ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
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006 It's not about others, this is about "US"
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
07/25/22 • 36 min
Only when he was unknowingly nominated and pipped to the post on the Welsh “Pinc List” by H of 90’s rock band Steps did the passionate, honest and open Ewan Hilton CEO of Platfform (formerly known as Gofal) the mental health and social change charity come out as being gay at work. He honestly describes himself as “not being a great role model for LGBTQI++, Inconsistent, flighty, short attention span, and inconsistent!” Through his position and character, Ewan has the opportunity and privilege to influence and talk about social change in high places within the Welsh Government. “The power of a truly Purpose-driven co-created organisation is a brilliant, lovely thing to be part of.”
Ewan’s obvious passion and desire to make a difference and total commitment to being person-centric, both inside and outside of his organisation feels real, congruent, and true. Ewan recognises that he holds a position of power in the organisation and he recognises that he doesn’t always get it right. Change happens when you acknowledge feeling the shame of admitting you’re wrong, which means being vulnerable. When studying a master’s degree (although didn’t make it to graduating!) he came across the concept coined by the poet Keats called “negative capability”, being comfortable with the “not knowing”. He feels his job as CEO is to hold people “safe to do the best job they can do”, creating a combined responsibility and culture for so doing – embracing the chaos! It’s about relationships.
Ewan's colourful and honest interview stands true to his form. I hope you enjoy the show.
KEY TAKEAWAY
“...when we think of us as human beings at work, you can't talk about that without talking about shame, and owning your own shame. Some of these words are hard to say out loud, people find them difficult, but, it’s the truth. I might call it pain, and it was painful. But actually what I was experiencing was shame. You can either then be defensive and tell everyone, or you can feel it and understand it and do something about it.,,call yourself out and fess up when you need to - none of us are perfect.
We're all human. Bravery ...that means also being vulnerable. You have to be brave, to be vulnerable and to cry. And to admit you're wrong. So bravely doesn't mean puffing your chest out and being right I'm going to fight that government until we win. It means I'm really sorry.”
“ put safe structures in place that enable people to communicate, and feel safe in doing so.”
“positive philosophical choice, which I really like. Just approach it as if they're a good person and treat them as if they're a good person, if they end up not being, fine. But if you approach it with suspicion and angst... you don't get what you want, do you? So I really liked that positive philosophical choice part of learning”
ABOUT EWAN HILTON
Ewan is CEO of the Wales based Mental Health and Social Change charity Platfform. Ewan grew up in Hertfordshire, moving to Wales aged 19 where he started his carer in the charity sector volunteering for a small housing and homelessness charity. " was the best learning experience I could possibly have had - getting to do a little bit of everything". He held various positions in the housing and homelessness sector until starting as CEO or Platfform, which was then called Gofal, fifteen years ago. Ewan led the charity through a strategic review and full rebrand three years ago resulting in Platfform being born. He lives in Cardiff with his partner.
CONNECT WITH EWAN
https://twitter.com/ewanhilton
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking:-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-At Work-with-Alli
CONNECT WITH ALLI
Follow me here w...
001 Introducing: Alli Spargo Explores Human Behaviours at Work
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
06/06/22 • 29 min
In this inaugural Alli Spargo Explores Human Behaviours at Work Podcast, the tables are turned on host, Alli Spargo, as Amy Rowlinson asks her to share her ambitions for her new Podcast. What she hopes to achieve and why this Podcast is important here and now? Alli explains why she feels so passionate about creating a space for this important conversation, seeking to inspire others with stories from leaders from all walks of life.
KEY TAKEAWAY
“I want people to listen to the stories of other leaders from all walks of life, sharing some of their key milestones, key moments, when they have really broken down some of their barriers, being able to be truly human at work.”
ABOUT YOUR HOST - Alli Spargo
Alli is an International award-winning Executive Coach, Systemic Team Coach, Mentor and Mother of three now grown up kids. Through coaching, Alli takes her clients on a journey of self-development to become the powerful, successful, high performance leaders and teams. Alli inspires and empowers individuals & teams to get to know themselves better, to work and communicate better, to play at the top of their game. Her breadth of business experience, together with her whole system approach to coaching enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
If you would like Alli to work with you to ensure you become the very best version of yourself please book a free 20 minute conversation via https://calendly.com/alli-execcoach
Please sign up for a free coaching audit at www.allisonspargo.com
CONNECT WITH ALLI
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonspargo
@AllisonSpargo or https://twitter.com/allisonspargo
@allisonspargoltd or https://www.instagram.com/allisonspargoltd
HOSTED BY: Alli Spargo
DISCLAIMER:-
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. Please conduct your own due diligence.
