Well Workplaces

In this conversation, Tom Bosna interviews Arthur, a psychologist and CEO of AP Psychology, discussing the evolution of mental health awareness in the workplace, the importance of leadership training, and the need for a systemic approach to addressing psychosocial risks. 

Arthur shares his journey from forensic psychology to organisational psychology, highlighting the changes in workplace culture and the growing recognition of mental health issues. The discussion emphasises the importance of understanding psychosocial risks and implementing comprehensive strategies to create a psychologically safe work environment. 

In this conversation, Tom Bosna and Arthur discuss the evolving landscape of workplace diagnostics, the integration of personal and professional life, and the challenges organisations face in navigating these changes. They emphasise the importance of work design, particularly for small businesses, and explore the future of work, focusing on the integration of psychological and physical safety in the workplace.

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Resources:

• RUOK: https://www.ruok.org.au/
• Amy Edmonson Concept:  https://amycedmondson.com/psychological-safety/
• Victorian Government Announcement:  https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-rules-protect-workers-mental-health

In this conversation, Tom Bosna and Dr. Michelle McQuaid explore the evolution of workplace wellbeing, focusing on the shift from compliance to commitment. They discuss the societal expectations placed on women, particularly the 'good girl conditioning' that affects their wellbeing and career choices. The conversation also touches on the pressures faced by men to conform to the 'tough guy' mentality, the impact of social media, and practical steps for individuals to break free from these conditioning patterns.

Dr. McQuaid emphasises the importance of self-compassion, secure attachment and managing ones nervous system in navigating these challenges.

Takeaways

- Workplace wellbeing requires commitment, not just compliance.

- Good girl conditioning affects women's ability to prioritise wellbeing.

- Societal expectations can lead to burnout and resentment.

- Self-compassion is crucial for personal and professional growth.

- Social media can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy.

- Men also face societal pressures that impact their wellbeing.

- Role models can help break the cycle of conditioning.

- Understanding secure attachment can improve workplace dynamics.

- Managing our nervous systems is essential in times of change.

- Practical steps can empower individuals to reclaim their wellbeing.

Resources:

https://www.michellemcquaid.com/https://michellemcquaid.substack.com/?utm_source=MMcQ&utm_medium=Website

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-good-girl-game-changers-podcast/id1750227241

Book: The Perfectly Imperfect Women's Journal: Tools To Set Yourself Free Of Your Good Girl Beliefshttps://www.amazon.com.au/Perfectly-Imperfect-Womens-Journal/dp/176380562X

Book: The Perfectly Imperfect Little Girlhttps://www.dymocks.com.au/the-perfectly-imperfect-little-girl-by-michelle-mcquaid-and-lucia-benito-9781763805606

Dr Amy Webb: https://futuretodayinstitute.com/team/amy-webb/

Holding Your Own in an Insecure World by Sue Marriott, Ann Kelley: https://www.amazon.com.au/Secure-Relating-Holding-Insecure-World/dp/0063334550

Dr Carol Dweck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Dweckhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Dweck

In this episode of the Well Workplaces podcast, host Tom Bosna reconnects with Kathryn Elliott to discuss her journey to alcohol-free living, the benefits of quitting alcohol and the importance of reflecting on one's relationship with alcohol.

Kathryn shares insights from her six years of sobriety, emphasising the need for mindfulness and self-awareness in understanding alcohol's role in our lives. They also explore the coaching process for individuals seeking to change their drinking habits and the positive impact of nature on wellbeing.
Takeaways

• Many people drink more than they realise.

• It's essential to ask questions about our alcohol use.
• Alcohol can contribute to stress and anxiety.
• Quitting alcohol opens up time and energy for personal growth.
• Mindfulness is key to understanding drinking habits.

Resources:

Connect with Kathryn Elliott on Linkedin:https://au.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-elliott-630ab532

The Alcohol Mindset Coach:https://www.thealcoholmindsetcoach.com/

In this episode of the Well Workplaces podcast, host Tom Bosna delves into women's health with Dr. Ariella Heffernan Marks, founder of the FemTech start-up Ovum.

