your Managers in the Driving Seat
March 20, 2023 03:00 - 17 minutes - 19.9 MBIf you have been rewriting policies, updating procedures, rolling out communications but STILL not getting the conversations happening that NEED to be happening in your business, this week's podcast episode might help you to understand why. Many clients come to me after they have invested effort and energy into educating and teaching their management population around matters such as managing attendance, tackling poor performance, having sensitive conversations with a bereaved employee about...
Celebrating Neurodiversity
March 13, 2023 10:01 - 44 minutes - 44.6 MBNeurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, aiming to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual. To mark the Celebration Week, my conversation with James Eves, Captain of Strategy for Work Pirates, Gallup Strengths Coach and recently diagnosed himself with ADHD, expl...
International Women's Day - Embrace Equity
February 28, 2023 17:21 - 20 minutes - 22.9 MBFor International Women's Day THIS YEAR and beyond, we are being encouraged to #EmbraceEquity and in this week's podcast I take a quick look at equity versus equality and why this matters, as well as touching on some significant reasons why we need to be pushing for equity in the workplace, and some examples of issues that demonstrate the importance of this. Join me and let me know what you think too?
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY - what does a leader need to do?
February 20, 2023 16:50 - 19 minutes - 21.5 MBFor the last three decades I have had the opportunity to work across a vast range of industry sectors, from television through to the NHS, from the Fire Service to High Street Retailers and my experience over that time reinforces just how much leadership approach influences climate, some research says it is the SINGLE BIGGEST INFLUENCE – and I have to say, I am inclined to agree! So it makes sense that as we know positive team climate is the biggest driver of psychological safety, we have to ...
Psychological Safety in the workplace
February 14, 2023 11:19 - 23 minutes - 25.2 MBFollowing the report of McDonald's signing up to a commitment to deal with claims of sexual harassment in the workplace, this week we take a look at what needs to be present for people to feel safe to speak out and challenge where appropriate. This question takes us along the route of exploring leadership contributions, creating the right climate and having a strong foundation of psychological safety present. But what exactly is psychological safety? What difference does it make? How does it ...
How to be amazing with tough to hear stuff
February 06, 2023 03:00 - 25 minutes - 38.2 MBI am a BIG fan of open, honest, frank dialogue and so initiatives such as Time to Talk Day - which is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness – is something I would naturally support. If you are not familiar with Time to Talk Day, it’s described as a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. However, what if someone chooses YOU to talk to? Sometimes we struggle hearing tough stu...
Neurodiversity with Charlotte Valeur
January 30, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 42.8 MBFor the last 23 years my purpose has been to help people have conversations in the workplace that matter. Whether dealing with a performance issue or supporting a colleague in distress, conversations really do matter and I have found that people are often reluctant to have conversations where there are more “sensitive topics” and so to stay safe, shy away. One such conversation that people often find awkward, due to fear of offending or not using the “right” words, is the topic of neurodiver...
Tiny Little Things that Matter
January 23, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 29 MBOften when we want to make things better, be that our mental health, our physical health or even our financial health, we look for big shiny, sexy, hairy audacious goals to aim for. In this week's episode I am encouraging you to do yourself a favour and concentrate on the tiny little things, done consistently and well, that will make a longer lasting difference. Often when I run workshops on mental health and talk about, for example, the importance of getting rest and quality sleep, people wa...
Blue Monday Conversation with David Muir
January 16, 2023 09:44 - 41 minutes - 41.8 MBTRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion around the subject of suicide and suicidal thoughts, please skip this episode if this topic is likely to cause uncomfortable emotions for you. Please DO talk to a professional if suicide is a topic currently on your mind - there is always someone prepared to listen. Samaritans provide an excellent listening service 24/7 and you can contact them on 116 123, in confidence. This week's episode is an in-depth conversation with David Muir who t...
Words have the power to harm or to heal
January 09, 2023 16:03 - 26 minutes - 27.8 MBIn this week's Really Useful Conversations podcast, my own experiences over the Christmas break remind me of a very important part of conversations - the language that we choose and use and the way in which we deliver them. I often joke with people about "not what you do but the way that you do it" when it comes to excellent communication, but this is a really poignant reminder of the power of language. Often we may have conversations or interactions that we move on from, gone from our mind, ...
'Tis the season to be jolly - oh no it's not!
December 20, 2022 17:59 - 16 minutes - 19.4 MBIt's the most wonderful time of the year, according to the song that keeps getting played - but actually what if, for you, it really is not? Lots of people are telling me that the Christmas spirit has not caught up with them yet and others are sharing stories of challenging situations that mean this really is NOT the most wonderful time at all. Following a tough year with a cost of living crisis, fuel and energy costs, people striking and struggling to feed their families, this episode is a...