015 Leadership stance through Covid
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
11/29/22 • 42 min
KEY TAKEAWAYS
“...you had to come to the table knowing that while you had a lot of experience, you may have some suggestions but you had no solutions in your kickback. This was unprecedented work... you didn't know that you were doing the right thing. You didn't know whether you were doing the wrong thing. You just were making some decisions based on the amount on the limited amount of evidence”
“There were times when you had to take on some commands and control...that were directives coming from the top...you've got to stop doing that and now you've got to do this. And that was very alien to me. I'm not a kind of directive leader... I didn't genuinely wield that kind of that kind of power. When I did that with my team did respond because they knew that I was serious because I've never really spoken to people like that before”
“...It's like being at war in a way... you're given your orders; you may not agree with them, you may not understand them and they may not be right... you just do it... that in itself was very comforting, because you have a set of clear instructions.”
“There was a real sort of what we refer to as a Dunkirk Spirit... We all knew that we had a task to do and we were, obviously some days asking people to really play to their skills...”
“...human beings are very resilient... a lot of people have been reviewing their work life balance... having spent a long time working from home, some people have found the benefits of that some people can't wait to get back into the office...we see the risks”
“...people's anxieties about going into the into the office is causing harm, because people are very anxious about it. We're also doing this against a backdrop of economic issues, I know there's an enormous amount of anxiety that people are starting to experience around the economic distress that we're going to be entering as well...the cost of travelling into work, the costs of dressing for work, the cost of buying a coffe...”
“...being a menopausal lady, things sometimes slip one's mind. You tend to turn up in a room and say ‘What the hell am I doing?’... The reason that we laugh about it and joke about it is because it's actually quite tough... we do tend to sort of corner the menopause as a big drama. But many men do have issues of their own and getting older isn't easy for anybody”
“If I have got something useful to contribute to the workplace, people will continue to give me a job to do. If I haven't, then c'est la vie. But, while I still have a contribution to make, I am what I am. And I don't have to pretend to be anything else. I think that's one of the wonderful things about the menopause, actually, you do realise that you are, you are an entirely flawed human human construction,”
ABOUT KATE JONES
Kate is Director of Research Delivery for the NIHR Clinical Research Network which provides infrastructure and support to the NHS and social care to enable the conduct of high-quality research. Kate has worked with the NIHR since its inception in 2007, having previously worked in both healthcare governance and as a research fellow. Kate is married with two grown up daughters and lives in Broadstairs in Kent.
CONNECT WITH KATE
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-jones
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her using this link: Exploring Human Behaviour At Work
CONNECT WITH ALLI
Follow me here with more amazing guest interviews and share with your Podcast friends.
instagram.com/allisonspargoltd
014 Who am I? The ultimate question
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
11/15/22 • 64 min
Always the definitive gentle-man. Considerate, thought provoking, provocative, highly experienced, highly regarded, and self-aware, Bill generously shares honest and real stories of a career well-travelled in communication and PR.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
“One learns to control one’s behaviours, one learns quickly to adapt to the people around one, and one learns from others as they’re talking, they’ve all gone through that process...the bank at that time was full of lifers."
“You only needed the one mask, back in that day, everything was strict hierarchy, strict codes of dress and so actually you just took your slot and just move along with the crowd, today is much more difficult because everybody needs multiple masks and it’s a much more challenging environment in a way.”
“We couldn’t have a standard dress code, we had to make them (clients) comfortable... my record was four different outfits in one day”
"If you’re going to be safe in your work environment, people must play the game and behave themselves and appear in a certain light, tick the right boxes, say the right things in the appropriate meetings, not just the right thing, but in the right way... and one learns these things”
"The great communicators are the ones who can engage with the greatest number of audiences, my own expression is that they have the biggest footprint, so the more people they can engage with, the more effective they’re going to be. So you find people being truly chameleon in the way they operate. Now that’s fundamental to their success in their job and fundamental in their ability to engage with people. Whether that’s good for them is a different question.”