She shares her inspiring journey from studying reproductive biology to launching Ovum. They discuss the McKinsey Gender Health Gap Report, highlighting the economic impact of health disparities, and the challenges women face in healthcare.
Dr. Heffernan Marks also explains how Ovum centralises women's health data, empowers users with personalised health advice, and aims to close the gender data gap in clinical research.
The episode touches on the practical applications of Ovum's technology in the workplace and broader implications for women's health worldwide.

Resources:

https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-a-1-trillion-dollar-opportunity-to-improve-lives-and-economies

https://www.ovum-ai.com.au/signuptoovum

In this episode of the Well Workplaces podcast, hosted by Tom Bosna, special guest Poppy Griffiths, founder of UnlimitU, and an expert in high performance coaching, discusses the challenges faced by working parents and carers.

The discussion centres on the findings of the National Working Families Survey 2024, conducted by surveying 6,000 working parents across Australia. Key topics include the persistent high stress levels among working parents, the need for more support in workplaces, gender-neutral parental leave policies, and the importance of flexible work arrangements.

The episode also highlights exemplary practices from Australian companies like Multiplex and Car Sales, and advocates for systemic changes at the government level to support working parents better.

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Resources:

Connect with Poppy on Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/poppy-griffiths-23b65b31

Working Parents Mini-Series (Ep51-56): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep051-how-to-keep-your-career-on-track-during-parenthood/id1532493952?i=1000559452417

In this episode of Well Workplaces Podcast, host Tom Bosna interviews Andrew McLaren, also known as AMc, from Medibank's ventures team. 

They discuss the corporate health and wellbeing landscape in Australia, focusing on how start-ups and small businesses can proactively approach exits and partnerships.

The conversation delves into Medibank's evolution from a passive insurer to an active health services provider, the integration of Pinnacle Health Group, and the future directions of corporate health and wellbeing.

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Connect with Andrew McLaren here: https://au.linkedin.com/in/andrewgmclaren

Read the Medibank Media Release here: https://www.medibank.com.au/livebetter/newsroom/post/medibank-agrees-to-acquire-pinnacle-health-group-to-accelerate-corporate

In this episode, Tom welcomes Anna Feringa, an expert in the field of psychosocial safety in workplaces. They discuss the importance of human connection in the age of hybrid and remote work, and the necessity of creating psychologically safe environments. Anna shares her extensive experience in occupational behaviour, shedding light on mental health issues in workplaces, trends over the last decade, and recent regulatory changes.
They delve into the impact of inadequate work design on mental health, the importance of consulting with staff, and the challenges and benefits of hybrid work. The conversation also covers the evolving state of workplace safety regulations and expectations for the future.
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About Anna

Anna is an award-winning International Speaker, Author, Trainer & Workplace Mental Health Consultant. With over 19-years’ consulting experience, Anna partners with organisations to support the workplace to better Prevent, Promote and Respond to Psychosocial Risk. With a human centric and evidence-based approach, Anna works with organisations to understand new regulatory obligations and to build proactive Psychosocial Risk Management systems, ensuring the workplace remains enterprise ready for the future.

Connect with Anna: https://au.linkedin.com/in/annaferinga

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00:55 Anna's Motivation and Background
02:28 Understanding Mental Health Injuries

04:17 Regulatory Changes and Employer Responsibilities

08:21 Consulting and Training in Psychosocial Safety

12:05 Psychosocial Hazards in Different Work Environments

23:15 Hybrid and Remote Work Challenges

31:12 Future Trends in Psychosocial Safety

36:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we welcome Sarah Rusbatch from Perth to discuss her new book 'Beyond Booze' and the significance of re-evaluating our relationship with alcohol.

Sarah shares her personal journey of becoming alcohol-free and the benefits she has experienced. She explains the concept of 'grey area drinking' and how it impacts people's lives. The conversation addresses the negative effects of alcohol, especially on women, highlighting the need for better public awareness and healthier alternatives.

Sarah also provides insights into how workplaces can support employees by reducing alcohol-cantered activities and promoting overall wellbeing. Finally, listeners are encouraged to evaluate their own alcohol consumption through a thoughtful exercise.

