Alice Driscoll’s Post

I was pleased to return for a second, bespoke session with the EMEA  legal team at AkzoNobel. This training was developed in close consultation with the client, tailoring the content to their specific needs and preferences. The first session focused on the impact of breathing techniques on stress management and well-being. Simple adjustments in how we breathe can significantly enhance our daily experience. For the second session, delivered in a hybrid format with most participants online, we explored strategies for fostering a positive mindset and countering negativity bias. The team engaged with practical tools such as: Reducing exposure to negative influences, both in media and personal interactions Strengthening social connections with positive, supportive individuals Practicing gratitude by recognizing and appreciating the good in life Resilience training is increasingly essential in today’s corporate culture, as stress-related absenteeism continues to rise. My framework addresses four core dimensions: physiological regulation, mindset shifts, self-kindness, and recovery from setbacks. As a trainer, I am always delighted to be invited to provide follow-up sessions and work with teams in an evolving capacity. If you're seeking a customized approach to enhancing resilience within your team, I’d be happy to discuss how my programs can support your goals.

The Importance of Flexibility Within Your Process In our journey through life, whether in business, personal development, or training a dog, we often create detailed plans to achieve our goals. These plans, while essential, can sometimes become too rigid, hindering our progress rather than helping it. This lesson was vividly illustrated to me during the advanced training of my bird dog, Rivers. The first real advanced training I did with Rivers was a trained retrieve. This involves retrieving an object on command, holding it, and returning it to my hand. Having never done this before, I knew I needed a structured plan. After extensive research, I found an 8-week video course complete with direct communication with the instructor and weekly video chats with other participants. By the end of the course, Rivers and I had successfully mastered the retrieve. Then, about a month after the course, Rivers became uninterested. His body language clearly indicated that he was no longer enjoying the training. He was a little over a year old, and I didn’t want to force him, so we shifted our focus to swimming and conditioning, during which he happily retrieved tennis balls and toys. Throughout the hunting season, he was fantastic at working fields and retrieving downed birds, affirming that our training had indeed taken hold. Sharing this story with a mentor, I expressed my confusion about Rivers' sudden disinterest in retrieving. My mentor pointed out that Rivers was simply bored. I had stuck too rigidly to the same process every day, without variation. This was a critical lesson: the need to be flexible within your process. It's essential to sometimes step out of the black and white and venture into the gray area to advance. Key Takeaways: 🔸 Adaptability: Flexibility means adjusting your approach when things aren't working. 🔸 Engagement: Keep activities varied to maintain interest and enthusiasm. 🔸 Success through Variation: Small changes can lead to big progress. 🔸 Recognize Signals: Pay attention to signs of boredom or disinterest. 🔸 Embrace the Gray: Be willing to explore and experiment outside of rigid plans. Being flexible doesn't mean abandoning your plan. It means being adaptable, recognizing when things aren't working, and making necessary adjustments. This flexibility can lead to greater engagement, enjoyment, and success, whether you're training a dog or navigating the complexities of business. Embrace the gray areas, be willing to adjust your approach, and you'll find progress in places you least expect. #Flexibility #ProcessImprovement #DogTraining #Adaptability #LifeLessons #LessonsFromMyBirdDog

ALLOW SPACE FOR STRUGGLE Allow space for struggle when team colleagues are finding things difficult. This is tough because our first reaction as human beings is to jump in and save the situation or the person from further difficulty. But in a team focussed on learning its important that your colleagues learn how to cope with the situation on their own. Let's be clear I'm not say let them drown when that could be a difficult thing for the whole team. But what I am saying is not to immediately jump in and want to solve problems for colleagues. A desire to jump in can often be motivated by your own ego looking for a chance to look smart. But when you hold back and allow the other person to make their mistakes you are enabling learning to take place, which will eventually enhance the competence of the whole team. So next time you see your colleague struggling here are my suggestions.  1.        don't immediately jump in.  2.        keep a watching eye but at a distance.  3.        offer suggestions that help your colleague to grow and to learn on their own  4.        only if the person is really struggling it's OK to jump in. But otherwise allow space for struggle – your colleague will thank you. ___________________________________ Dr Philip Merry conducts Team Psychological Safety Certified practitioner Workshops - https://lnkd.in/gHS6nVjb

In my journey over many years, workplace safety has been a passion of mine. Although l had industry experience, to get a qualification has meant so much. it took me over a year of study, project work, assignments and assessments! A big shout out to those who have supported me Damian Paul CTA Create Train Achieve Chloe Callaghan The Management Edge #Learning #WorkplaceSafety #WellBeing #Coaching #Training #Certification #BelieveInYourself

