Beyond The Water Cooler Lisa LLoyd

From dodging bullets to becoming an executive senior leader of Defence, Phil Holdcroft knows a thing or two about leadership and teamwork. 
Phil is a decorated combat pilot with a 20-year military career that culminated in designing and delivering the senior leadership programme at the UK Defence Academy. Drawing on life-lessons and experience, he created the ultimate playbook for leadership, resilience and high performance. And that’s what we discuss on the podcast today.
Now officially a veteran (and he's younger than me!), Phil is continuing to pursue his life’s purpose, having founded High Performance Journey, helping others to conquer their Big Hairy Audacious Goals.
Join us to find out...
what resilience is really about how to reverse being unprepared in leadership rolesthe power of purpose (and how to find it)how the 'grandad test' can measure shared visionhow adversity allows us to growhow increasing diversity reduces blind spots
Phil shares his very moving story that proved pivotal in how he engages with others. 
What has been your 'a-ha' experience that caused you to question your practice? 
Or are you still sitting comfortably? 
More about Phil:A twenty year first career in the Royal Air Force spanned from leading missions on the battlefield as a helicopter pilot, through to senior leadership roles, designing and delivering strategy for Defence.
Phil's journey took an unexpected turn in 2014 when his youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia. Helplessly sitting on the side-lines led to an epiphany. Phil realised his passion for endurance sports could be channeled towards raising critical funds for the miracle workers who saved her life. A near-impossible series of extreme challenges followed, culminating in a 3,000-mile unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean.
Now a military veteran, Phil has set up 'The High Performance Journey' to pursue his passion for equipping others with the knowledge, skills and mindset for high performance.
Links to contact Phil:LinkedIn: Phil Holdcroft
Website: www.thehpj.com
Resources & ReferencesWatch this episode on YouTube
Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
13 Skills to Build Resilience (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
Future Ready by Experimentation – with Gemma Ellison - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
Transcending Leadership - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
'Peak Performance' by Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness (amazon.co.uk)
'The Obstacle is the Way' by Ryan Holiday (amazon.co.uk)
Contact details for Lisa LLoyd:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisapsychology
Website: www.itstimeforchange.co.uk
Sign up to be kept in the loop: a...

Two psychotherapists in conversation...
This episode of the podcast is an interesting one. James Elliott, of the Sarena Clinic, explains what needs to be done now to shape a healthier workforce for the future. And it's simple stuff. 
We need to equip employees with the knowledge and tools to empower themselves and their children to experience meaning and fulfilment, and that supports good mental wellbeing.
And we need to demonstrate empathy, based on knowing our teams well, so that we enable human needs to be met....
You know those days when your head is elsewhere because something significant is occupying your brain? Your teenager has become alien to you and you're concerned. Your finances are too tight. You're worried about a medical issue.
What do you need most? 
Probably, someone who knows you, who trusts and respects you, and who will give you the time and space you need.
What happens then? You're able to focus on what is front of mind and resume work. 
That's better than the common alternative which is to continue work as normal whilst holding the strain of being unable to do what feels most important. Think about the different outcomes in terms of performance, sick leave, burnout and resentment.
What gets in the way of you being human?
More about James:James Elliott is a psychotherapist, resilience coach, ex British airborne forces, multiple world record holder, father, and author, with an MSc in War + Psychiatry.
As the Head of Psychotherapy at Sarena Clinic, he leads a team of qualified and compassionate professionals who provide high-quality and personalised health care to our clients. James has over 4 years of experience as a psychotherapist, working with veterans, prison leavers, and other vulnerable groups to help them cope with their challenges and find their way in life. He is passionate about using his clinical and academic knowledge to create a supportive and respectful environment for clients, where they can explore their emotions, beliefs, and behaviours, and achieve their goals.
Links to contact James:LinkedIn: James Elliott MSc
Website: james-elliott.mykajabi.com
Instagram: @jameselliottofficial
The Sarena Clinic: Sarena Clinic
Resources & ReferencesWatch this episode on YouTube
Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
Engagement Action Plans - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
Stress Mapping - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
Tackling Anxiety Collectively - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
The Emotional Needs Audit - It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BT21444S/ref=nodl_?tag=bookouture-cover-reveal-21&geniuslink=true&dplnkId=e2437434-f834-497c-bab7-20dd7755d2fe"...