About Sarah
Sarah is the author of the best selling book “Beyond Booze”, a multi award winning Health and Wellbeing Coach, an accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach, a menopause accredited coach, a motivational speaker and a passionate ambassador for helping as many women as possible to live their best life. Sarah is also an ex-Grey Area Drinker and quit booze in April 2019 and has NEVER looked back!

Her Coaching specialities include:

Resources:

⁠https://sarahrusbatch.com/⁠

⁠https://sarahrusbatch.com/beyond-booze⁠

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:21 Sarah's Journey to Sobriety

05:47 Understanding Grey Area Drinking

09:31 Impact of Alcohol on Women

22:06 Workplace Culture and Alcohol

24:49 Future of Alcohol Advertising

28:04 Reflecting on Alcohol's Role in Life

29:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this podcast episode, Tom welcomes Jeff Wetzler, who joins us from New York.

Jeff introduces his book 'Ask', which centres around enhancing relationships and learning from peers through the art of asking questions. Jeff shares the inspiration behind his book, emphasising the pervasive and painful problem of disconnection he aims to address.

He outlines the ask approach, a set of five practices based on scientific research and practical testing designed to improve learning and relationships by fostering genuine curiosity and creating a psychologically safe environment for sharing. These practices include:

- choosing curiosity;

- making it safe;

- posing quality questions;

- learning actively; and

- the importance of reflecting and reconnecting.

Jeff also discusses the challenges of establishing genuine connections in a digital world, particularly in remote work settings, and offers strategies for organisations to cultivate better learning environments and encourage a culture of curiosity.

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Resources:

Connect with Jeff here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-wetzler-9ba3824

https://www.askapproach.com/#Jeff

https://transcendeducation.org/

Ask: https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Hidden-Unexpected-Breakthroughs-Leadership/dp/0306832690

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About Jeff

Jeff Wetzler has been on a quarter-century quest to transform learning opportunities. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in the fields of business and education, he’s pursued this quest as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, as a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and most recently, as co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization.

00:00 Welcoming Jeff to the Show

00:13 The Connection Through Topaz and Leadership in New Zealand

01:11 The Inspiration Behind Jeff's Book on Asking Questions

02:05 Exploring the Ask Approach and Its Impact on Relationships and Learning

03:24 The Challenge of Virtual Connections in Today's Work Environment

04:54 Diving Deep into the Ask Methodology: Curiosity as a Foundation

12:05 Making It Safe: Creating a Comfortable Environment for Sharing

17:41 The Art of Posing Quality Questions

22:15 The Importance of Listening and Understanding in Communication

29:54 Reflecting and Reconnecting: The Final Step in the Ask Approach

33:08 Facilitating Better Learning Environments in Organisations

In this episode, Tom has an insightful conversation with Sharon Darmody, marking her 20 years at Strive Occupational Rehab. They explore the evolution of workplace challenges, highlighting three main epidemics affecting today's work environments:

Sharon shares insights from her book 'Work Your Magic' on creating healthier workplaces through early intervention and preventive measures. They delve into the importance of fostering connection, authenticity, and curiosity in the workplace to combat loneliness and enhance employee wellbeing.
The conversation also touches on the unique challenges and opportunities presented by remote work and the necessity for intentional actions to support the upcoming workforce.

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Resources

https://www.sharondarmody.com/

Connect with Sharon on Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/sharon-darmody-a454136

Strive Occupational Rehab: https://striveor.com/

Work Your Magic Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Work-Your-Magic-Business-Community-ebook/dp/B0BQBP31TP

00:00 Welcome to Well Workplaces: Exploring Health, Performance, and Culture

01:09 Introducing Our Guest: Jaron's Journey in Occupational Rehab

01:31 The Evolution of Occupational Health: From Treatment to Prevention

04:51 Tackling the Tech Epidemic: Finding Balance in a Digital World

08:29 Unveiling 'Work Your Magic': A Guide to Thriving at Work

09:22 The MAGIC Framework: Meaning, Authenticity, Ground Rules, Interaction, and Curiosity

29:23 The Future of Work: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

31:56 Wrapping Up: Insights and Invitations from Well Workplaces