Oh I've found it really hard to get excited about International Women's Day this year. I wasn't sure if it was because I've been distracted by Covid-19 or something a bit more than that. Because I often use writing to process, I started writing a newsletter delving in to everything that I think is wrong with IWD at the moment. And then I stopped myself. I don't want to be just another critic's voice. I want to contribute something more than criticism. So here's one thing that I think would make IWD better. Currently IWD (8th March) and International Men's Day (19th November) are run entirely separately. (In fact, there are many that would argue IMD has had a somewhat anti-feminist agenda). I would create stronger links between the two events, and expect gender diversity at each. I know that gender stereotypes harm everyone. At its simplest gender stereotypes stop women leaning in at work and stop men leaning in at home. But it's more complex than that. I believe that we are not going to solve our gender challenges by remaining entrenched in our silos. Men and women need to come together and talk. We need to ensure the lens is intersectional. We're going to somehow have to find space for the trans community and those championing women's rights. I want to bring the humanity back in to the workplace, I want us to recognise that we are feeling beings. That we are imperfect. And wonderful. The workplace has been designed by men... and the evidence suggests this is now damaging everybody. Here is the research that we commissioned for Masculinity in the Workplace which I make no apology for sharing on IWD. This IWD, you'll find that we would all benefit from a more inclusive, empathetic and vulnerable leadership. Looking after our mental health in the time of Coronavirus As I said, I've been distracted, as many others also are, by the constant news cycle on Coronavirus... Last week we had a team meeting in which we focused on our response to this - as individuals, as a team and as leaders. It was interesting watching our team move from 'ah I'm not worried' through to admitting 'ah actually I am feeling a bit scared and can't quite make sense of things' over the course of one hour. These feelings were there from the beginning but it took creating a safe and non-judgemental space for people to share openly for some processing to happen. We're no medical experts so will heed the advice of those that are. For now it's business as usual. if you would like your training or coaching conducted over a teleconference line, we have the capacity to do that. Where we do have a voice is in understanding human connection, leadership and mental health. Stepping up in to our leadership, we notice people are anxious and scared. Empathy, connection and laughter are important antidotes. Working from home may help our physical health but not our mental health. Back in 2009, the New Economics Foundation promoted the five ways to well-being in an attempt to put our mental health on a par with our physical health, We know we're supposed to have 5 pieces of fruit / veg a day, what are the 5 equivalent things for our mental health? Their evidence based model tells us that we should do these things on a daily basis to promote and look after our mental health: Connect; Be Active; Take Notice; Keep Learning and Give. Whatever happens over the next few weeks, please look after your own and your team's mental health alongside their physical health. Find ways to stay connected and keep talking even if you're not in the office. Keep yourself moving and get those 10k steps in! Check out the man in China who did a marathon in his apartment whilst in quarantine. Be mindful and pay attention. How are you actually feeling? What news are you taking in and how is it making you feel? Keep learning. Learning and growing are going to be a critical part of our mental well-being. We've got some digital e-learning modules that we're launching imminently plus an Embracing Resilience webinar planned for the 4th May. Give something back. How can you help those around you? How can you step in to your leadership? Stay safe peeps Rox |
IWD and Staying mentally healthy in the time of Coronavirus
