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In this Podcast, Tracey Crampton, Oakridge Marketing Consultant is joined by Oakridge Senior Consultants, Anita Roche, Deborah Larder-Shaw and Lisa Wright on the important topic of Embracing Differences and the role of the Active Ally and Bystander at work. Anita Roche is Oakridge's specialist on training and awareness of Active Allyship and Active Bystanders and leads on all supporting training required. A list of the training support programmes under Oakridge's Embracing Difference Programme can be found on our website: https://www.oakridgecentre.co.uk/embracing-difference-programme/ Deborah Larder-Shaw is Oakridge's Account Director providing on hand client support and guidance on all aspects of thee Embracing Difference Programme and is the lead on Oakridge's STRIDE - Female Leadership Development Programme. Lisa Wright is the owner of Menopause The Wright Way and Oakridge's Senior Consultant on this topic. Lisa addresses the impact of Menopause at work from both employer and employee perspective - and provides training and support for colleagues and partners of those transitioning through Menopause. Lisa wright also shares her experience as a Gay Business Leader in Embracing Differences at work and discusses her specialist topic of Menopause at Work - from an Employer perspective, and Employee support and also colleague and partner support - at work and at home. The Full Recording and Transcript can also be found HERE: https://bit.ly/39X00ib

Lisa Wright, owner of Menopause The Wright Way training and awareness and Oakridge Senior Consultant, shares her 30-year career experience as a gay female leader in business, and the roles of Active Allyship and Active Bystanders in Embracing Difference in the workplace. Lisa is joined in conversation by Anita Roche and Deborah Larder-Shaw, both Oakridge Senior Consultants. This is a brief excerpt taken from the full Podcast: Embracing Difference, Active Allyship and Bystanders - Episode 2 - Series 3 which you can also listen to on this platform.

Kevin Charlesworth shares why and how talking can benefit teams and people within organisations. Kevin explores what contemporary future leadership looks like and what effective organisations need to think about -not to just survive but to thrive. The best way to enhance your leadership capabilities and effectiveness is to just listen. The title, 'Talking is better than yoga', comes from a New York university research study where talking 'therapies' came out on top vs physical exercise (although as important), in alleviating workplace stress and anxieties. Giving people the opportunity to talk through what they are doing lets them explain, explore and plan the process involved in their project, enabling leaders to understand their capabilities and overall effectiveness. Listening with integrity is key. Listen before giving any guidance and support that may be required. Encourage open conversations and pose an open question for more information. This is known as "naive listening" where the leader may respond with an open question to better understand what their colleague is saying and the depth of their experience, preferences and more. To be most effective, listening should be naive and active to lead to the foundation for giving the person the input or support needed. In the words of Nelson Mandela "listen first and speak last" - this mantra helps leaders to absorb what they are hearing before responding. Enabling like-minded team members from the same or different departments to engage together will also bring about a richness of shared ideas, models, and experiences in discussing a problem to help create a solution. SPACE FOR CONVERSATIONS (physical and dedicated time): We often do not give enough time for space for conversations to enhance people performance. Ref-frame meetings with space for conversations time allocation, be it a 1 to 1 conversation or dividing the team into groups. Groups can be of similar shared experiences or, mix it up in randomly selecting people of different experiences who might not normally have a conversation together, to share their insights. Likewise, outside of meetings, maximise engagement by encouraging people to talk. Create neutral spaces throughout the building and encourage a difference in diversity and discipline. HYBRID WORKING: 'Space for conversations' is as important for those working remotely. Create 'break out rooms' to enable people to talk through their ideas, issues, suggestions, and solutions. Encourage a community platform such as Whatsapp groups or Microsoft Teams. This helps hybrid workers to feel a part of the team and comfortable to ask for help and support where required or to bounce off an idea. IN SUMMARY: Create a space for conversations - step back and listen both when conducting face to face and online meetingsTrust the process - allow people to do what they are doing and to talk through the process by enabling open conversationsPractice Naive Listening - ask open questions such as what, when, why and how, to encourage a person to open up. Additional Resources: 1.      The Importance of Listening – RASA: receive, appreciate, summarise and action 2.      Hybrid Team Effectiveness – Unpacking the challenges and opportunities for team effectiveness within a hybrid workplace - by Simone Robinson, Oakridge acting managing director 3.      Developing Change Resilience – 7 Top Tips 4.      Product Descriptor - Paying Attention to What Matters 5.      7 Top Tips for Performance Conversations 6.      TEA Model - the 3 C’S on Maintaining Team Performance: climate, clarity and capability 7.      10 Ways to have a better conversation – Celeste Headlee 8.      Active listening skills – Alex Lyon, PhD 9.     The Oakridge Centre Podcast Library

