Life Beyond The Numbers

"Don't be funny, be human -  you don't have to force it. Have a sense of humour. Have the ability to look at situations and see the humour that you do when you're outside of work. How often do you go home from work and you're sitting at the dinner table saying to your partner, or your family, you just wouldn't even believe what happened today..." Beth Sherman

Beth Sherman and I place a lens on the transformative power of humour in our work-lives. Beth shares insights from her career as a comedy writer and stand-up comedian, illustrating how humour can be a powerful tool for leaders to build trust, reduce tension and foster team dynamics. We touch on practical applications such as using humour to make interactions more human, make connections in diverse environments and improve workplace resilience. She emphasises the importance of self-awareness and authenticity in using humour effectively. Beth believes humour is a love-language, it can be used like a seasoning and that there is a lot of truth in humour. 

Beth Sherman is a speaker, comedian, and seven-time Emmy Award-winning Hollywood comedy writer who's written for the biggest shows in American television, including Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Ellen, and the Academy Awards. As a speaker, she helps individuals and organizations harness the power of humor to create meaningful connection and genuine engagement with clients, colleagues and audiences.

Connect with Beth

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-sherman/

Website: https://www.bethsherman.com/ 

Resources Mentioned:

Professional Speakers Association

Victor Borge

"This is about what you are experiencing. And I think the beauty of your experience is it's your experience and no one can argue with that."

David Lee and I delve into the significance of emotional self-regulation and co-regulation, highlighting the impact they have on psychological safety and productive workplace environments. We discuss concepts from my book 'Leading Beyond the Numbers' including the importance of emotional granularity and how subtle changes in language can shape one's perception and interactions. We also cover the value of reflection and curiosity, and the cultural impact of emotions in an organisation. Through relatable examples and research, our discussion offers practical techniques for managing emotions and enhancing workplace culture. 

David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author of Dealing with a Difficult Co-Worker, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people. 

Connect with David

On LinkedIn

Through his website, SoulSatisfyingWork

Resources Mentioned

How to Up Your People Game at Work: LinkedIn Live Series (Forthcoming onOct 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th 5pm UK/12pm EST)

Leading Beyond the Numbers, Susan Ní Chríodáin

The Book of Human Emotions, Tiffany Watt Smith

The Emotional Dictionary, Susie Dent

Lisa Feldman Barrett, How Emotions are Mad

Daniel Goleman

Steven Porges and Polyvagal Theory

Don't Bite the Hook, Pema Chodron

Ted Lasso on Apple TV

Emotional Agility, Susan David

I am thoroughly enjoying reading "Wayfinding: The Art and Science of How We Find and Lose Our Way" by Michael Bond and have drawn from it to put together this episode. The parallels between how we do this out there in the wild and within the daily confines or our work-life struck me. 

I've used excerpts from this book, in particular the psychology of being lost, for this episode and added some of my own thoughts, stories and poems. 

Please note that I will be taking a break for the month of August. Until September .... happy wandering!

Resources Mentioned

Wayfinding: The Art and Science of How We Find and Lose Our Way by Michael Bond

"There's schools of thought around us; the quantum nature of humanity in terms of us being energy and vibrations. And whether you think of it as woo-woo, pseudoscience or whatever, I'm not concerned about that as much as understanding that when we got on this call, our energy levels were higher than usual and matching each other. And I think that is something that as people we really need to tap into. Being able to empathetically match our energy and also have the ability to shift it up or down as we see fit and that serves the environment that we're in." Steve Wright

Steve Wright and I have a dynamic discussion on his career journey from IT to coaching, and the intersection of human and information technology. We delve into how upbringing influenced Steve's interest in people and the importance of human interaction in technology. We explore leadership, the psychology-physiology connection, life's valleys and peaks and the significance of personal responsibility. We discuss the significance of energy in interactions, both personally and professionally. Steve also shares insights into his coaching practice, particularly around being a thinking partners to help managers become effective leaders. 