“Do we do it... sadly yes, go into any company and people are constantly in that mode they’re holding meetings about meetings about what they might say to the chief exec about X... We’re talking about people’s ability to relax and feel confident that they can articulate a particular point of view or a particular emotion without there being a sanction which might be imposed on them.”
“It’s not because we are saying to Mary Have you’re say and what your say goes it’s just giving her the chance to be open and participate and to feel that she’s been able to participate... it may be that Mary has a dumb idea, but she should still be able to articulate it and put it into the discussion.”
“all of this mask stuff is great up to a point, it gets us through the day, it enables us to engage with lots of different people, but ultimately if you don’t know who you are yourself you’re alienated from yourself. The Marx things was about being alienated from your work, if you were in a mass production environment, you no longer had that personal relationship with the product you were making, and Marx extrapolated loads from that. I think the alienation today is between the individuals many masks, whether that’s the social media masks, the ways they want to present, and the person that they are themselves and that for me is a real issue. The work you’re doing, Being Humans at Work, encouraging people to be more comfortable being themselves at work is essential because it’s not just the nice to have it’s the necessity to help with this whole balance in mental health – there is problem there that people are suffering with.”
“Finding one’s Fundamental Self (John Paul Sartre) if one has a sense of oneself then when you put on a mask you know what you’re doing, there’s a relationship between you and the mask which is very clear and you take the mask of and you say “I don’t want to upset old so and so also I’ll wear this mask this evening .. when you lose the consciousness of masking and unmasking when the transition from one to another is just every day when you wake up and go to sleep perhaps without ever not having had a mask on then I think you are in real trouble, that’s when I ended up with that 5000-word essay pointed at my head (which I couldn’t write!)”
“so much of what we do is learnt as we go along, there are all sorts of people out there who look a bit like me as a communicator trying to manipulate what it is you learn, so you know I want to embed into your consciousness the view that when you walk down a street if you’ve got a choice between Costa and Starbucks you’re always going to choose one rather than another ... there’s all of that stuff hitting us, there’s all what we learn in a normal way, if there’s is such a thing, and there is what we inherit what we imbibe from our families and our communities, and all of that goes into that fundamental selfness”
"Two non-negotiable behaviours that every leader needs to role model? Curiosity – a leader must always be willing to engage and learn from opposing points of view. Not necessarily accept them but be willing to debate them because if not that’s not leadership,...
012 Emotions and behaviours of a people centric leader
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
10/17/22 • 44 min
Having taken a very non-traditional journey pushing himself continually out of his comfort zone, Nick Leitch made his way very successfully to Managing Director of corporate lending at Shawbrook Bank. (1000 people strong organisation offering highly personalised, practical, lending and savings products to individuals, businesses and real estate investors.)
With humility, accepting you can't be successful on your own and with an attitude of “it's okay to make mistakes and learn” Nick is real, open, and honest about his journey to becoming managing director and what it takes to lead a successful team
KEY TAKEAWAY
Uncomfortable challenges:
“I'm not happy with but I'm okay with putting myself into uncomfortable positions, and challenging myself in a way that says, well, if I want to move, keep moving forward and learn, I'll get the opportunity to experience more things.
The easy option is... to stay in low gear or neutral and just sort of coast along. And one has to do that from time to time in order to catch your breath, or just see what's going on around you. But often, if you're really going to push, you got to put yourself in a slightly uncomfortable position once in a while.”
Self-made?
“I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am without... the people I've had around me; you can't do these sorts of things on your own. You often hear the expression, somebody described as a self-made woman or a self-made man... I don't believe you can't do that all on your own”
“... there's an immense amount to learn from other people out there. Look for mentors, look for people who can, you know, who will want to give you guidance, some of the best people out there will be only so only too happy to be able to do that.”
Distractions and internal conversations:
“I'm easily distracted. I have a quite an active internal dialogue. In my mind, I have quite a large internal dialogue, which has many good things. It means I stop and think about things a lot and kind of work around problem... I do have a very healthy conversation with myself quite often.”
