Welcome to the People Workshop!

12 August 2011 by Leave a comment

Sand and sea water - simple ingredients but look at the power to shape and form.

My work stems from the core belief that quality time spent with people directly impacts on the way they behave and the choices they have, in or out of the workplace, and also, on the potential for long-term, sustainable, business success.

In any group or organisation, people must role model the behaviours of the people leading them in order to belong.

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein

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A fresh start

12 August 2011 by Leave a comment

Snowdonia National Park - climbing up steep hills, from time to time, is part of life

My work has taken on a new purpose and meaning as I am now working more with people who are managing different challenges in their lives. I have reached a threshold in my personal development where its time to move onto the next level with different work and people.

My intention is to focus on individuals and groups that are willing to look at themselves and the results they are getting and make some changes. This is no easy thing as most of us are being run by behaviours which were vital for our survival at the time we chose them, but now, are causing problems and limiting us.

To do this I intend to use a mixture of skills to suit the situation and people. (Click on ‘ABOUT’ above to see)

Writing my MA, psychotherapy dissertation and finally, qualifying, has been a life-changing experience and has stirred up lots of ideas for the future, as well as old processes long forgotten but still alive and kicking underneath.

What has inspired me is seeing the impact that a subtle change of approach or view on the familiar can have.

It’s a bit like the Einstein quote above, about using a different level of thinking to the one that caused the problem. By allowing things to slow down a bit, and bringing some awareness to the situation, in the right environment, space is created for change to take place.

This does make me wonder how different things would be in business if we stopped, momentarily, to assess how things were going and what would make them even better, rather than running on, sticking plasters over what needs mending.

Frequently, I work with companies that are struggling to get things out of the door. Sometimes these companies are victims of their own success.  It can be a great temptation to throw people at a problem rather than making time for bit of observation and talking to the people who are running the process to get accurate data.

This points towards the main reason for the struggle being a lack of communication with staff and an ability to get the best out of them. These skills are not always natural and are generally learned through the pain of getting it wrong!

I believe they can be learned and a key skill is the ability to view the world from the standpoint of the other person. That and justifying time for some personal development and self-reflection.

I have read that most of us spend 95% of our lives living in some sort of trance, frequently created by pressure of work and keeping things going. Our heads become full of all the day to day problems and panics, not just at work but at home as well. What if we were able to momentarily stop, wake up to be present, here and now and review?  What more might be possible then?

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Now there’s a thing!

28 June 2012 by Leave a comment

Exploring the possible link between anxiety and dementia.

But first a bit of an update!

This is Paul writing this Post, with Jon’s permission I should immediately say!  Jon and I go back quite a few years, back to the time when we lived not many miles apart in South Devon.  Indeed, when later I decided to start my own blog, Learning from Dogs, it was natural to ask Jon to be a fellow author.  But life evolved for Jon as it does for all of us!  In Jon’s case the growth of a very busy professional life meant writing for my Blog and, more importantly, his own one here had to take a backseat.

But this particular story resonated so much with my own recent experiences and Jon’s fundamental belief that caring for self is at the heart of a healthy life, and being able to embrace the wider world, that I offered to post this on People Workshop.  I should stress that these are my words, and any errors are solely mine.

Is there a link between anxiety and dementia?

Before going to a recent BBC report about this important subject, let me offer a personal anecdote.

A couple of months ago I had cause to be seen by a neurologist.  I wanted to get a professional opinion as to whether a degree of forgetfulness that I was experiencing was normal for a person of my age (68 next birthday).  Dr. G. not only confirmed that there was absolutely no sign of dementia but that my forgetfulness was perfectly normal for someone of my age who had been through some major life changes in the last few years.

Dr. G. stressed (probably not the best word but you know what I mean!) that me worrying about forgetting stuff and the resulting anxiety was a self-feeding issue.  I had to stop being anxious.  Indeed, Dr. G. said the following (and this I haven’t forgotten!):

Anxiety is the killer of good bodies and the killer of good brains!

So with those words ringing in your ears, have a read of this report from the BBC News website.

Role of stress in dementia investigated

By Michelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online

UK experts are to begin a study to find out if stress can trigger dementia.

