Conversations can change organisations, develop relationships, improve results, increase standards - conversations can even save lives, and there are 7 Significant Conversations that all effective managers, leaders, HR professionals and business owners should be able to have, if they are to get the best out of their team. In this episode we take a look at what those conversations are, starting with the Confident Conversation for a newly promoted team leader, all the way through to a Crisis Conversation if a member of your team is struggling with poor mental health or related issues. A fantastic opportunity to make sure your communication as a leader is where it needs to be and get the FREE downloads from https://confidentconversations.co.uk

Menopause will impact around half the UK population directly, and indirectly will impact all of us. Employers risk losing talent and facing expensive employment tribunals for failing to support women appropriately, and this week we hear from Sarah Airey, Head of HR at Biffa, a leading UK waste management company with a predominantly male workforce, who are doing fabulous things around diversity, inclusion and family friendly policies. As many as 1 in 4 women think of quitting their jobs, 90% saying they have no support from their employer. 18th October is World Menopause Day is designed to raise awareness and it's time for more employers to engage in this Really Useful Conversation and take positive steps. Start by downloading our free resource

The theme for this year's World Mental Health Day is inequality - Mental Health in an Unequal World and in this podcast we look at what that means for employers and how they can ensure that the mental health of their employees is protected and appropriate support given when needed, without becoming counsellors or therapists.  Really Useful Conversations about inequality, mental health and developing a great culture within the business - such important issues.

As many as 1 in four women will think about quitting their jobs as a result of having to deal with menopause symptoms, and more Employment Tribunals are citing menopause as a factor, so today we have a Really Useful Conversation, at the start of Menopause Awareness Month, to help employers consider what they need to be doing to support women during this life stage, in order to avoid losing talent, experience, expertise and knowledge and avoid claims of unfair treatment or even dismissal with menopause as the reason.

With a recent media report suggesting an increase in homophobic attacks, how can we truly bring our whole selves to work and do our best work, if it isn't safe to be who we really are? How do organisations create a culture where everyone can be true to themselves and therefore invest energy in their performance, not in pretending? What about the culture? Is Equal Opportunity training just a tick box exercise? My conversation with Rod Webb from Trainers Library is a Really Useful one!

So often when we think about improving conversations, we think about transmission - what to say, how to say it, language, tone, being more engaging, entertaining, witty - we rarely consider the importance of reception - listening! REALLY listening!  A critical skill that we are rarely taught to do but that makes such a difference to our understanding, relationships, connections and trust. Listening can even save lives! For more help in improving your conversation skills, check out our new Stepping Stones to Successful Conversations programme at https://confidentconversations.co.uk/stepping-stones

Every 40 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies by suicide. But what can you possibly do about it? This year's theme for World Suicide Prevention Day is "Creating hope through action" and this week's episode will help you understand how you can make a positive difference in your community, without being a mental health expert, counsellor or therapist. Grab a brew, pull up a pew and learn how YOU can make a difference. 1 in 5 people will have thoughts of suicide at some point, if that is you, please DO get the help you need - there are alternatives, I promise you, and there are people who can help. Go to to download a FREE list of Really Useful Resources.  If suicide is on your mind right now, please do reach out - there is ALWAYS another way. you just might need help to find it. Samaritans 116 123 HopeLine UK 0800 068 41 41 Text SHOUT to 85258

This week is World Suicide Prevention Week and to help support the theme of "Creating Hope through Action" we talk to Adele Owen QPM, Greater Manchester Suicide Prevention Programme Manager, about the work they are doing to "Shine a light on suicide" in their community. One in 5 of us will have thoughts of suicide and following a very unsettling year, we want to make sure that everyone knows how to make a difference and where to get the help they might need.  to find out more and to download some Really Useful Resources and access the information referred to in today's episode, go to https://confidentconversations.co.uk/wspd21

This week I am delighted to be joined by Jill Bottomley from the HR Dept. and we talk about conversations that employers are having right now, as we transition back to the workplace, furlough finishes and the potential of redundancy looms. As Jill says, communication is key right now and sadly there are conversations that employers are NOT having that they really need to, so I do hope you will find this episode interesting, whether as an employer, manager, HR professional or even an employee wondering what your rights are. Jill has over 30 years of experience and expertise in the HR arena and as well as offering her clients very pragmatic and commercially focused HR advice, can also provide SME’s with funded training around Managing Teams in Changing Times which will help with such issues. You can find out more about Jill here and about the training she provides for SME’s. You might also be interested in investing in your own Confident Conversations skills and our new online programme will be available HERE from the 20th September. Take a look and pre-order now to benefit from a discounted launch rate at https://confidentconversations.co.uk/stepping-stones

I noticed earlier this week a report in the media showing mental health referrals have increased in the UK by almost 20% compared to pre-COVID levels. So this week, we're going to have a really useful conversation about mental health.  As leaders, managers and HR professionals, conversations around mental health are very relevant and important. But how do we, as an organisation, support people in the right way?  How do we signpost people so they get the help they need?  What is out duty of care when it comes to mental health?  Listen to the podcast for some really useful tips on how to get started, and click the link below to access some of the resources on my website to help you get started.     Here are the highlights:  {1:06} Mental health issues are on the rise  {3:59} You don't need to be the help  {7:01} Are you okay mate?  {12:59} Build effective relationships with your teams at all times  {15:40} Creating a healthy climate to have difficult conversations  {19:45} Be confident enough to ask the questions     To find out more about Andrea and the Really Useful Conversations she can have with your organisation, visit   And remember to follow the podcast and leave a review.