The Grass Isn’t Always Greener on the Other side & Giving Back- From October 2nd 2023

Morning Team.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and managed to relax. Here’s what’s been on my mind over the past week.

What I LEARNED

I was recently asked to present at an Unboxing Leadership session. The session was designed for new managers from across Europe, and I was asked to present my approach to leadership and how I think about managing people and teams. This is an area I am passionate about, so I naturally jumped at the chance to give back back and try to impart my some of my own learnings to others that are about to set out into the world of people development.

What I personally learned from this session, was through the interaction I had with various individuals during the lunch break. I made an effort to sit down and find out more about those who were on the course and about to embark on their own leadership journey, to find out where they are from, which division they work in and what were some of the challenges and expectations they had when it came to leadership and work in general.

Reflecting on those interactions, I learned how sometimes we perceive that life is easier, more efficient, or not as challenging for others. Or as the saying goes, ‘The grass is always greener on the other side’. This was definitely not the case and it was a sobering reminder how we are all facing challenges, no matter which country, subsidiary, or dept you work in. The problem might be different, but to overcome these challenges, sometimes a conversation with someone who is removed to offer a different perspective can help to see a bit of light and a way forward. For me, this is about the power of diversity of thought, feedback and the individuals who are providing it.

If you’d like to learn more about diverse thought and opinion, there is a great book about this topic called Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed, which I recommend. It explains how to harness our unique perspectives, pool our collective intelligence and tackle the greatest challenges , something that we all face on a daily basis.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebel-Ideas-Power-Diverse-Thinking/dp/1473613914

What I LOVED

I absolutely LOVE the feedback I receive from these Monday Morning Musings. It inspires me to keep sharing my own thoughts, learnings and vulnerabilities.

What I loved in the past week was how many people have responded with their own likes, learnings and things they have loved that I might also want to try. This might be a podcast, book or website, but the fact someone has taken the time to provide me with something that could enhance my own wellbeing and learning I truly appreciate. There is enough negativity in the world at the moment, so sharing a little bit of positivity and new ways to approach life by learning from others experiences is so important for all of us.

I was listening to a podcast recently, and one of the guests highlighted the quote from Aristotle below, which I think sums up learning nicely and how we can always be learning and developing.

Please keep sharing your own learnings, and if you feel open to it, share in the comments box at the bottom of this page. (I’m still learning how to create these blogs so if it doesn’t work then let me know.

In the meantime, sharing is caring so please find some of the sources of information others have shared with me over the past few weeks which I’d also like to share with you in case its of interest:

Listen: For work-based inspiration: Podcast https://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/the-worlds-best-performance-coach-explains-how-he-transforms-teams/

Diary of a CEO interview I mentioned with CMO of Netflix: https://open.spotify.com/episode/629bbfmU7q3mOuGkKuGxYD?si=433556be7cf24d9f

Read: For wellness inspiration: Book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Processed-People-Stuff-That-Isnt/dp/1529900050

A book about life lessons (similar to The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Journey-Panda-Tiny-Dragon-Adventure/dp/0241585384

Watch: If you haven’t already – https://gamechangersmovie.com/

What I LIKED

I watched a program that aired in the UK on ITV last week called Grand slammers. The background to this 2 part program was to take the 2003 Rugby World Cup Champions (England), and to see if they could coach a team of inmates from a UK prison how to play Rugby and compete against another local Rugby team.

What I liked about the show though, wasn’t about how it they were training to compete, it was more about whether the coaching could instil some rugby values into the inmates and help prepare them for life after prison. To offer them a new way to think about life and what team-ship and looking after each other to achieve something can look like.

With 50% of inmates reoffending, and 70% of inmates being expelled from school between the ages of 14 – 17, the show aimed to highlight the importance of prevention rather than cure.

Final thought

Here is some music to kick start your week.

Have a successful week everyone.

Feedback is a gift, and I’m always trying to improve or understand what’s working and what’s not. Please leave any constructive feedback that you feel can help me improve or continue with what’s working.

Thank you for reading and I hope that you have a successful and fulfilling day.

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