This 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 debilitating symptoms, be that emotional, psychological or physical that 80% of women will experience. Continuing the conversation is the theme - and I've started so I'll finish! Lots to think about this month!

So 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 started to explore the factors that might make life more challenging, more overwhelming for young females in the UK and suggest what a few of those things might be in this episode. By no means scientific or evidence based but certainly some food for thought. Although the overall message I want you to take away is - nobody is immune, suicide does not discriminate - look out for those around you. Take care x

One 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 in this week's podcast to find out more and by better understanding these issues, make a positive difference in your community.

I 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 - and this series is all about putting your big girl pants on and saying what needs to be said! In a way that is appropriate and achieves the desired outcome, of course!

After 30 episodes of what I am told is excellent content, Season One comes to a close and I am taking a breather. Chance to pause, reflect and see what we need to have a Really Useful Conversation about next. What do you think??

After 30 episodes of what I am told is excellent content, Season One comes to a close and I am taking a breather. Chance to pause, reflect and see what we need to have a Really Useful Conversation about next. What do you think??

For the last 22 years I have been helping managers across every sector to have difficult conversations in the workplace. Whether around poor performance, absence, conduct or capability, managers need to be able to have Crucial Conversations that matter. To celebrate my 22nd Anniversary in business, this episode is all about how to have those conversations - starting from it's original Tough Talk workshop and how it has developed to Crucial Conversations for today's clients. Everyone needs to be capable of saying what needs to be said, but in a way that maintains positive relationships so I hope this helps! https://confidentconversations.co.uk

Conversations can change organisations; develop relationships, improve standards, increase results – conversations can even save lives and this week in the UK, on Thursday 3rd Feb, it is Time to Talk Day. Run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, Time to Talk Day is the nation's biggest mental health conversation so I thought it only right that this weeks Really Useful Conversations podcast episode should be encouraging more of us to get involved, to get more comfortable with the uncomfortable and contribute to communities, whether in the workplace or socially, where people feel they can talk openly about stuff that is bothering them and feel empowered to get any help they might need and I hope you get lots of value from this podcast. There are conversations that we all need to be having more of.

Covid and the instruction to "work from home" thrust a lot of companies into hybrid working for the first time, with little chance to prepare or set good foundations in place and as hybrid seems to be now much more popular with people, I had a Really Useful Conversation with Gary Cook, author of HR for Hybrid Working, and we talked about what organisations might need to now do differently, how their people policies might need to change and what advice Gary would offer from his extensive research to HR professionals over the next 12 months. I hope you will find the conversation as useful as I did! Please do share with other HR folk if you think they would benefit too and find out more about Gary here www.epichr.co.uk

There is NO science to support the claim that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year HOWEVER there is a LOT of science behind the suggestion that conversations and human connection matter. Can I suggest that you ignore the media hype for Blue Monday, and focus on making it BREW Monday - an excellent opportunity to check in with your team and colleagues and have conversations that matter. If you find that someone is struggling, there is a FREE download on my website that you will find helpful https://confidentconversations.co.uk and if you need advice on topping up the resilience and well-being tank, then you will find this episode really useful. Learn about the Pillars of Wellbeing and how, even if we can't change issues that are affecting us, we can build our resilience levels to cope with them.