The investigation, funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, will monitor 140 people with mild cognitive impairment or “pre-dementia” and look at how stress affects their condition.

The researchers will take blood and saliva samples at six-monthly intervals over the 18 months of the study to measure biological markers of stress.

They hope their work will reveal ways to prevent dementia.

The results could offer clues to new treatments or better ways of managing the condition, they say.

Dementia triggers

People who have mild cognitive impairment are at an increased risk of going on to develop dementia – although some will remain stable and others may improve.

And past work suggests mid-life stress may increase a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

A Swedish study that followed nearly 1,500 women for a period of 35 years found the risk of dementia was about 65% higher in women who reported repeated periods of stress in middle age than in those who did not.

Scottish scientists, who have done studies in animals, believe the link may be down to hormones the body releases in response to stress which interfere with brain function.

Prof Clive Holmes, from the University of Southampton, who will lead the study, said: “All of us go through stressful events. We are looking to understand how these may become a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s.

“Something such as bereavement or a traumatic experience – possibly even moving home – are also potential factors.

“This is the first stage in developing ways in which to intervene with psychological or drug-based treatments to fight the disease.

“We are looking at two aspects of stress relief – physical and psychological – and the body’s response to that experience.”

Dr Simon Ridley, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We welcome any research that could shed new light on Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia.

“Understanding the risk factors for Alzheimer’s could provide one piece of the puzzle we need to take us closer to a treatment that could stop the disease in its tracks.”

More on This Story

Related Stories

Your guide to reducing the risk of dementia

Stress linked to OAP memory loss

Dementia: Your stories

oooOOOooo

Obviously, if anyone is affected by the information in this Post, then please do contact Jon Lavin.

Finally, let me leave you with this.

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The way forward?

10 August 2011 by 2 Comments

Seeing the light

Removing the fear of the unknown

I’ve been working with most of my clients recently through painful transformations brought about by the economic downturn.

An interesting metaphor really because since the first wave of uncertainty triggered panic, first noticed in the UK banking system, I have been picking up on that uncertainty that feels like it’s stalking the globe and has been for some time. Recent stock market crashes have simply exacerbated this and that, coupled with the riots taking place in major cities in the UK, make for pretty disturbing reading.

Interestingly, I, too, have been aware of an underlying fear that was difficult either to name or source.

It has been rather like a deep river in that whilst the surface feels slow-moving, currents are moving things powerfully below.

So this ‘fear’ has caused a few household changes.

1) We now are the proud owners of 12 chickens. Our youngest son and I have dug up the back lawn and planted vegetables and built a poly tunnel.

2) We have also installed a wood burning cooker. Right back down to the base of Maslow’s triangle really!

Maslow's triangle of needs

These feelings have brought about such change everywhere and I wonder seriously whether we will ever return to what was; indeed would we want to?

I might not have mentioned it in previous blogs but as well as an engineering background, in latter years, I have focused on how success in business is linked directly to aspects of relationships and how we are in our relationships with others, so things like integrity, self-awareness and the ability to see the point of view of others, and modify our approach appropriately.

To inform this, some 7 years ago, I embarked on an MA in Core Process Psychotherapy, primarily to work on myself so that I could be the best I could be in my relationships, in and out of work.

The point I’m trying to make is that the same panic I notice in many of the companies I work in, and in me, is based on fear of the unknown and on a lack of trust in all its forms.  I’ve deliberately underlined that last phrase because it is so incredibly important.

The truth is that we get more of what we focus on.

So we can choose to focus on the constant news of more difficulties, hardship and redundancies, or we can focus on what is working.

In the workplace this positive focus has been pulling people together across functions and sites and pooling resources and ideas.

When we realise we’re not doing this alone it’s amazing how much lighter a load can feel and how much more inspired we all feel.

I also notice how humour begins to flow and what a powerful antidote for doom and gloom that is.

Transformation is never easy but the rewards far exceed the effort put in ten fold.

So what is it going to be? Are we all going to bow down to the god of Doom & Gloom, fear and anxiety, heaping more and more gifts around it, or are we going to start noticing and focusing on the other neglected god – that of relationship, joy, trust, abundance and lightness?

