Cancer, Coaching and Chatting
We are: Supportive – Curious – Welcoming – Encouraging – Straightforward. We are Garrett Learning.
Inside this month’s issue:
- What’s been happening: We spoke about Cancer.
- What’s new: I’m a qualified coach!
- What’s coming up: I’m going to be on the radio!
What’s been happening?
I’ve been growing my sunflowers! Just take a look at these beauties! My new logo was inspired by these vibrant flowers…
Sunflowers symbolise happiness, loyalty and resilience… This sums up Garrett Learning nicely! Sunflowers bring happiness and joy (I mean, just look at my face in that picture!) The bright yellow petals mimic the sun, instantly boosting moods and representing positive energy as well as symbolising resilience: These sturdy plants grow tall!
Resilience, it’s our bounce-back ability in tough and difficult times. A topic we recently spoke about on the Workplace Wellbeing monthly support session was something that requires a lot of support and resilience.
Talking about cancer is a difficult subject for so many people. I’m so thankful and appreciative that Sam Holt from Back to Life Cancer Support joined our online Workplace Wellbeing Session in August. For those who missed it, here is a summary of some of the points she spoke about:
Cancer has a human and economic cost to our businesses, with an annual cost of £85 billion to UK employers, which includes a loss of output when employees are unable to work, statutory sick pay and the hidden costs of temporary staff, recruitment, conflict resolution and administration.
Sam shared that every cancer journey is different and will need different support and treatment. As an employer/colleague/friend there are some ‘hidden effects’ to be aware of:
- ‘I used to be good at this and now I can’t do…’
- Sam spoke about ‘Chemo brain’ or brain fog
- Experiencing swollen limbs – it may become difficult for people to write/type
- ‘Scanxiety’ is a thing, where there is a pressure surrounding upcoming scans and waiting for the results
- Feeling worried about other people’s reactions
- If still at work, they will need to take time off for appointments
- Can feel out of touch with what’s going on
Sam shared some guidance on how to support an employee going through cancer, by talking through the options with the employee to see what would be helpful to them, such as:
- Providing weekly calls to keep them in the ‘loop’ and providing some kind of normality to their week
- Email team updates/minutes to meetings
- Share good news such as team personal achievements, births, holidays, retirements etc
Once the person is ready to come back to work, we can ask questions to see how they are feeling about returning to work, what they feel they might struggle with and what support they might need. This is where reasonable adjustments are considered:
- Flexible working: they might have more energy in the morning versus the afternoon.
- Work from home as the commute can be tiring
- Not travelling in rush hour to minimise contact with others as their immune system is lowered
- Additional breaks during the work day
- Address any distracting background noise
Please note, under the Equality Act 2010, Sam shared that people who have been diagnosed with cancer are considered to have a disability.
Sam shared lots of information about what to say and what not to say when the employee is off work or returning to work. For example, ‘You look well’ could be us assuming that they’re ok. Sam suggested that it’s better to say “It’s good to have you back”.
If the employee is off work, to agree what to tell the wider team and that it’s also ok to say that “I don’t want my medical details shared; however, thanks for asking”.
I was really shocked to hear that people have said ‘That’s a good cancer’ and ‘Don’t eat … , it feeds the cancer’. These comments and offering advice aren’t helpful or supportive.
If we don’t know what to say, it’s better to say just that ‘ I don’t know what to say, thanks for telling me’ or ‘You can talk to me about anything, or nothing at all’
Sam offers support to workplaces and individuals; she has lots of services for you, others and the corporate space, including her RISE programme and if you’re able to travel to Worcester, Sam hosts monthly drop-in sessions to talk in a supportive environment.
Find out more about Sam by visiting the website or connect with her on LinkedIn:
www.backtolifecancersupport.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-holt-backtolifecancersupport/
Thank you Sam! We appreciated your time on the session. Thank you to all who joined us.
What’s new?
I got there in the end! After 18 months, lots of coaching hours, reading, researching, and assignment writing, I did it! I’m now a qualified coach.
What does that mean for Garrett Learning?
The combination of ILM Level 5 Coaching & Mentoring, compassionate leadership/management training and mental health and wellbeing expertise provides support and will help people who never necessarily intended to become managers suddenly figure out how to lead other human beings!