Confident Conversations - handling potentially difficult workplace conversations
December 12, 2022 10:18 - 20 minutes - 22.8 MBIn this episode we recognise the importance of having conversations that matter, whether with colleagues, clients, suppliers or the boss. So often we are our own worst enemy and fail to speak up and not only does this impact on our career but also our well-being and mental health. Whether exploring perception v reality, transactional analysis or the wonderful Bananarama - there’s an offer here for everyone!
Flexible working for career mums - why so hard?
December 06, 2022 03:00 - 42 minutes - 42.6 MBJoin me for a Really Useful Conversation this week with Anna Meller, who, following an early corporate career in HR Anna has spent the past 25 years working as a consultant, researcher and writer. Her specialist focus is on flexible, remote and new ways of working and the future of work. Anna works with employers to create new working cultures and practices that support wellbeing, inclusion and women's progression into senior roles. She is also the UK's leading work-life balance expert and a ...
When the penny finally drops!
November 25, 2022 17:43 - 19 minutes - 21.5 MBI make no secret of my journey to and from the bottom of the narrow, dark tunnel and have never hidden the work I tried to do around that time to keep myself safe, or forgotten the people that kept me alive - but if I had known then what I know NOW, I reckon my life would have been sooooo much better and easier! I might not even have got to the desperate point of intending to end my life and maybe even physically AND financially would be in a much better place! Hindsight is a wonderful thing ...
Menopause and Mental Health
October 31, 2022 17:08 - 25 minutes - 26.9 MBMenopause isn’t just hot flushes and night sweats - in fact the majority of women report that the cognitive, emotional and psychological symptoms are often far more debilitating. Anxiety, depression, lingering sadness and even an increased risk of suicidal thoughts. This is a Really Useful Conversation we need to be having and information that needs to be better known and understood. If you’re a Well-being Champion or First Aider for Mental Health, or an MHFA trained person, this is an epis...
Companies Who Care
October 25, 2022 02:00 - 16 minutes - 19.1 MBIn a world where everything moves at pace and where twists and turns are around each corner, organisations who take care of their people and truly value and invest in wellbeing will triumph in this competitive labour market. Whether they are upskilling their managers to have conversations that matter about subjects such as mental health, wellbeing, menopause or investing in appointed persons as Wellbeing Champions or First Aiders for Mental Health, it is easy to understand why such organisati...
Menopause, marathons & mountains - life after 50
October 17, 2022 02:00 - 31 minutes - 32.5 MBPam Brown works in the very male dominated financial services industry and when menopausal symptoms began she started avoiding meetings, questioning her confidence, declining invitations and felt like sitting in the corner with a bucket on her head, literally crying over spilt milk. She’s since been nominated for Women’s Industry Recognition Awards, climbed Ben Nevis and is in training for a half marathon! Tune in to listen to our very casual but Really Useful Conversation as we do our bit to...
October is Awareness Month!
October 05, 2022 22:21 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBThis month is a busy month for me and my business. World Mental Health Day and Menopause Awareness Month are two initiatives designed to keep the conversations going about these two very important topics. The theme for WMHD is around mental health and wellbeing for all as a GLOBAL priority - but before we go global, let's check out our own back yard first and as for the menopause, we need to push past the limited stereotypical view of hot flushes and night sweats and understand more about the...
Nobody is immune - the increase in young female suicide
September 22, 2022 21:52 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBSo often people are familiar with the issue of the number of men who take their own lives - particularly middle aged men and the fact that 75% of deaths by suicide in the UK are male. However, not everyone is as aware of the significant increase over recent years in young female suicide. During a recent workshop I ran, a lot of people were curious as to what reason there could be for this and we chatted about various potential contributing factors. The question stuck in my head though and I s...
World Suicide Prevention Day 2022 - why would someone choose suicide?
September 09, 2022 11:43 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBOne of the common myths around the sensitive subject of suicide is that people who attempt suicide or die by suicide are all mentally ill. Now mental illness can indeed play a part, it can be a risk factor, but not everyone who is mentally ill will die by suicide, just as not everyone who dies by suicide is mentally ill! There are a whole host of factors which often create a complex combination of issues that bring a person to that state of feeling hopeless and desperate about life - join me ...
Welcome to Season 2
September 03, 2022 23:29 - 2 minutes - 2.4 MBI never intended to be away from podcast land for so long but projects, work, life got in the way - but I am delighted to be back, bringing more opportunities for people to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and have conversations that matter. I believe there are Seven Significant Conversations that all managers, leaders and business owners need to be able to have yet we sometimes shy away from them, avoid difficult or challenging conversations, sweep sensitive subjects under the carpet -...