Dot to Dot

Nudges to make better decisions but who for - whether we are manipulating people to do things that aren’t good for them or that are, there are moral implications behind nudges and behavioural norms. We also discuss interesting things like recycling being more of a problem because people recycle too much of the wrong thing and what to do about it, how social media has influenced movements like me too and making people feel like they’re living as if they were a brand. Erez has so many interesting things to share. If you’re interested in practical applications and staying up to date with the ACT’s activities follow on Facebook and Twitter. 

Or can subscribe to their newsletter on the role of hidden incentives in shaping our sense of rights, aesthetics, altruism, and ethics.

And if you’re interested in collaborating with ACT? Please email them describing yourself, your organization, and the problem you are trying to solve. 

If you are curious about who you are, your brain and the influences in your life then please dip into my most recent book Mirror Thinking – How Role Models Make Us Human. 

https://bit.ly/MirrorUSACan

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

Follow on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

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For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

Burnout has three key dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism and a decline in professional efficacy – which in English means having reduced productivity. 

Exhaustion – worn out, lost energy, depleted, debilitated and fatigued.

Cynicism – negative attitude towards others, becoming irritable and withdrawn.

Reduced productivity – low morale, decreased capability and an inability to cope. 

“Basically, workers who are experiencing burnout are overwhelmed, unable to cope, and unmotivated, and they display negative attitudes and poor performance.” 

What should you do about it? One paper written specifically for those at the brunt of burnout (i.e. healthcare workers) offers some useful quick tools, aka “micro-practices.” 

Taking a moment to name your emotions (especially challenging emotions). For example, when I notice that I am feeling upset, is it anger? Concern? Exhaustion? This aids self- awareness and self-management. 

This “name it to tame it” practice as Dr Dan Siegel calls it is backed by fMRI research. Simply the process of naming shifts brain activity from the amygdala (the emotional centre of the brain) to the more advanced thinking area of the brain. This means that it can help bring a sense of calm. For a list of words to use in this practice try the following link: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/list-of-emotions

Another evidence-based technique is the simple act of writing down three things that you’re grateful for down several times a week. 

If you work in a group setting then showing gratitude in ways such as starting meetings by giving kudos for recent efforts, can also help stimulate positive emotions and positive relationships. 

Hand hygiene—now a constant routine — is an opportunity for self- awareness and self-management. A chance to focus on your breath, centre your mind and body, and visualize the kind of presence, empathy, and calmness one would like to bring to the next person you interact with. It’s also an opportunity to self-connect—Am I well hydrated? Hungry? Carrying an unreasonable emotional vestige from the last news update? 

Opportunities to engage in this type of mindfulness micro-practice are available in a myriad of other situations such as waiting at a red light, boiling the kettle or brushing your teeth. 

Making use of social support found within both the workplace and home (family, friends, neighbours) is also a very effective and incredibly important practice. 

For longer term solutions other approaches include eating more nutritious food, engaging in regular exercise building your self-awareness and understanding, time management, cognitive restructuring, relaxation strategies – such as meditation, biofeedback, naps and a longer night’s sleep and changes in work patterns - working less, taking more breaks, avoiding overtime work, and taking more time off or more holiday. 

For more tips and tools sign up to my newsletter at www.fionamurden.com 

Follow us/ask us any questions on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

Or for Lou

Instagram: www.instagram.com/loupylou78

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisejones78

References: 

Fessell, D., & Cherniss, C. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and beyond: micropractices for burnout prevention and emotional wellness.Journal of the American College of Radiology,17(6), 746-748.

Maslach, C. (2017). Finding solutions to the problem of burnout. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 69(2), 143.

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

This episode is packed full of quotes that I love from Shelley such as “It’s not going to fix itself, we have to actively close one door and open another. If we keep talking about things and admiring the problems we will continuously widen the gaps.”

We discuss the zig zag path that got Shelley to where she is today. The things that made her who she is, her parents who she describes as incredible role models. From a father, the adventurer who encouraged Shelley and her sisters to live in the moment and experience everyday with wonder and curiosity. To a mother who taught all of the girls to believe in themselves and to have confidence. Shelley describes her upbringing as being ‘remarkable’ and all about ‘values’. The result of which being she lives her life with a no regret policy to life – no should of, would of, could of. Believing in saying yes or no to things but never saying you don’t care about something. “Do everything you do with purpose and passion.” 