Welcome to episode 13 in our podcast series two. In this episode, Anita Roche, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, talks to our host, Steve Munro, on the importance of enriching the Administrator role and how Administrators are unsung heroes in your organisation. Anita delivers a strong talk on: Administrators have moved on in a very supportive way to be supporters of leaders and teams.Community-filled practice - administrators hold this together. The importance is not to micro-manage them.They have Personal Drivers and are key-holders to Transactional Relationships in Customer Service and Engagement - and they hold this together. Time management and "let's get the administrator back" as the 'glue' within the community in your organisation. For more information please contact Natalie Griffith, Oakridge's Business Support Manager on [email protected]

Welcome to episode 13 in our podcast series two. In this episode, Anita Roche, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, talks to our host, Steve Munro, on the importance of enriching the Administrator role and how Administrators are unsung heroes in your organisation. Anita delivers a strong talk on: Administrators have moved on in a very supportive way to be supporters of leaders and teams.Community-filled practice - administrators hold this together. The importance is not to micro-manage them.They have Personal Drivers and are key-holders to Transactional Relationships in Customer Service and Engagement - and they hold this together. Time management and "let's get the administrator back" as the 'glue' within the community in your organisation. For further information please contact our business office manager at [email protected]

Welcome to episode 13 in our podcast series two. In this episode, Anita Roche, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, talks to our host, Steve Munro, on the importance of enriching the Administrator role and how Administrators are unsung heroes in your organisation. Anita delivers a strong talk on: Administrators have moved on in a very supportive way to be supporters of leaders and teams.Community-filled practice - administrators hold this together. The importance is not to micro-manage them.They have Personal Drivers and are key-holders to Transactional Relationships in Customer Service and Engagement - and they hold this together. Time management and "let's get the administrator back" as the 'glue' within the community in your organisation. For more information, please contact Natalie Griffiths to learn more about how Oakridge can support you. Contact her via [email protected]

'LEADING HAND' Podcast: Our host, Steve Munro, discusses with Kevin Charlesworth, Oakridge Senior Consultant, about the 'Art of the Leading Hand to Enrich the Job Role' and where you are doing something that grows and improves your exceptional skills.  Welcome to episode 12 in our podcast series two. In this episode, Kevin Charlesworth, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, talks to our host, Steve Munro, on the importance of enriching your job role as a 'Leading Hand' in your organisation. Kevin delves into the conversation with Steve on mastering your skills around on doing something that you are good at that grows and improves on your exceptional skills - which sit into the topics of: ArtisanshipTechnical SkillsProducing for Results He discusses setting standards in your team and not to be hooked by achievement, and that training and facilitating in leadership is important - 'The Leading Hand'. He provides some good practical tips too based on: Finding what you are good atEngaging others in conversationBeing an exceptional artisan in what you are good atWeave your skills back to your teamBeing an inspiring 'Leading Hand'. REFERENCES: Kevin shares the following references: TED TALK: Dan Pink on Leadership Drive BOOK: The Peter Principal by Lawrence Peter  BOOK: The Mountain Within: Leadership Lessons and Inspiration for your Climb to the Top by Herta Von Stiegel BOOK: HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership OAKRIDGE REFERENCE: The Importance of Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Capability OAKRIDGE REFERENCE: Developing Change Resilience _______________________________________________________ PODCASTS You can access all our Podcasts in series one and two to date by clicking on the links below or visiting our webpage - so please do take a moment to listen to them if you missed them in prior communications  - https://www.oakridgecentre.co.uk/blended-learning-solutions/virtual-connections-space-for-conversations-podcasts/ ___________________________ The aim of our podcast series is to provide you with insightful and informative guidance, help and support for you and your organisation and to bring these podcasts to you in a concise and informative way to help drive your business forwards with insight and knowledge.  The Series we share focuses on the realities of living, leading, and managing not only through the pandemic but beyond in returning into the workplace. Our focus of topics will include: LeadershipCoachingChangeTeam effectivenessMental health and wellbeing So please do take a moment to listen to our podcasts recorded so far on our web page Take care, keep safe, be kind, and we hope to see you soon. Brigit Egan, MD Oakridge

