The first step to managing in diverse spaces involves listening.
If we know the people around us well enough, we can tell when something isn’t right.
That’s when we can step up and ask how are things going?
Showing we are ready to listen and to support goes a long way to improving tricky situations.
The story in the video shows how this principle works in the real world.
Why not share what works for you when you manage diversity in your team (and don’t forget to leave a Like on the video)!
Diverse leadership produces great results. That isn’t a slogan, experience tells me that’s true.
For instance, when I led an initiative to improve engagement with local educational, health and environmental opportunities it was brilliant to draw on the wisdom from project workers who weren’t all the same.
Tapping into the minds of people of different ages, faith backgrounds, sexualities, and social classes made a difference.
Having many voices in the conversation, offering different perspectives, kept the ideas flowing and the creative solutions coming.
The result? A successful set of outcomes, within a tight timeframe, which improved on previous results and achieved greater value for money.
Who could argue against better results?
If you want to start thinking about the advantages of diversity for your team, network or service users you can check out the video.
Feel free to leave a Like, or Comment and check back for more ideas later on.
Joining A Zoom Or Teams Call – Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA: via http://www.pexels.com
Like it, or not, the Covid pandemic has changed the way we communicate. I mean, how many of us had regularly used Zoom or Teams before 2020?
We learnt a lot about videoconferencing software can do (and what its limitations are, especially for users with disabilities).
However, one of my main take-aways is pretty simple, it involves being camera-aware.
No one is saying we should all be as skilled as a television presenter, but now and again you see people being interviewed and blunting their message, due to their camera technique.
Here are my 3 favourite tips:
What is your video call secret?
Men talking – Picture credit Pexels.com
The hardest part about living with a mental health challenge?
Others can’t see it.
Broken limb?
We wear a plaster cast.
Feeling broken down?
We need to start talking.
Being vulnerable.
Opening up about the hurt.
Inviting someone to support us.
In person, or online.
In confidence.
In our own interests (and for the sake of our loved ones).
It is always a good time to talk.
Last week, like 30 million others, I watched the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy.
England’s confident, diverse team had reached a major final after more than 50 years.
At the end of extra time, I watched 19-year-old Bukayo Saka step up.
His penalty would make the difference.
It did.
His shot was saved.
That result was painful, but Gareth Southgate and the rest of the team held each other up.
But some ‘supporters’ tried to tear them down.
Cue a wave of online racism.
Monkey Emojis.
The N word.
The usual crap.
Not the kind of thing anyone should ignore, whether it is obvious who is creating it, or hidden behind a screenname.
And that’s why Saka, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and their teammates take the knee. Despite the boos.
Lockdown: how has it felt to you?
Did staring at the same four walls each day get you down?
If the answer is ‘sometimes’. join the club.
I’ve found staying indoors to avoid infection hard sometimes.
Safety has meant less
There are health benefits resulting from connecting with nature. That can mean raising a plant indoors or taking a walk outdoors. Follow the link if you want to know more:
Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
So, from this week on I am going to spend a bit more time taking care of my health, with help from Nature itself.
How about you?
Picture Credit Pok Rie at Pexels.com
Today is International Men’s Day.
The theme for 2020 is, Better Health For Men And Boys.
From my experience of life’s ups and downs (including depression in the early 2000s), I figure we can do better when it comes to mental health.
I haven’t known many people to take their own lives, but all those I’ve been aware of to die in this way were men.
In 2019 men accounted for 3 out of 4 UK suicides.
Men can bottle things up until the burden they are carrying seems too much to handle. That is when things can get grim.
Talking about the feelings we are carrying around helps.
Talking to a trusted family member, supportive friend, or skilled therapist.
Talking until the burden starts to get smaller.
Let’s talk more this year, so more men can enjoy better mental health and take the chance of inspiring the next generation to do the same.
(Picture credit Linkedin Sales Navigator at Unsplash)
There are 153 days left in 2020. I suspect I won’t be the only one glad to see the back of a year which has featured widespread:
Fortunately, there have been desperately difficult times before (and sadly there will be more in the days ahead).
Nonetheless there is wisdom we can tap into to inspire ourselves and those around us. Wisdom which reminds us that the future is brighter than the present.
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus, to see the light
Aristotle
In other words: it is the toughest times which test us most. Those are the times during which we need to look hard, to find the life lessons to keep us moving forward.
What is the phrase you use to motivate yourself, or the people around you when the going gets tough? Share your thoughts in a comment, or by tweeting @RogerD_Said
Wow.
We have made it to the end of January.
Blue Monday is behind us.
Eleven months lie ahead.
And that is a lot of space for completing goals.
To be fair I’ve accomplished one of my main 2020 goals already (there are plenty left on my list).
This was one I had put off, as there is some pain linked with it, which made it harder to deal with.
Anyway, my method to get even the painful stuff done is simple;
What works for you? You can share your secret to success on Twitter @RogerD_Said
Happiness Involves Doing What You Love With And For Others – Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU from Pexels
So, what was the highlight of your month? For me it was last weekend. In 48 hours I met several goals, including getting to see some friends, catching up with family and spending time on my own stuff. I am grateful that I was able to spend my time in this way.
Looking back at your month, how much time did you get to spend happily doing what you wanted?
Did you get to spend enough time seeing people you love and meeting your needs?
Or did work overwhelm everything?
Would you score yourself above 6 out of 10 on the happiness scale?
If we live to our mid 70s we will have spent more than 27,000 days on Earth! If we are too busy running from Point A to Point B to be happy in that time we are doing ourselves a disservice. So what conscious step will we need to take today, to make ourselves a little happier?
Experience Your Life 