Steve Wright's career path took him into Information Technology (IT) but the lessons of Human Technology remained, and have been a thread throughout his life. He experienced the transformation that can be achieved with a change in our physiology and psychology. Steve with over 25 years of experience is now a seasoned IT manager turned business and life coach based in Lancaster, UK. He empowers managers to become inspiring leaders through his company, SAWright Coaching.

Connect with Steve

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sawright/ 

Through his website: https://sawrightcoaching.com

Resources Mentioned:

The 1 to One Thing Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-1-to-one-thing/id1696216009

Episode 45 of The 1 to One Thing Podcast, Leading Beyond the Numbers with Susan Ní Chríodáin: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-45-leading-beyond-the-numbers-susan-ni-chriodian/id1696216009?i=1000657301125 

Tony Robbins https://www.tonyrobbins.com/ 

"It's doing it on purpose, and knowing you can do it on purpose; that's what's really important when it comes to negotiations." Phil Brown

Phil Brown and I delve into the nuances of negotiation. Phil emphasises the significance of human interaction, confidence-building, and specific skills such as active listening, questioning, and observation. He shares insights on purposeful negotiations versus everyday interactions, the importance of practical experience in building negotiation skills, and various tactics, including the power of odd numbers and summarising during discussions. He also introduces the concept of the Negotiation Club, an innovative platform where individuals can practice and enhance their negotiation skills in a supportive environment, leveraging simple negotiation cards for realistic and engaging practice sessions. The episode is filled with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a deep dive into the art of negotiation, making it a must-listen for anyone who would like to know more about the power of negotiation and practice.  

Phil Brown is a Negotiation Trainer and Inventor of Negotiation Cards which is The ONLY resource helping businesses practice their negotiation skills, grow revenue, boost profits & build confidence. With over 30 years professional procurement experience he is using this to create an incredible new following of those who want to improve their negotiation skills through a unique approach to negotiation practice. He works across industries as well as educational sectors to deliver a unique coaching and workshop approach based on a philosophy of “Practical Practice”.

Connect with Phil

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-negotiation-club/?jobid=1234

Through his website: https://www.thenegotiationclubs.com/ 

Resources Mentioned

Toastmasters International

The Association of Speakers Clubs (ASC)

"So even in that dynamic of a relationship, how can I have a growth mindset and see my mother or father in the way they are now? How can I have conversations that may have triggered me in the past? But now I know I'm an adult, not that child reacting, to build my parent in the future. It's the same with organizations. It's the human dynamics." Tasneem Virani

Tasneem Virani and I speak about the critical need for maintaining human connection in an increasingly AI-dominated world advocating for a balanced integration of technology and human qualities in leadership. We discuss the integral role of emotional intelligence, the neuroscience behind human behaviours, and the importance of reflective and conversational intelligence in leadership. We talk about Tasneem's book 'Human Touch Leadership' and the value of nurturing human potential, fostering creativity, and the transformative power of positive human interactions in enhancing organisational performance. 

Tasneem Virani is a dedicated proponent of a more human-centred approach to the workplace. She published Human Touch Leadership and developed a programme: "The Human Touch Leadership Accelerator Programme." Through this, Tasneem collaborates with companies to introduce the principles of "human touch leadership," striving to create meaningful changes in people, performance, and profits. Tasneem's focus is on partnering with senior leaders and professionals, aiding them in discovering clarity and purpose. Her skill set encompasses Leadership Development, Change Management, Organizational Coaching, Facilitation, Mediation, and Career Management.

Connect with Tasneem

Through her website: https://clariscoaching.com/home

Resources Mentioned

Human Touch Leadership by Tasneem Virani

Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser

Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ni Chriodain

Episode #181

The podcast reached a milestone of 10,000 downloads during the month of June. 

It has been listened to in 80+ countries and of those 10 what are the top 10 by downloads?  And do those top 10 have a central theme to them?  

I was delighted to find that yes, of course they did. 

Many of the guests that I speak to talk about aspects of their work-life journeys and graciously share with us how they navigated pivotal turning points,  how they discovered their true self and ultimately how they expanded their work-life horizons. 