Our host, Steve Munro, Oakridge Senior Consultant, discusses with Jerry Scott, Oakridge Senior Consultant, on the importance of developing team effectiveness and performance - and maintaining the team's performance to thrive into the future.  In this episode, Jerry Scott, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, talks to Steve Munro, Oakridge's Senior Consultant on the importance of team effectiveness and performance in raising the outcomes in virtual teams. He addreses what effective and inspirational leadership looks like in maintaining team performance to thrive and survive in the future. Jerry provides the measures around performance by delving into the TEA Model - which at its core is - team equals tribe - or do we feel left out?: Tribe expectation - being included and able to contributeExpectations - do we know where we are going and what motivates us?Autonomy - within your own individuality, what can you bring to the team in being creative and entrepreneurial - but do this with clarity Jerry also addresses and provides tips around the 3 C's - Climate, Clarity and Capability. References: Jerry shares the following references: OAKRIDGE REFERENCE: Jerry Scott: TEA Model with the 3 C's outlined (PDF) OAKRIDGE REFERENCE: Team Excellence ScoreCard - is your team a High Performing Team? (PDF) OAKRIDGE: RASA - The Importance of Listening OAKRIDGE: The Importance of Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Capability BOOKS: - Karen Mason: Pause - Rethinking Leadership to Cultivate Workplace Cultures   - Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel: The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership - Karen Sobel Lojeski Ph.d and Richard R. Reilly Ph.d: Uniting the Virtual Workforce: Transforming Leadership and Innovation in the Globally Integrated enterprise EXTERNAL PODCAST: - Dr. Ruth Wageman on Team coaching podcast Zone and an episode on fast team start-up Contact Natalie Griffiths at The Oakridge Centre for more information at: [email protected]

In this episode, Brigit Egan, Oakridge's Managing Director, talks to Steve Munro, Oakridge's Senior Consultant on the importance of developing your EQ, also known as Emotional Quotient, which is a set of emotional and social skills in order to make a change for the better. Brigit provides the measures around the performance and insights into EQ: Self Perception = understanding my emotionsSelf Expression = how am I expressing that outInner Personal = how am I developing relationshipsDecision Making = taking your EQ learning onboard and develop this furtherManaging Stress = managing your wellbeing and mental health References: Brigit shares the following references: Book: EQ Edge Emotional Intelligence Success Book TED TALK: Julian Treasure on Listening TED TALK: Brene Brown on Vulnerability OAKRIDGE: RASA - The Importance of Listening OAKRIDGE: The Importance of Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Capability OAKRIDGE: Resilience and Mental Toughness OAKRIDGE: STRIDE - Female Leadership Programme for women

Welcome to episode nine in our podcast series two. In this episode, we are delighted to be having a conversation with Judith Fraser, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, on how to find your voice at work. Finding Your Voice – will be found at the heart of many of Oakridge’s Leadership programmes. The thinking is that in order to manage or lead others, we need to ‘ manage ourselves’ in how we manage our thoughts, communication and actions if we are to connect with others. Indeed this is so important, Day 1 of the STRIDE, our female Leadership programme, is called Managing Yourself. Judith shares in this Podcast: How to manage yourselves as leaders and managing others through personal considered thought and external communication to create better interactionsShe also shares how this is managed in both a professional and personal environmentHow to express yourself through assertiveness and not aggressiveness when faced with challengesJudith also shares some tools to help achieve your communication skills through Emotional Intelligence and Influencing techniques:Emotional Intelligence: supports understanding yourself and having the ability to pause it - as people sometimes have differing viewsInfluencing: Being straight forward in what you need/want and handling conflict with the mindset to respect oneself and others.  Listen to Judith's insightful Podcast Here:  Judith also shares some insightful downloads below: Judith suggests the following resource to read and watch: Judith Fraser Showcase NotesBook recommendation - The EQ EdgeTedTalk - Adam Galinsky - How to Speak Up for YourselfOakridge's STRIDE programme: http://bit.ly/About_The_Stride_ProgrammeOakridge Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Capability

Nicola Ryan, Director of Client Support at Rowlinson Knitwear, discusses the B-Corp model and how: Communication is key by the leadership team to help their colleagues during the pandemic and returning to workThat safety of their colleagues is paramount and the risk programmes they put in place have supported themRowlinson Knitwear's values and vision statements both nationally and internationally with their suppliers - great examplesHow Oakridge's STRIDE programme supported her through building her confidence to also not just to strive but thrive to greater career opportunitiesNicola's take away was to share it's always important to be kind Take a look at her recommendation - Dare to Lead by Brene Brown: https://amzn.to/30S9X8H

Nicola Ryan, Director of Colleague Support from Rowlinson Knitwear in Stockport, discusses with Steve Munro, Oakridge's Senior Consultant, how their organisation worked through employee/colleague ownership of the business. In this first part 1 episode -Nicola discusses the B-Corp route they took in terms of the employee modeHow they restructured teams to achieve what they needed to do for the business growth for allHow they developed an Employee Assistant Programme to generate the progressHow they as an organisation, improved customer support through educating employees (or colleagues as it's called at Rowlinson) on this importance For more information about Rowlinson Knitwear and Oakridge's support please contact Natalie Griffiths - [email protected]