Luckily for us, Dr Jill McGarry is "a geek!"... her words, not mine!
The good news about that is she has a real love for actionable solutions to improve sleep. 💤
And who doesn't need a bit of that in their lives? 😴
In this episode of the podcast we hear, very clearly, why we need to banish beliefs such as...
"YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE!"
And we get to grips with practical advice for individuals and employers, including: 
✔️ coffee as a recommendation (yes... from a sleep expert!)
✔️ what to do when you can't sleep
✔️ equality
✔️ flexible working
✔️ 4 key factors for sleep hygiene - do YOU know what they are? Are you putting them into practice?
Check out the excellent resources that Jill shares, including those for managers, in the show notes. STOPBANG should become part of your toolkit.
More about Jill:Dr Jill McGarry is a consultant clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience in working with mental health issues in the NHS. During this time she has become skilled and experienced in supporting people with sleep issues. In October 2023 Jill decided to leave the NHS because she recognised that companies were a missing piece of the jigsaw in improving sleep for individuals. By focusing on providing support and training to companies regarding sleep we can joinlty reduce staff fatigue, improve team effectiveness and ensure that companies excel.
Links to contact Jill:LinkedIn: Dr Jill McGarry
Email: info@sleepbetterdoctor.co.uk
Website: www.sleepbetterdoctor.co.uk
Resources & ReferencesWatch this episode on YouTube
Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
Leveraging ’Shuteye’ for Resilience (youtube.com) - Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce webinar
NHS choices (www.nhs.uk)
YouTube Matthew Walker TEDx Sleep talk, others and his book Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker | Waterstones
Fast Asleep by Michael Mosley | Waterstones & BBC programme in 2022  
Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires (ESS) Epworth Sleepiness Scale | Asthma + Lung UK
(asthmaandlung.org.uk)
 STOP BANG questionnaire: Is it possible that you have Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)? STOPBang Questionnaire (britishsnoring.co.uk)
Contact details for Lisa LLoyd:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisapsychology
Website: www.itstimeforchange.co.uk
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What is self-harm? Possibly not something you associate with yourself. And not a behaviour that you attribute to your colleagues, friends or family members. 
But the reality could be very different and that is why this episode of the podcast and the free resource is so important. Self-harm is not uncommon and therefore you need to know about it.
Yaj Buljeean is a trainer and clinician at Harmless, the national leader in this field. She joins me to explore what we mean by self-harm, the stigma around it, and the prevalence and risk factors. Crucially, Yaj provides practical advice for companies to support their employees who are using this behaviour to cope with underlying distress.
If you're reading this thinking this topic isn't relevant. Think again. 
According to the WHO, 16 million people worldwide are reported to self-harm. We know that is likely to be an underestimate. My experience alone is that clients hide their behaviour... from their partner, their friends, their employers. 
Shame and embarrassment keeps mouths shut.
Convenient for companies? That's no longer okay. 
No idea how to think about it or where to start? That's understandable. 
And that's why the free, downloadable resource that covers a breadth of mental health disorders, as well as self-harm, has been created. It is a must for anyone looking to demonstrate care towards their workforce. You can get hold of your copy here: itstimeforchange.co.uk/the-resilience-collective
Stop passing the buck. National Self Harm Awareness Day is on 1st March. Be part of raising awareness around what is often a misunderstood topic. Find out more and request your media pack to help coordinate your effort here: National Self Harm Awareness Day 2024 - Harmless
Additional resources and podcast conversations about stress, depression and anxiety, and addiction, all part of The Resilience Collective, can be found here: itstimeforchange.co.uk/the-resilience-collective
More about Yaj:Yaj works for Harmless CIC, a user-led self harm prevention service based in the East Midlands. With nearly 3 years of professional experience and 20 years of personal experience, Yaj aims to normalise the conversation around both self harm and suicide to enable anyone who's struggling to be able to reach out for support. As a trainer and clinician, breaking down barriers to access support is a high priority for her.
Links to contact Yaj:LinkedIn:
Yaj Buljeean
Harmless
Website: harmless.org.uk
Facebook: The Academy at Harmless: Letstalktraining
X: @Yaj_Harmless
Email: yaj.buljeean@harmless.org.uk
Resources & ReferencesWatch this episode on YouTube
National Self Harm Awareness Day 2024 - Harmless
Harmless has created a Self Harm Work book which aims to help people of all ages to understand and develop insight into their self harming behaviour. If you...