ABOUT NICK LEITCH
Nick is Managing Director of Shawbrook Bank Corporate Lending leading an award winning team supporting numerous shareholders, management teams and businesses across the UK. His career started in the late 80’s, first in hospitality and then financial services as a sales trainee in consumer, commercial and insurance products.
This progressed to working in commercial lending markets for Barclays, TSB and Lloyds in sales, account and people management roles. Thereafter further opportunities were enjoyed with Ernst & Young, Endless and Seneca in advisory, investor, shareholder, director and partner roles.
‘I can’t imagine being anywhere other than financial services, it’s enabled me to experience so many businesses across numerous sectors. The variety makes everyday a school day in understanding how these companies work, but more importantly the needs and ambitions of the owners, individuals and teams we work with. Knowing this and using the experience gained enables empathy which makes for great professional and personal relationships.’
CONNECT WITH NICK LEITCH
www.linkedIn.com/in/nickleitch
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking:-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-At-Work-with-Alli
CONNECT WITH ALLI
Follow me here with more amazing guest interviews and share with your Podcast friends.
013 A career in the Police force; vulnerability and heroics
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
11/01/22 • 53 min
The modest humility, genuine kindness, and quiet strength of this now retired police officer and Scottish gentleman, warmly greets the arrival of visitors to one of the top Asset Management Companies in the UK, and is always a highlight of my many visits to Edinburgh. His great love for his family and particularly his grandchildren encouraged John to capture his experiences in the police force in his self-published book, “Not long til Morning”.
Once invited to train members of the FBI in USA, working the harrowing scenes of Lockerbie at the age of 26, and genuinely witnessing the dark side of life, John shares a very honest account of his thirty-two year career journey and “being human” within the police force in Scotland.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
“It's very difficult to get that sense of professional detachment that you require, when things are going very badly all around about you and those things that are terrible to look at...You can't just disappear into the background people.”
“...calmness radiates from people... that's good leadership”
“The Police are the public and the public are the Police; the Police being only members of the public who are paid to give full attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interest of community, welfare and existence” – Sir Robert Peel. 1825.
An article from John’s book... “So, and I start as we gather around the van waiting to go home, a large 4x4 drives slowly into our midst. I mean so slowly, it kind of nudged some of us aside, it stops and a man gets out, a local, I think, maybe a farmer or something. He goes to the back, lifts the tailgate, and takes a bundle out. He then walks around the side of the car towards the Sergeant, easily identifiable these days by the Chevron's on their arms. There are dozens of us and he walks slowly through this crowd of policemen who one by one step aside, we see his carrying the body of a child, a little girl, may be 4 or 5 years old. She looks perfect, as if she's asleep in his arms. He walks up to the side and holds her out. Sarge takes her looks at him, and nods. As he turns and walks back to his car. The boys start saluting him, one after another as he passes, including me. He doesn't look up, but returns to his vehicle, starts it up, and backs away as slowly as he had come. No one has said a word. The whole episode passes in total silence. We watch the taillights disappear into the gathering gloom. It's my first day at Lockerbie. I have just turned 26 years old”
“...Am I doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way? And for the right reasons.”
“...always be a listener. It's easy to say, but it's a skill. It's a skill that can be learned, but never to be dismissive. Never be dismissive. ... never worry, never hurry, calm, collected behaviour, will radiate from you. So don't... whatever hits you. Don't panic. Just tell your team. Okay, we'll get through this. It's happened. Let's focus on what we need to do. Let's move on”
ABOUT JOHN STUART
John was born the youngest of four brothers in the Old Town of Edinburgh in 1962. After a childhood spent in the suburbs, he joined the Edinburgh Police cadets in 1979. He then spent the next 32 years in the service. This service spanned many notable events including the Robert Black serial killer, the miners’ strike and the Lockerbie atrocity. All his brothers also served in the emergency services. Two firemen and one paramedic. Retiring in 2011 he was employed in the NHS before joining BG in 2018.
He has one son, three daughters and four tiring grandchildren.
CONNECT WITH JOHN STUART
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking:-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-at-Work-with-Alli
CONNECT WITH ALLI
Follow me here with more amazing guest interviews and share with your Podcast friends.