"Peer pressure" is often associated with youthful indiscretions. Yet, it manifests powerfully in adult life, influencing decisions in settings as casual as social gatherings and as critical as the workplace. In a revealing video, a hesitant man succumbs to his friends' encouragement to leap across a stream. He proceeds despite noticing that his intended landing spot—a rock—is wet and steeply angled. Predictably, his foot slips, and he ends up drenched and embarrassed, sprawled across the stream. Why did he proceed despite the evident risk? The answer lies in the weight of peer pressure; the desire to conform or impress often clouds our judgment, leading to decisions that put us at risk. This scenario extends beyond personal incidents and into our professional lives. How usually do employees perform unsafe tasks or cut corners due to the coaxing or taunting of colleagues, placing themselves in harm’s way because "everyone is doing it"? At Safetyman Academy, we understand the powerful influence of peer dynamics. That's why we offer courses that empower individuals to resist peer pressure and prioritize safety. Our online course on job hazard analysis, priced at just £15, is specifically designed to enhance daily mental risk assessments and promote safety consciousness. It equips individuals with the ability to make informed decisions, regardless of external pressures, fostering a sense of control and capability. With over 160 CPD-certified courses available in 60 languages, Safetyman Academy is committed to creating a safer global workplace. We aim to equip workers worldwide with the necessary skills to protect themselves and their colleagues, fostering an environment where mutual care and responsibility are paramount. By joining us, you become part of this important mission, contributing to a safer world. This episode is a stark reminder of the value of comprehensive safety training. It’s about adhering to safety protocols and cultivating a workplace culture where the well-being of every team member is a collective priority. Explore how Safetyman Academy can help elevate safety standards within your organisation. Our tailored solutions ensure that every team member can navigate their duties safely and confidently. Discover more about our courses and join us in our commitment to safety at www.safetyman.academy. Let's work together to ensure that safety, not peer pressure, guides our actions. Follow our journey and stay updated with new insights: #safetymanacademy #SafetyFirst #AdaptableLearning #GenerationalLearning #EmbracingChange #ModernEducation #SafetyTraining #FutureOfLearning #SafetymanAcademy #onlinetraining #onlinetrainer

"Peer pressure" is often associated with youthful indiscretions. Yet, it manifests powerfully in adult life, influencing decisions in settings as casual as social gatherings and as critical as the workplace. In a revealing video, a hesitant man succumbs to his friends' encouragement to leap across a stream. He proceeds despite noticing that his intended landing spot—a rock—is wet and steeply angled. Predictably, his foot slips, and he ends up drenched and embarrassed, sprawled across the stream. Why did he proceed despite the evident risk? The answer lies in the weight of peer pressure; the desire to conform or impress often clouds our judgment, leading to decisions that put us at risk. This scenario extends beyond personal incidents and into our professional lives. How usually do employees perform unsafe tasks or cut corners due to the coaxing or taunting of colleagues, placing themselves in harm’s way because "everyone is doing it"? At Safetyman Academy, we understand the powerful influence of peer dynamics. That's why we offer courses that empower individuals to resist peer pressure and prioritize safety. Our online course on job hazard analysis, priced at just £15, is specifically designed to enhance daily mental risk assessments and promote safety consciousness. It equips individuals with the ability to make informed decisions, regardless of external pressures, fostering a sense of control and capability. With over 160 CPD-certified courses available in 60 languages, Safetyman Academy is committed to creating a safer global workplace. We aim to equip workers worldwide with the necessary skills to protect themselves and their colleagues, fostering an environment where mutual care and responsibility are paramount. By joining us, you become part of this important mission, contributing to a safer world. This episode is a stark reminder of the value of comprehensive safety training. It’s about adhering to safety protocols and cultivating a workplace culture where the well-being of every team member is a collective priority. Explore how Safetyman Academy can help elevate safety standards within your organisation. Our tailored solutions ensure that every team member can navigate their duties safely and confidently. Discover more about our courses and join us in our commitment to safety at www.safetyman.academy. Let's work together to ensure that safety, not peer pressure, guides our actions. Follow our journey and stay updated with new insights: #safetymanacademy #SafetyFirst #AdaptableLearning #GenerationalLearning #EmbracingChange #ModernEducation #SafetyTraining #FutureOfLearning #SafetymanAcademy #onlinetraining #onlinetrainer