Zalis is an admired speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau. She is a skilled moderator who has interviewed influencers such as Katie Couric, Halle Berry, Sheryl Sandberg, Gabrielle Union, and Arianna Huffington on the subject of equality and leadership. Zalis authors a Forbes column that mentors women in the “messy middle” and helps them reach the next level in their careers. She is co-founder of #SeeHer, a movement led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase the percentage of accurate portrayals of women and girls in advertising and media, and sits on the board of directors for MAKERS and ColorComm.

For more about the Female Quotient and the amazing work they do go to:

https://www.thefemalequotient.com

If you are curious about who you are, your brain and the influences in your life then please dip into my most recent book Mirror Thinking – How Role Models Make Us Human. 

https://bit.ly/MirrorUSACan

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

Or my award winning first book Defining You – How to Profile Yourself and Unlock Your Full Potential 

https://amzn.to/2lFMwOr

http://bit.ly/DefiningYou

Follow on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

“Curiosity is the essence of human existence. “Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?” I don’t know. I don’t have any answers to those ques- tions. I don’t know what’s over there and around that corner. But I want to find out.” 

Eugene Cernan – American astronaut 

If you’re curious about being curious it’s something I talk about in my first book Defining You: 

http://bit.ly/DefiningYou

https://amzn.to/2lFMwOr

If you are curious about who you are, your brain and the influences in your life then please dip into my more recent book  Mirror Thinking – How Role Models Make Us Human. 

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

https://bit.ly/MirrorUSACan

https://bit.ly/2ylrc7H

Follow us/ask us any questions on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

Or for Lou

Instagram: www.instagram.com/loupylou78

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisejones78

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

Giles’s story is full of twists and turns from playing in a band who toured the country and played at Glastonbury to working in a toy shop. We discuss the life of a creative looking at how the magical children’s books that he’s won so many awards for came into being through to hosting two brilliant podcasts: the Blank podcast with the fab Jim Daly and A Little Bit of Positive with the wonderful Julia Bradbury. 

Giles lives in Seaford with his wife, Michelle, and their two sons, Elijah and Sonny. His books include of The Fearsome Beastie, winner of The People's Book Prize 2012, Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award 2013, Bizziebaby Gold Award and The US Forward National Literary Award. He has written several picture books and a collection of nonsense poetry. I urge you to read his latest book which is for adults, One Hundred and Fifty Two Days which is incredibly moving, readable and written as free verse. I met Giles on twitter and he has transformed my experience of it from something I hated to a platform I now actually enjoy. His interactions are kind and positive, drawing an audience of people who are grateful and show their best side. 

You can find One Hundred and Fifty Two Days at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hundred-Fifty-Two-Days-Giles-Paley-Phillips/dp/1783527706

The Blank podcast featuring people such as Dawn French, Kelly Holmes, Stephen Mangen & David Baddiel, is at 

https://play.acast.com/s/theblankpodcast

And a Little Bit of Positive at

https://play.acast.com/s/a-little-bit-of-positive

You can follow Giles at:

Twitter https://twitter.com/eliistender10

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eliistender10/

For me and my books:

Mirror Thinking - How Role Models Make Us Human

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

Defining You - How to Profile Yourself and Unlock Your Potential 

http://bit.ly/DefiningYou

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

We discuss why it’s not a ‘thing’ in the sporting profession, who suffers from it in the work environment, why and the best ways of dealing with it. The key take aways are that:

-  it’s about understanding how our achievements fit into our personal narrative

- we need to make sure that we’re talking about the worries and fears associated with imposter syndrome with someone who will understand such as a  mentor, family member or friend

- it's important to find ways in which to validate our own self-worth

- And then Lou adds her own wisdom about having ‘good sex’ too.