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008 A Courageous Career Choice in STEM
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
08/22/22 • 40 min
Born in Delhi, in a traditional patriarchal Indian family, Kanchan broke the mould early on. Rare still today to find a 35 year old, single Indian female who has balked the “traditional system” by remaining unmarried and choosing a career in STEM. The only female in her class of male counterparts at Delhi College of Engineering, Kanchan’s journey has felt lonely (and often still does). She is determined to be a role model for other females to stand in their power and achieve their ambitions, breaking traditional norms and boundaries, even when it feels difficult. Empathetic, self aware, socially aware and undeniably strong and influential, Kanchan helps us to understand what it feels like to be a vibrant, bright and ambitious professional Indian woman with a career in engineering.
KEY TAKEAWAY
- STEM FEMALE ROLE MODEL - IT TAKES COURAGE TO STAND AND BE A ROLE MODEL FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
“One day I told my mom that I don't want to continue in engineering, because it's something not meant for women and not meant for girls like me”. And she gave me an advice which actually turned my life around. She told me that "I disagree, because you are living the dreams of many, many people around you (because I got into one of the top 10 colleges in India. And it's very, very hard to accomplish and to be there). She told me that "this is not a choice or an option for you to drop out. Think how you can change things, how you can navigate this successfully. And that's where I would lead you to" and I think this is one of the most important (pieces of) advice I ever got in my life.
- SETTING HIGH AMBITION GOALS
“One thing, which perhaps differentiated me with my other, let's say, cousins, relatives, friends, etc, is that I've always wanted to aim a bit higher than others. And setting a low ambition was somehow, not a choice I give to myself.”
- THE LONELINESS OF BEING DIFFERENT
“...it's lonely even now, to be honest, because the choices, all the choices I made, I think was always one, or very few of many. But I think that's where I also get the energy and I get my inspiration and motivation or whatever you want to call it... The kind of opportunities, the kind of exposure, the kind of peers, I had access to the intellectual network I have now, that was the starting point. And that's when I differentiated myself, but to get in there, one has to aim high, and not just aim, but to get it... so I think that's one thing, which kind of differentiated or set me apart from others”
- DON’T MISS BEING YOURSELF FOR 30% OF YOUR LIFE!
“If I take an average span of eighty years of a human, first 20 years, you get into learning and your education, 20 to 60s is when you do your work, and 60 to 80 is when you retire, and maybe you give back...I think 20 to 60 is your active work life. And if I take on an average per hour a human spends, let's say 10 hours a day at work, it's almost 30% of our lives when we invest our time at work, so I think it is very important topic... because otherwise, we will miss the chance of being ourselves 30% of our lives!”
ABOUT KANCHAN CHANANA
Kanchan is a self-driven, an all-time learner and a possibilist. She is passionate about unlocking human potential by building stronger leaders; in particular women and enabling them to rise. She is driven by impact creation in business and therefore she invested her last 10 years advising CEOs / CXO to help them solve some of their most complex business problems. Her interests are traveling, meditation and coaching passionate individuals
CONNECT WITH KANCHAN
linkedin.com/in/chananakanchan
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking:-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-at-Wo...
011 A role model of courageous leadership, vulnerability and compassion
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
10/03/22 • 0 min
Susan Brodie, Director of Talent and Development at the Global Investment Managers, Baillie Gifford shares the milestones and insights of her career journey. Susan shares her very personal story of dealing with the grief of the death of a close family member just before lockdown, at the same time journeying with the impact of significant news her daughter shares. The transformational impact of a mentor and the value of focusing on "Being not Doing". "Embrace everything about yourself ... the good and the bad". This is an episode of vulnerability and honesty, of truly being authentically human at work. I'm incredibly grateful to Susan for this truly insightful and heartfelt episode
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Vulnerability: Leaders go first
“... after the queen had just died and before her funeral, nobody was really talking about it, which I thought was really quite interesting .... it's okay to have those conversations. We all go through those feelings, those emotions. And maybe we must be brave enough to open it up ourselves, even though that makes you feel incredibly vulnerable. Because you don't quite know where your emotions are going to go when you start to talk and to have those kinds of conversations, but it's actually okay, and you making it okay for somebody else to share, what's going on for them”
Recalibrating traditional norms
“(so my daughter came out as a lesbian in November 19)... In society, I think we still have this strong belief that people will find a husband or a wife, and they will get married, have children, you'll have grandchildren. That's kind of the way things will play out in the world... I very quickly realised that of course, my daughter could still get married, she could still have babies, I could still be a granny..., I just had to recalibrate.”