My LinkedIn post in January that asked the question, 'Do soft skills need a rebrand?' attracted over 40 comments. 
Clearly people are interested in this topic.
So it seemed only natural to continue the conversation with someone who shared his view on that post, Andrew Bardsley, Founder of JackHR. As someone who focuses on helping tech companies stand out and keep good people, Andrew has some great insights into a world of both hard and soft skills. 
💻 We unpick how soft skills sit alongside tech.
🧠 We consider how AI and human skills will feature in the future of work.
♂️♀️ We explore gender differences and the teaching of soft skills.
🚧 We tackle some of the barriers to investing in the development of these critical skills.
💥 We offer our opinion on how soft skills should be positioned in business to have greatest impact.
🌙 And we discuss getting lost on the moon!
Whether you're interested in leadership development, management development, recruitment, onboarding, learning and development, emotional intelligence, coaching, or psychological safety, there are some little nuggets of wisdom that could just shift some important parts of your practice.
Listen to or watch us talk, and let us know how you go about positioning and developing the not-so-soft-skills in your organisation.
If you want to find the right space for developing such skills in your organisation, Leadership and Manager Labs might just be your thing. Check them out here: Leader & Manager Labs | It's Time for Change (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
More about Andrew:Employee retention is a £1Billion problem here in the UK which is why, in 2023, Andrew decided to launch JackHR - a business dedicated to helping scaling tech companies keep hold of their amazing talent.
Andrew's journey started in the North West of England, before making the 300 mile trip north to study Philosophy at The University of Stirling. When he left in 2013, the job market for ancient Greek philosophers was quiet, so he started in HR instead.
Andrew has spent the last decade working with businesses to better support their managers, provide teams with amazing growth opportunities and help individuals thrive through 1:1 coaching.
Links to contact Andrew:LinkedIn:
Andrew Bardsley
JackHR
TikTok: @jackofallhr
Website: jackhr.com
Resources & ReferencesWatch this episode on YouTube
Focus on 'soft skills' at our Leadership & Manager Labs (itstimeforchange.co.uk)
The Most In-Demand Skills for 2023 | LinkedIn
11 Essential...

Do you know...
🏢 What your office is for?
✅ Which elements to consider when designing workplace where people actively want to spend time?
🌍 What global research tells us about how we can help people do their best work in the many places that work happens?
😊 How to cultivate a joyful workplace environment?
💭 The link between physical workplaces and psychological wellbeing?
🙌 Strategies and frameworks for building a work environment that amplifies productivity, happiness and job satisfaction?
As part of Leicestershire's Innovation Festival session at De Montfort University on 12 February, I'll be joining Rob Day and Chloe Sproston of Blueprint Interiors, Kris Newman of Steelcase, Nicky Harding and Lis Ku from De Montfort University to discuss 'Designing Tomorrow's Workplace'. 
Blueprint Interiors have a unique approach to designing workplaces, based on putting people first.
In this podcast, Rob focuses on the psychology behind design, encompassing the Human Givens. 
Find out more by listening to or watching the conversation and then book your place at the event here: Event Details for Designing Tomorrow's Workplace: A Blueprint for Innovation (evolutive.co.uk)
More about Rob:Having studied at the University of Lancaster for a degree in Management Science & Marketing, Rob Day spent a 15-year career in Sales, Design & Project Management in the Commercial Office and Leisure sectors.
In 2001 he founded his business - Blueprint Interiors Limited, a specialist design & fit-out company focused on designing and redeveloping commercial interiors. The company is now recognised as the leading workplace consultancy in the Midlands and this approach has led to significant growth as the economy comes out of the pandemic crisis.
They are firmly established in Ashby de la Zouch – celebrating their 23rd birthday this year - and employ 18 staff directly with many more subcontractors indirectly dependent upon their business throughout the Midlands.
As Chairman & Founder, Rob has successfully overseen the growth of the business and the succession plan to bring the next generation of leaders into the organisation.
Links to contact Rob:LinkedIn:
Rob Day
Blueprint Interiors Limited
Facebook: @BlueprintInteriorsLtd
Instagram: @blueprint.interiors
Website: www.blueprintinteriors.com
Resources & ReferencesWatch this episode on YouTube
a href="https://www.hgi.org.uk/"...