So I’m now the bloke who wrote the book about kindness at work.
It’s been hard work and I’ve learnt heaps – it’s clarified many strands of thought. There still aren’t any easy answers, but my five top line thoughts are:
- The world seems to need the book: kindness seems entirely absent from public life today. Work’s a portal to public life, somewhere we interact with people outside our bubble – somewhere we can try new things.
- Workplaces can only change when each of us accepts that noticing and talking about the impact all of us have, being considerate of and supporting colleagues, improves things for everyone, on many levels. That’s kindness by the way. ‘If not you, who? If not now, when?’
- Actually changing how we behave, breaking out of our patterns of normal - which typically focus on achievement and delivery - is incredibly difficult (and made no easier by potential game changing events like life threatening illness). Sleepwalking is our natural state.
- Seeing that everything good comes from within you could be your catalyst. Or maybe not; my own realisation lay worthless and unused inside me for nearly a decade. The place good comes from is deeper down, it’s below our patterns of normal, at a level we don’t often operate on.
- To change ourselves, our work and possibly even our society, we have to dig deep and work out our why. We’ll only achieve that purpose if we start being kind – first to ourselves, then to others. Most importantly though, you’re going to have to change your daily routine becoming more conscious and mindful needs practice.
The book’s got tools and, of course, stories. By all means buy the book. Or maybe I can come and talk to you?
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Happy hour? A conversation about alcohol and work – culture, risk and belonging
From post-deal drinks to client events and team celebrations, alcohol is woven into workplace culture. Yet when something goes wrong, it’s rarely seen as ‘just a drink’.
With new duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, and growing attention on workplace risk and inclusion, it’s time to take a more intentional look at how alcohol shapes workplace culture – and the risks it carries.
This short, focused webinar will explore:
• How alcohol contributes to conduct, harassment and reputational risk
• The assumptions we make about what’s normal, social or expected
• How alcohol intersects with inclusion, wellbeing and boundaries
• What to think about when conducting risk assessments and looking at policies
• Practical steps to build positive connection while protecting what matters
Speakers:
Helen Dallimore
Head of Training, Byrne Dean
An experienced facilitator, trainer and former employment lawyer, Helen works with organisations to strengthen leadership capability and embed respectful workplace behaviours. She brings particular expertise in creating inclusive cultures where people feel safe, respected and able to thrive.
Cicilia Wan
Principal Consultant, Byrne Dean
A former employment lawyer and experienced Headof Employee Relations in global financial services, Cicilia has seen first-hand how alcohol canaffect conduct at work. She brings deep expertise in leadership, culture and managing people risk.
Steven McCann
Founder and Director, MCG Consulting
A leading voice in workplace addiction and recovery inclusion, Steven advises organisations on addiction awareness, recovery-informed culture and social mobility. He has spoken at the Bank of England and works regularly with law societies, the Legal Services Board and institutions across law, finance and corporate sectors.
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