Focus on being authentic
“....in my role as a learning professional I just want people to be their best. My role is to try and help that... it's actually just about... allowing people to be vulnerable, creating the space or the support for them to explore who they are and to be, you know, to be (themselves)
Emotional Intelligence – Know yourself well
“So my advice for the younger people is to take time really getting to know yourself, What are my passions, what are my talents? What do I feel strongly about? And then try to be true to that, because I think that's where you end up being your happiest, but also performing your best”
The benefit of flexible working
“I'm also in that sandwich generation where I have a teenage daughter and I've got elderly parents, who are all here, but all with significant health challenges... So visits to doctors, and various appointments have to come up. So flexible working really allows me to find that balance, to be able to meet everybody's needs. And also mine in the sense that I want to have a really fulfilling career, I want to add value to my team... having more flexibility allows me to do all those things. Which is great and I think we're still finding our way...”
Queen Elizabeth II as role model
‘... When we talk about leadership, (HM Queen Elizabeth II) has been quite rightly held up as a phenomenal leader. And, the stories that people are telling about Her are about her human connection (not her human doing). And I think that should be an inspiration for all of us.”
ABOUT SUSAN BRODIE
Having completed an MA in Psychology at Aberdeen University Susan’s career started in retail during which she held a variety of HR roles, starting off as a generalist then following her passion for learning into leadership and management development. In 2000 she started her own business providing consultancy and coaching initially on leadership and management development and latterly, business transformation and career transitions. She worked with a variety of organisations across a wide range of sectors around the UK until 2015 when she joined the HR team at Baillie Gifford.
Based in Edinburgh, Susan now leads the Talent & Development team whose role it is to ensure that there is a strong pipeline of talented individuals to ensure the firm’s continued success. She has responsibility for Talent Attraction and Acquisition, Leadership and Talent Development, Performance Management and Learning.
Outside work Susan’s time is spent juggling care for her 16 year old daughter and elderly parents, training (running after!) her new puppy and attempting to cook delicious things out of the Dishoom cookery book!
CONNECT WITH SUSAN BRODIE
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-brodie-71210420/
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they ...
009 Leadership tips and the “gifts” of dyslexia
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
09/05/22 • 0 min
Leadership tips and the gifts of dyslexia are shared openly by Chris Bannister in this refreshing interview. Having worked across many financial market roles over the years, Chris talks about being the authentic you. The unique you. Whether it’s leading a team or delivering bad news, being the same person you are in every situation in and out of work, conversations are easier and people can respond better. Mastering the art of managing dyslexia, Chris uses this to his advantage – a great interview. Be encouraged.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
“Treating people equally”
“I treat everyone pretty much the same. I think that's something that is very, very important to me, I am equally as comfortable sitting at a board meeting or going to an important event, as I am just sitting at the end of the desk and chatting to someone. The preparation might be a little bit different for each of those.”
“Being Authentic”
“I try and be the same person, in each and every different interaction that I have, because I think that's when I'm at my best.”
“The leadership gift of Dyslexia”
“I found out when I was 49, that I had dyslexia, which I think in some way, it probably had nothing to do with my impatience, but it probably had a lot to do with the fact that I didn't enjoy my levels. And, you know, over the course of my career, I've learned to turn the dyslexia from a disadvantage to a huge advantage, I (now) think it's a huge advantage... certainly in management, because it gives you a very wide view of life and the ability to manage 20 things at once... I think is it's really helpful if you're in a in a role like mine.”
“It’s a gift in management, because as you say, it really allows you to step back, see the whole picture, rather than really focusing in too much on the detail and losing sight of some of the more complexities that exist around any issues that you're thinking about.”
“The importance of Rapport building”
“...having the EQ to navigate the company, is probably as equally as important as having the IQ to do the job”
“Empathetic Communication”
“...if there's one time where you should be genuine, really genuine and honest and a human being, it's definitely when you have to deliver bad news...”
ABOUT CHRIS BANNISTER
Born and educated in the United Kingdom and a British Citizen, Chris Bannister joined the Bank in 1985.