It was so inspiring to deliver a session on psychological safety and team effectiveness in a Bookboon Learning virtual class last week! It's always such a joy to see how people in different organizations and at different levels of seniority engage in our chat conversations, participate in exercises and ask beautiful questions that benefit us all - sharing 2 of them below! The main topics we covered were: 🔍 Understanding what psychological safety is and what it isn't: - it IS the bedrock of a thriving team, where every member feels empowered to voice their ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes without fear of being judged, ridiculed or ignored. - it is NOT continuous whining, ignoring issues, tensions or mistakes! 🤝 Recognizing Psychological Safety - that's where we did a few exercises on 'how do we know if our team has psychological safety?' that they can use with their own teams. - we looked for trust, open feedback, honesty, transparency, and respect and gauged comfort levels in taking risks, sharing mistakes, expressing opinions, and seeking help. 🛠️ Building Psychological Safety - we discussed steps that help cultivate it, such as prioritizing learning (over 'knowing'), staying curious, asking meaningful questions, and embracing honest feedback. - I shared 2 exercises that Tracy Wilk and I used in some of our team coaching programs (Creating a Team Alliance, and the 'In/Out or Safe/Unsafe' practices exercise). This last part was where one of the class participants shared in the chat: 'this is fascinating!'. 😁 And now for the 2 brilliant questions I received - I thought they'd inspire you as well: Q1: Can an individual team be psychologically safe if the wider organization isn't really psychologically safe? My answer: Yes, under certain circumstances, an individual team can feel psychologically safe even if the wider organization isn't. They can feel that they have a high level of psychological safety. They're working well together, they're transparent. They're communicating, they're bringing up mistakes all of that. Because yes, it is also possible that one individual team might have a different kind of culture - its own team culture, that's a little bit different than the wider organization culture. However, the team will need to consider how long this can be sustained and how much the wider organization's level of psychological safety is impacting them and their work. Q2: Is healthy psychological safety under threat from external factors outside of the company or the organization such as the economy or global environmental affairs? My answer: Psychological safety doesn't mean that people can't or won't be worried about things. A psychologically safe environment is what allows us to voice our concerns and look at (instead of ignoring!) the effects of external factors. What are some of your questions & thoughts on psychological safety? #allpersonal #psychologicalsafety #teamwork #innovation #leadership

In our resilience workshops we use scientific tools to demonstrate the benefits of breathing and mindset techniques on your body. This is one example of Richard. As the audience was watching with wide eyes... Richard started off at (1) - talking about a project that was worrying him. The low element of the graph shows an incoherent heart beat. Incoherent heart beats drain the mind and body of vital energy. Incoherent heart beats are exhausting... Richard and the group then practiced a breathing and mindset technique. This dramatically increased his heart coherence (2). A coherent heart beat fills the body with energy and good hormones. Coherent heart beats are replenishing... At the end of the session Richard quickly got distracted and reverted back to his incoherent ways (3). The audience, even more wide eyed, realised the importance of breath and mindset in their daily lives (as did Richard!.)   Imagine if you could combine coherent breathing and solving a work problem… Answers come very quickly and clearly when you are coherent. If you would like your team to gain from an experience like this, DM me for a chat on the introductory 2hr workplace resilience training session. 

The past few months has been very challenging for me. This New Occupational Qualification has had its toll on us all in this industry. There is one human being at work who has helped me to keep going. My manager, in fact, I choose to call him my leader. He is a father first to us all, he treats us with kindness, he understands that we've got families. He understands the importance of work-life balance. He doesn't expect us to work like robots, unlike some people I will not mention. He has mentioned to me to never tag him on LinkedIn, however, I will write his full name. It is good to acknowledge people. This writing is all about him and leaders out there with the same qualities. Working for Jacobus Nicolaas Swanepoel of Actom Training Centre: He makes me feel valued and understood, this boosts my morale and overall happiness at work. A good working culture I might say. He has an open door policy which fosters a culture of transparency, making it easier for me to share ideas, feedback and any concerns I may have. During our monthly meetings, he gives credit to the person who came up with the idea. He never takes credit for what is not his. He's always available to support me whenever I seem to struggle. Always willing to help me navigate obstacles without feeling overwhelmed or feeling like an idiot. He has the ability to alleviate my work load by creating a safe space for discussing difficulties. I have never felt intimidated by him when I approach him with anything. We have come to a point where he knows when there's something wrong, even when I don't say anything. He says he can read my face. Overall, he has created a healthier, more productive work environment for me. Listen, it's not about the company, but those people that make it worthwhile for all of us to keep on waking up every work day and look forward to go to work with a smile. One more important thing, can the person or people that taught him the word "mampara" come back and rectify themselves 😂 because wow 🙆♂️

Difficult colleagues at work: A life coach can provide valuable support in managing difficult colleagues at work by offering personalized strategies and guidance to improve workplace relationships and communication. Through a tailored approach, a life coach helps identify the root causes of conflicts or challenges with colleagues, whether they stem from differing personalities, communication styles, or work expectations. One of the key ways a life coach assists is by fostering self-awareness. They help clients understand their own reactions, triggers, and behaviors, empowering them to respond more thoughtfully in challenging situations. By developing emotional intelligence, individuals can better navigate workplace dynamics, maintain professionalism, and build healthier interactions. Life coaches also teach practical techniques for conflict resolution and effective communication. This includes setting boundaries, expressing concerns constructively, and actively listening to understand the perspective of difficult colleagues. These tools can transform confrontational encounters into productive dialogues. Moreover, a life coach can guide clients in reframing their mindset, encouraging them to focus on what they can control rather than getting overwhelmed by others’ behavior. By building resilience and confidence, clients can reduce workplace stress and maintain their focus on goals, fostering a more positive and collaborative environment despite challenges with colleagues.