In this episode you will hear snippets from:

Episode 1 Sue Rosen - Stepping into the Unknown

Episode 18 John Purkiss - Letting Go

Episode 68 Anna Haslock - Extreme Experiences

Episode 31 Robin Kiziak - Showing Your Personality

Episode 64: Eamon FitzGerald - Being Yourself

Episode 26 John Collins - Guinness & Tea

Episode 32 Kevin Ashley - Serial Entrepreneur

Episode 92 Dougal Freeman - A Common Goal

Episode 27 Sheila Walsh - Healthy High Performance

Episode 132 Katharina Moser Inner Development Goals

In this episode I explore the concept of compassion and self-compassion.

I unpack what compassion is and why it’s crucial in our lives, the incredible benefits of self-compassion for both mental and physical health and cover some ways you can begin to cultivate compassion for yourself and others.

Special insights from the work of Kristin Neff and David Whyte as well as some books enrich the examination of compassion, shedding light on how self-awareness and compassion go hand-in-hand.

Resources:

Mindful Compassion by Choden and Paul Gilbert

David Whyte on On Being with Krista Tippet and 3 Sundays in March

The Book of Human Emotions by Tiffany Watt

Dr Kristin Neff https://self-compassion.org

Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ní Chríodáin

"I then realised that if gardening can be a metaphor for supplier management, nature's landscapes could be a metaphor for our lives." Alison Smith

Alison Smith and I discuss her unique approach as a facilitator, coach, and author, of using nature and its landscapes as powerful metaphors to bridge understanding in business and life. Over a 24-year journey, Alison has developed various techniques, including drawing, walking, and storytelling metaphors, to help individuals gain insights while leaving their logical minds aside. Alison also highlights the significance of language, mindset, and creativity, and shares how her journey from 'sleepwalking' through life to embracing her creativity has unfolded. We also explore the importance of allowing space for internal wisdom and the benefits of stepping outside the traditional confines of a work environment.

Alison Smith wears a number of hats - facilitator, coach, trainer, author, podcaster, and poet. She helps people, inside and outside of organisations, see situations from a different perspective to see the wood for the trees and get back on track. She has over 35 years of applying these in a procurement environment but they're no longer exclusively applied there. Her work with others is done in nature, parks, museums, offices and virtually. She mainly works in Scotland and the rest of the UK but has also ventured further afield. 

Through her website

On LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned

Landscaping Your Life Podcast

Can't See the Wood for the Trees by Alison Smith 

Start Close In by David Whyte

"There's four key components that I focus on in my work and my programs. The environment [ ]. There's behaviour. You would be shocked if I told you that almost every single thing that we do from the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed, is an amalgamation of the quality later that night of how we sleep." Dan White

Dan White and I discuss the critical role of sleep in our daily lives. He outlines four key components - environment, behaviour, psychology, and culture - that influence sleep. We delve into Dan's personal experiences with sleep, why quality trumps quantity, and how our modern lifestyles impact our sleep and circadian rhythms. Dan shares valuable insights into the interplay between sleep, health and well-being, and performance at work. We also touch on Dan's initiatives with Sleep Better, Live Better Foundation which focuses on educating younger generations about the benefits of proper sleep habits. Throughout, Dan stresses the value of simple solutions, like spending time outdoors and integrating natural light into daily routines, to improve sleep and health.

Daniel White is a Registered Nutritionist (MSc, ANutr) and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach (FMCHC) with extensive educational, research and clinical experience in the fields of nutrition, psychology, stress management, sleep science, health education and human behaviour change. Daniel educates people on how to radically transform their lives whilst spreading his passion for a natural and holistic evidence-based approach to health and well-being. 

Connect with Daniel

Through social media: LinkedIn and Instagram

Visit his website

Check out Sleep Better Live Better Foundation

Resources Mentioned

Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker

The Biology of Sleep & Your Unique Sleep Needs | Huberman Lab Guest Series with Dr. Matt Walker