The Garrett Learning newsletter. A mental health and workplace wellbeing update to find out what has been happening, what’s new & what’s coming up!
We are * Supportive * Curious * Welcoming * Encouraging * Straightforward * We are Garrett Learning.
Inside this month’s issue:
- Have you heard of the term ‘Accidental Manager’?
- I’m a learner! I have forgotten what it’s like to be on the other side of the training room!
- National MHFAider day is coming up! Join us for a free check-in session!
What’s been happening?
I’m a learner! I’m studying!
In March, I started the ILM Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring and I’m loving it! I have now completed all my training hours with three coachee’s and received some lovely feedback. I thought ‘Wendy is fab’ was a great summary!
I have been working with a newly appointed bar manager, a business owner who is scaling her business and a Localities Team Manager.
Such a diverse group and I have learned so much from them and about myself. The sessions lift and energise me so they will definitely be a part of Garrett Learning. I need to figure out what piece of the jigsaw puzzle fits where. Let’s get the assignments finished and plan the next step, however I think I already have an idea as it fits in well with the ‘What’s new’ section….
What’s new?
I’ve recently discovered the term ‘Accidental Manager’.
It’s someone who is often great in their non-managerial role, then is promoted to a leadership role, but then they don’t receive training or support for their management role.
We all know that managing people is a very different skill set.
However, I don’t like the term ‘Accidental Managers’. Is it just me? Imagine being promoted to be described as an accidental manager. It just doesn’t sound right to me.
I’ve been a so-called ‘Accidental Manager’ and at the time I was extremely proud of my promotion – and so were my parents! It was far from an accident, I worked hard and got the title and role I wanted and worked for. So… “Well done Wendy, you accidental manager you!”.
Nope! I don’t like it!
But I’m not sure what term I can use that I do like and feels appropriate. Yes, I’ve asked AI but nothing explains it like what it is. Any suggestions?
The reason I ask this is, I imagine my coaching hat will lie here.
Investors in People have reported that 71% of employers in the UK say they don’t train their first-time managers and 68% of managers categorise themselves as an accidental manager – this also heavily results in loss of productivity costing the UK economy an estimated £84 billion a year.
Source: https://www.investorsinpeople.com/knowledge/accidental-managers/
Investors in People recommend that our people managers experience the necessary learning experiences:
- Training the HR team, senior management team and people managers to be able to talk about being an Accidental Manager and identify the help and support they need
- Learning to listen actively – listen to understand
- To ensure people understand the difference between bad management styles (lack of training) and poor productivity/motivation by the team member
- Allow time during the week for the new/emerging manager to develop themselves – your organisation will benefit from this
- Carry out meaningful 1:1 performance and development discussions
- Set meaningful organisational/personal objectives
- Encourage an open culture of giving and receiving positive and constructive feedback
- Performance issues are dealt with at the time and not ‘saved’ for the next performance review (because who knows when that might be!)
Where does Garrett Learning and the coaching jigsaw puzzle piece fit here?
Well this is definitely my place to support, I’m already working in this area. I have supported a few individuals from a mentoring perspective over the years from Agricultural team leaders, solicitors and a corporate team going through change – I just don’t talk about it as much as the mental health stuff I do.
When training under the Leadership Development programmes I run, I love thoroughly enjoyed working with people who are:
- New to management
- Supporting those who want to make the step up into management in the near future.
- I can also support those managers who have been in the role for a while and have received little to no formal support or training.
All classed as the ‘accidental manager’.
As an employer supporting the accidental manager, this links in well with workplace wellbeing. Investors in people mention that 17% of an organisations’ productivity loss is due to poor mental health and wellbeing – if we are not supporting our people in the workplace, they’re likely to be underperforming which adds to their workplace stress and overall wellbeing.
We need to ensure we support our team members with the right training and progression planning.
If you have someone in your team who is an accidental manager, let’s chat! I’d love to learn more and it will help shape the direction of Garrett Learning.
Book a chat with Wendy here: https://scheduler.zoom.us/garrettlearning/1-1-cuppa-and-chat
What’s coming up?
National MHFAider Day!
The 12th November is the first ever national MHFAider Day! Let’s celebrate this!
We’d love to welcome you as a MHFAider or Workplace Wellbeing Champion to join our free Workplace Wellbeing support session. It’s a really informal meet-up on Zoom to chat, connect, share our thoughts, ask our questions and celebrate the great work that we do.
Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/national-mhfaider-day-tickets-1717998532859?aff=oddtdtcreator
Adult Mental Health First Aid dates (£325 per person):
In the UK, poor mental health costs employers up to £45 billion each year. When staff are experiencing poor mental health, the negative impact it has on their life and work is substantial. Looking after your staff’s well-being is ethically the right thing to do.
Dates:
Tuesday 11th & Wednesday 12th November 2025. 09:30-16:30
Tuesday 25th & Wednesday 26th November 2025. 09:30-16:30
Monday 15th to Thursday 18th December. 09:30-12:30
Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th January 2026. 09:30-16:30
Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th January 2026. 09:30-16:30
Mental Health Skills for Managers (£150 per person):
By supporting the mental health of your team, you will: Encourage your people to thrive, increase talent retention & reduce the impact of presenteeism and long-term sickness absence
Your people managers will learn to: Feel confident having open conversations about mental health with their team members, identify if an employee may be experiencing poor mental health, appropriately signpost to available support and become a great role model good self-care practice and know where to go for support and guidance for themselves.
Dates:
Monday 17th November 13:00-17:00
Tuesday 9th December 13:30-17:30
MHFA half-day Aware (£150 per person):
Mental Health First Aid England Aware is an introductory course designed to increase mental health awareness and give an understanding of how to look after wellbeing and challenge stigma. This programme provides a helpful, practical approach to developing understanding.
Dates:
Monday 8th December 09:30-12:30
MHFA One-Day Champion (£195 per person):
This programme provides awareness of common mental health
conditions and understand what support is available to build a mentally healthy workplace to become a workplace wellbeing ambassador/champion.
Dates:
Wednesday 10th December 09:30-16:30
Thursday 15th January 09:30-16:30
MHFA Refresher (£150 per person):
If you’re currently a MHFAider, we recommend that you refresh your skills every 3 years, get booked onto a programme here:
Thursday 6th November 13:30-17:30
Tuesday 18th November 13:30-17:30
Thursday 27th November – 13:30-17:30
Thursday 11th December – 13:00-17:00
Thursday 8th January 2026. 13:00-17:00
Monday 26th January 13:00-17:00
To book, to talk to me about the training or to arrange a private cohort or arrange bespoke wellbeing/Leadership development training, please send me an email on wendy@garrettlearning.co.uk to discuss your requirements.
There are a few upcoming national awareness days for your diary too:
Month focus: Men’s mental health awareness month / Movember
3-7th: International Stress Awareness Week
5th November: National Stress Awareness Day
10-14th: Anti-Bullying Week
13th: World Kindness Day
13-19th: Transgender Awareness Week
17-23rd: Self-Care Week
To bridge the gap between the MHFA England training and when you come back to complete a refresher, we have the Workplace Wellbeing Champion monthly meet-ups!
If you are:
– Promoting mental health in the workplace
– A Mental Health First Aider
– A Wellbeing Ambassador
We welcome you to become a Workplace Wellbeing Champion!
You can join for £20 per month per person (forever!) Find out more by visiting: www.garrettlearning.co.uk/services/workplace-well-being-hero/ or join us for a one off meeting for £35.
What do you get for your money?
- Each month you can attend the live session or watch the recording of an educational workshop.
- We’re joined by guests with alternative wellbeing outlooks
- Attend quarterly workshops, invite your colleagues to help spread the message and raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing. You are a hero after all!
- You’ll connect with other like-minded people to exchange best practices, share ideas and support each other. Ideal if you’re the only mental health-trained person in your organisation.
- Each session will host a Q&A section so you can bring your questions and queries.
Want some help?
Garrett Learning creates welcoming, memorable, and learner-focused learning experiences to reach individual and business goals. Book a discovery call with us to see how Garrett Learning ( www.garrettlearning.co.uk ) can help:
- Lunch and learn workshops
- Leadership and development sessions
- MHFA England Programmes Open courses
- Bespoke training
- 1:1 Mentoring/Coaching
- The Work Retreat
- Become a Workplace Wellbeing Champion
Book a chat with Wendy here: https://scheduler.zoom.us/garrettlearning/1-1-cuppa-and-chat
We (Wendy and her growing team!) are here for you when you need us. We are here to hear you! We are kind in nature and open to hearing everyone’s point of view. Our training and overall learning experiences are built to ensure you feel comfortable and can be yourself.
If you want to discuss your future plans, I’d love to hear them! Get in touch!
m: 07859 878 599
c: https://scheduler.zoom.us/garrettlearning/1-1-cuppa-and-chat
l: www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-garrett-7522bb50/
f: www.facebook.com/GarrettLearning
i: www.instagram.com/garrettlearning