Whatever the future holds for us all a belief in our inherent ability to adapt and change and focus on the greater good rather than fear, anxiety, greed and selfishness is the only sustainable way forward.

By Jon Lavin

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Here’s a downturn – let’s stop developing our people!

10 August 2011 by Leave a comment

Standing strong and tall

OR – times are hard, let’s stop eating!

Of course, that’s a crazy idea.  So why in business do we so often find almost a direct parallel?

Most people who have had anything to do with manufacturing in any form know that the first thing that generally gets cut in a down turn is training and development.

Why? Because it’s seen as a ‘nice to have’ and most companies reckon they can do without it.

However, another more psychological reason lies back with Abraham Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs triangle. When business survival is at stake, we naturally go back down to the base of the triangle. We’re so focused on survival the idea of developing, right at the top of the triangle, is completely forgotten. A very natural ‘reaction’ when what we’re doing is purely reacting.

Useful here to remember that reactions happen outside of awareness, whilst responding happens with awareness.

Perhaps a more useful response might be to review the impact of the various development programmes going on and reduce those that are not going to have an immediate, negative impact.

So, in the very short term, that maybe true; note the ‘maybe’.

True, because things will seem to be normal.  In fact there will be an important change almost immediately – a drop in morale, which many managers will not notice!

But who is in business for the short term?  So we need to look at the longer term and see if there is any valid strategy for cutting back on the most vital resource for any business – it’s people.

Look what has happened to much of our manufacturing capability. Outsourced abroad. Clearly if it’s cheaper to do that then why wouldn’t you? And yet more frequently now I hear that the only way we’re going to pull out of this recession here in the UK is to start making things. Which means getting more manufacturing up and running again.

Why is it cheaper, though? Because, I believe, most British companies weren’t able to adapt and change quickly enough. Share holders or senior management got fed up and the decision to outsource abroad is made and seems logical.

Change is a funny thing. If it’s our idea then we’ll do it but if it is seen to be inflicted on us, resistance is guaranteed. This leads us into the next thing:

You can’t impose change. People need to be facilitated to find their own solutions. This means engaging with people and asking them. This is the only way towards successful change and requires high levels of interpersonal and communications skills.

Without these skills it is very difficult to develop the relationships which are necessary to encourage people to pull together in times of hardship. These do need developing in people and not to bother is a highly risky option.

So, investing money in planned and structured people development, where benefits and performance improvements can be identified, is a good use of money, especially in difficult times.

Want to find out more? Get in touch. There is no obligation. I only work with individuals and companies that I feel I can support with my special skill-set.

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Normal!

10 August 2011 by Leave a comment

Constant

Normal – it’s not a particularly challenging word; or is it?

The fact is that for most people their ‘normal’ business day is far from being effective.

What I do, indeed my passion, is to work with people and allow them to see the huge benefits that come from bringing ‘mindfulness’ into their everyday working environments.  What do we mean by mindfulness?

Generally, anything that brings us into a state of mind where we are making decisions, interacting with people, communicating in the here and now, not away somewhere where we are controlled by what happened in the past and our fears of what might happen in the future.

Bringing change into business requires many qualities and if ever there was a time for displaying the qualities of integrity and compassion, it is now.

I believe we are on the cusp of an enormous change that will affect us all – it already is, we’re just hoping that it will go away and we’ll be able to carry on as before after this unpleasant recession is over.  It’s more likely we are living through a core change in society.

I’ve realised that I can no longer rely on ‘out there’ for support, instead, it has to come from within.

By knowing myself and having a different relationship with myself, I encourage a balance in my life and recognise what ‘resources’ I need. Being out in the fresh air, in the woods and fields ‘resources’ me.

So when I work with my troubled clients who may be reeling from the latest batch of redundancies, I am able to be in a state of calm rather than the anxiety which is such a familiar friend.

Have you ever noticed how people are attracted to calm people when insecurity and uncertainty are around? From calmness and balance, options in the here and now present themselves to us.  We are aware that we are connected together and working together in an atmosphere of integrity and trust to do the best for all.

My clients use me when they are dealing with circumstances that demand the very best from their employees, and when those employees demand the very best from my client company.

I would be interested to hear your comments!

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