For more about understanding your personal narrative please take a look at my first book Defining You.

http://bit.ly/DefiningYou

https://amzn.to/2lFMwOr

If you want to know more about how we are influenced by mentors and how to find role-models and mentors who can help us then my latest book is  Mirror Thinking – How Role Models Make Us Human.

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

https://bit.ly/MirrorUSACan

https://bit.ly/2ylrc7H

Follow us/ask us any questions on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

Or for Lou

Instagram: www.instagram.com/loupylou78

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisejones78

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

In this discussion we cover a lot of ground from what makes a good leader in a crisis through to finding your soulmate. The difficulty of leading a team when you don’t speak the same language as them (in Prague), how certain things inevitably get ‘lost in translation’ and how to deal with that when you’re running a business. We also explore ‘What do those lost nuances in behaviour mean when it comes to conducting business over zoom in lockdown?’ 

We consider the complexity of running a business as a joint venture in China (Tesco) and the huge cultural differences in the working environment between the USA and the UK despite the shared language. 

Jon challenges the construct that ‘boys know all the answers and have to be macho’ as a leader, applauding Jacinda Ardern’s approach to leadership. We discuss how difficult it is to lead in times of uncertainty and how much more difficult that is for someone who is wholly dependent on the data for making decisions (btw: Jon is not one of these). 

The learnings taken from watching the board at Tesco’s operating and the learnings taken from being a 20 something year old who, in Jon’s own words was ‘promoted into a role that was too big.’ Something that he reflects on and still takes learning from to this day. 

You can find Fiona on the following: 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

Fiona’s latest book (out July 7th UK, 15th Sept rest of world) Mirror Thinking How Role Models Make Us Human:

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

https://amzn.to/2yKpf4j

https://bit.ly/2ylrc7H

And her first book Defining You

UK: https://amzn.to/30wiMEy

USA: http://bit.ly/DefiningYouPaperbackUSA

Australia: http://bit.ly/DefiningYouAus

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

What can we do as adults in managing our own emotions to support them in managing their emotions? How can we check in with children in a way that elicits a real understanding of what’s going on for them? Checking in on teachers and making sure they’re OK? And understanding ourselves so that we’re not passing our own stress and anxieties onto the people we love. Finally of course remembering that we’re not perfect, we’re all human and simply doing the best that we can. Hopefully though this will serve as a reminder of how. 

If you want to know more about how we are influenced by our parents and teachers and how we influence and shape others please take a look at my book. Mirror Thinking

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

https://amzn.to/2yKpf4j

https://bit.ly/2ylrc7H

Follow us / ask us any questions on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

Or for Lou

Instagram: www.instagram.com/loupylou78

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisejones78

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

We discuss the twists and turns that took Joy Foster to the place she is today. An award-winning serial social entrepreneur whose work helping women upskill with modern technology, has seen her recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ by WeAreTheCity (one of the largest women’s networks in the whole of the UK). Joy has also been and recognised by Computer Weekly and Business Insider as one of the most influential people shaping British technology in 2019 and 2020. In 2018, she was named as one of the 100 Faces of the Vibrant Economy by Grant Thornton and won the Institute of Directors Startup Director of the Year for London and the South. 

Joy also hosts the Sparkle and Thrive podcast which was launched in 2019 as part of TechPixies. The podcast can be found on both apple podcasts and spotify. On 27 April 2020, the podcast hit #1 on the UK podcast charts.

We mention Fiona’s book Mirror Thinking in the podcast which is available at the links below in the UK, USA and rest of the world 15th Sept:

https://bit.ly/MirrThink

https://amzn.to/2yKpf4j

https://bit.ly/2ylrc7H

You can find Joy at:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/techpixiejoy/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/techpixiejoy/

Tech Pixies at:

https://techpixies.com/

Instagram @TechPixies

And Fiona Murden at: 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com 

There's a section on self-worth, self-esteem and confidence in my first book Defining You. 

http://bit.ly/DefiningYou

https://amzn.to/2lFMwOr

Ask us any questions on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiona_murden

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fionamurden

Facebook: https://facebook.com/fionamurden

Or for Lou

Instagram: www.instagram.com/loupylou78

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louisejones78

For more on Fiona visit www.fionamurden.com