'The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said!' (Peter Drucker) A podcast where I talk to three communications experts - Akhil Vyas (Social Media professional), Henry Badman (Environmental scientist) and Miles Evans (Head of public affairs). A delightfully provocative and easy-going discussion where we talk about things ranging from seahorses and earbuds to Twitter and listening to understand. Communication is something that comes naturally to the human race as we are master storytellers, but we seem to often forget that in the business/corporate world. There are some fab tips and tricks and also an open discussion about their own personal experience in this episode. I hope you enjoy this - these 3 Amigos inspired me to start Ideasparks as a vidcast.
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I had a great time discussing flexible, hybrid working which has become a norm, thanks to the Covid pandemic, with Jamie Dru, Manick Pooradam and Rob Garlick, who bring their own unique and varied perspectives to this topic. Their experience and expertise ranges from working in remote offices around the world, to writing a Master's dissertation on the subject and to leading a large company through talent acquisition in this challenging period. There are so many nuances to hybrid working - and the world is still learning and adapting. The secret of course, is to be open and flexible so we adapt to the change and see opportunities in the challenges. I really enjoyed talking to them, I hope you enjoy this episode! Climate change is something that each one of us has an opinion on. And this opinion is often tinged with emotion - it could be anger, sadness, fear, overwhelm or even forced apathy. Coaching is a great way to explore how you can make sense of what is going on in the world today and your role in the system. Another way to explore this is through art. I partnered with Namita Singh to create a Jugalbandi - a dance performance that is a mix of two Indian classical dance forms - to tell a story and raise awareness about the environment. We choreographed it remotely, working across continents. This is the first time we have done something like this - and we had a great time doing it. I personally constructed and edited the video itself. I have never edited or pulled together something like this before - and found the technical elements of the editing more challenging than the choreography or the storytelling. Sharing this in the hope that it sparks some ideas, actions or thoughts across the system. We would be grateful for any feedback or suggestions. Thank you. “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde. This quote aptly summarises what this Ideaspark is all about. But it's also something very special to me personally. Abby, Lisa and Sian are leaders who have personally inspired me and been my role-models throughout my career and it's been a privilege to share screen time with them, talking about how we can bring our authentic selves to work. Definitely worth a watch if you're looking for inspiration. 'Procrastination is like a credit card. It's a lot of fun until you get the bill!' Christopher Parker (English Actor) Creativity is something we all crave for, something that satisfies and brings meaning to life, and contributes to performance and well-being. Yet, it can be elusive and difficult for people to get in the zone. And one of the various barriers could be procrastination. I talk to three coaches who talk about managing creativity and procrastination in different ways. Judit Schneider talks about it from a neuroscience perspective, Louise van Haarst from personal experience and coaching a number of clients and Robbie Swale shares his 12-minute methodology. An engaging and energising discussion on how we could manage ourselves to be more creative and overcome our tendency to procrastinate. "Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” — Carl G. Jung Mental well-being is such a critical part of our lives, yet for many years, people have feared talking about it. Mental fitness is as crucial as physical fitness and in this Ideaspark panel interview, I talk to three people about the subject. Ermine Benjamin, Oli Barnett and Perry Burton share their insight and ideas about this important topic. My biggest takeaways from this session: 1) We need to work at getting mentally fit, just as we would physically. 2) We need a menu of items to choose from to promote mental well-being. What works for one person may not work for all 3) What gets measured gets improved! The pandemic has encouraged organisations who did not measure well-being to do so and this awareness is the first step to improving things. I'd love to know what you take away from it, please do share in comments. 'Don't be the reason you don't succeed!' (Germany Kent) At times, we can get in our own way - procrastinating, being highly self-critical and being a perfectionist are just some ways we can do this. But there are ways out of this cycle. At times they may seem very simple - but simple doesn't mean it's easy. Watch this podcast for an insightful discussion about the 12-minute method with Robbie Swale, Leadership Coach, author and podcaster. I hope you get some exciting sparks of ideas when you watch this. Do share your thoughts! 'There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive.' (Jack London) The concept of the flow state is one that has always fascinated me, ever since I realised I have experienced it, especially whilst dancing. This is an area of significant interest for me and I plan to conduct further research into it as part of my Masters degree. This short podcast is a creative introduction to flow using some stories from the Mahabharata about Arjuna, the great archer. ![]()
'Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single-most important aspect of mental health!' (Bessel A van der Kolk) Psychological safety is an often-used term, whether it pertains to work or educational institutions. In this Ideaspark, I explore what it means with three senior business leaders and coaches - Gary Keogh, Sarah Lawrence and Taff Gidi. They de-mystify the phrase and make it come to life with interesting examples. "We do not inherit this earth from our ancestors! We borrow it from our children" (Ancient Proverb) Some of you may have heard this quote and it may resonate with you. It is one that profoundly impacted me along with another question that I was asked by Prof. Peter Hawkins in my MSc. class - "What can I uniquely do that the world of tomorrow needs?". Our contribution is so much more than what we do for ourselves and our immediate circle. We are part of the wider system and good or bad, we contribute to it. We have a choice, to live more mindfully and more aligned with nature, or not! I had the joy of discussing climate and our impact on it and what we can do as business leaders or as coaches with three committed members of the Climate Coaching Alliance - Camilla Degerth, Stuart Pickles and Rashmi Shetty. This is our Ideaspark discussion on Climate Consciousness. |