Chris worked in a number of financial markets roles within the London branch of Westpac prior to joining Group Treasury in Sydney in 2001 as Head of Global Funding. In this role, Chris had responsibility for all wholesale funding, securitization, liquidity management and from 2005, capital execution, across the Westpac group.
Chris returned to London in February 2007 and in October 2008 assumed the role of General Manager, Europe and Americas, relinquishing his funding responsibilities shortly thereafter. In his present role, Chris has responsibility for the Bank’s business interests (predominantly wholesale) in the Northern Hemisphere.
Chris holds a BSc (hons) in Financial Services from Manchester University and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Financial Services (CAifs).
CONNECT WITH CHRIS BANNISTER
linkedin.com/in/chris-bannister-87121688
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking:-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-At-Work-with-Alli
CONNECT WITH ALLI
Follow me here with more amazing guest interviews and share with your Podcast friends.
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HOSTE...
007 Conquering imposter syndrome, being different, resilient and brave.
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work
08/08/22 • 42 min
Arriving in the UK from Zimbabwe in 2004 with her then boyfriend, now husband, Charity Bare was only initially here to do her masters degree in the UK. She stayed and broke boundaries within the insurance world through her resilience, determination, and hard work. Championed by some key stakeholders, Charity has risen courageously through the ranks to become a female board director in the still predominantly male world of insurance. Overcoming Imposter syndrome, moments of low confidence, three maternity leaves, and a chatty personality, Charity has learned to let down the ‘professional mask’ to bring her ‘whole self’ into the workplace, into her leadership style. Building and managing relationships, building allies, influencing and persuading by taking down the mask of professionalism.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Creating comfortable spaces, enjoying your job
It's very important to me that people do feel comfortable, because I remember myself when I used to see those other executives thinking “oh...I can barely breathe at this point”..it's important to make people feel good and happy to be at work.
I stopped taking it so seriously, and actually enjoy the job. Before.. I thought "oh, gosh, I've got to make sure that this gets done...oh, my word. I didn't hit that deadline, oh... this is the end of the world as I know it." It's not, it's about managing expectations. It's about enjoying your time with people.
Fast track promotions
I happen to have a really good support structure in the role that I was promoted too...Head of Risk Manager. The CEO at the time, for whatever reason, saw something in me... he said to me, "You should definitely do that job...you need to need to take that job." It surprised me! I couldn't possibly be the Head of Risk.. are you crazy? I've been here for a year, there's no way. But every day, I always think back to that day. And, I think, wow! If it hadn't been for him, I don't know where I'd have been. And... he was a white male.
Building allies when you’re different from those around you
I've been very lucky to have come across people that don't see that I'm different in any way. They see me. They see what I can bring to the table.. they've put me forward for things because that's the important thing. You've got to have allies. And it's quite hard to build those allies when you are different, because most people gravitate to what they know. They gravitate to people that are like them... I'm so unlike everybody, it's not even funny.
I’m black, I’m female, I’m very different!
I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome as a result. In my mind, I thought, well... you can only be in those positions, if you are off a certain tenure in the business, they'll be looking at me and saying, What is she doing here? What's she done to get to this point? Who does she think she is? Because I am different. I'm relatively young...I'm black and female.
ABOUT CHARITY BARE
Charity has over 15 years’ experience within the London market spanning responsibilities for establishing and overseeing the governance, risk management and compliance frameworks. She originally started her career as an underwriter having completed a Masters in Risk Management following a move to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2006.
CONNECT WITH CHARITY
linkedin.com/in/charity-bare-b93b7323
ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO
Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.
WORK WITH ALLI
If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking:-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-at-Work-with-Alli
CONNECT WITH ALLI
Follow me here with more amazing guest interviews and share with your Podcast friends.
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FAQ
How many episodes does ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work have?
ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work currently has 15 episodes available.
What topics does ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work cover?
The podcast is about Courage, Change, Team, Empowering, Career, Leadership, Resilience, Performance, Work, Human, Mentalhealth, Development, Podcasts, Finance, Self-Improvement, Education, Business, Wellbeing, Coaching and Careers.
What is the most popular episode on ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work?
The episode title '015 Leadership stance through Covid' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work?
The average episode length on ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work is 42 minutes.
How often are episodes of ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work released?
Episodes of ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work?
The first episode of ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work was released on Jun 6, 2022.
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