The coaching element will be for new and emerging people managers, especially those who fall into the ‘Accidental Manager’ status – they have been promoted because they were great at their job, however, managing people requires a very different skill set. We help to develop that bit!
The term ‘Accidental Manager’ doesn’t mean an incompetent people manager. It means someone who found themselves managing people without necessarily choosing, preparing or training for it.
Perhaps you now need to have difficult conversations, give feedback, manage performance and motivate your team.
Maybe you have experienced poor management yourself. Coaching can help you develop your own leadership style, build confidence and learn how to lead with clarity and compassion.
You might find that everyone comes to you as a manager for answers and advice. This can be exhausting. Coaching gives you the confidential space to talk to someone external; you can step back, think clearly and work through those challenges that come with leading people.
Do you know someone- perhaps it’s you who falls into this category? I’d love to explore how coaching could help. Let’s have a no-pressure chat and learn a little more about what’s going on for you right now: https://scheduler.zoom.us/garrettlearning/1-1-cuppa-and-chat
Together we can help new and emerging managers become confident, capable and compassionate people leaders.
Find out more by visiting: https://www.garrettlearning.co.uk/services/coaching/
What’s coming up?
Mark the date in your calendar! Listen to Jen Goldie’s The Wellbeing Hour from Black Country Xtra on 11th Sept, featuring me! It’s available for 2 weeks. I will share the link once it’s out!)
We’re talking all things about workplace wellbeing, the accidental manager and supporting each other to thrive.
If we have inspired you to learn more, we have lots of training coming up:
- Mental Health Aware: A half-day awareness programme for everyone to learn a little more and understand what poor mental health can look like. It helps to break down the stigma that surrounds poor mental health and ask questions in a supportive and inclusive environment. £150 per person.
- Mental Health One Day Champion: This One Day programme provides an understanding of common mental health conditions and helps you understand what support is available to build a mentally healthy workplace. Mental Health First Aid England One Day programme has been designed to champion mental health in the workplace, understand mental health and how to look after your team, improve wellbeing and challenge stigma.£200 per person.
- Mental Health First Aider two-day programme: Become a Mental Health First Aider on this online two-day programme. We’ll provide an interactive and safe space to learn about poor mental health, how to have conversations with others and signpost where to go. We talk about setting boundaries, understand what self-care looks like, we practice conversations and get to ask all of our questions. £325 per person.
- Mental Health Skills for Managers: Understand the importance of supporting mental health in the workplace, the financial impact of poor mental health and how to have the conversation during this 4-hour course. £150 per person.
- MHFA for Managers two-day programme: People managers have increasing pressures, a department to run, increase productivity, save money and grow. On top of this, we have people to support in the workplace as well as looking after their health and wellbeing. We have adapted the Mental Health First Aider programme slightly to offer support and guidance for people managers. It’s the conversations that take place during the programme that is so powerful. Come and join us! £325 per person.
- Refresher: If you are a Mental Health First Aider, you have learned the skills for life that support you and the people around you. We believe that mental health should be treated equally to physical health, and just like physical first aid, Mental Health First Aid training should be kept up to date. Come and refresh your skills with us. £150 per person.
Take a look at https://www.garrettlearning.co.uk/services/mental-health-first-aid/ for the full details or to book our upcoming dates, please visit: https://www.garrettlearning.co.uk/book-here/
In supporting your continuous learning, Garrett Learning hosts complimentary monthly sessions. Come and join the other Workplace Wellbeing Champions. In September, we will be joined by Caroline Laudren who will be talking about Financial Wellbeing and the impact it can have on ourselves and those around us. Caroline helps people feel more confident about their money, whatever your situation.
Connect with Caroline in advance: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-laudren-quillet-dippfs-b29bb820/
Please join us on 9th September, 15:00-15:50GMT, please register here: https://www.garrettlearning.co.uk/services/workplace-well-being-champion/
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Come and connect with like-minded MHFAiders, wellbeing ambassadors, people managers and the HR team to embed their learning and to bridge the gap with some support, learning and growth. You’ll be able to ask your questions, keep up to date with your learning and development and collaborate with others during our complimentary session.
If you have any questions or queries, please do reach out to me: wendy@garrettlearning.co.uk or Whatsapp: +447859 878 599
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:
- People Manager Coaching
- Leadership and development sessions
- MHFA England Programmes Open courses
- Lunch and learn bitesize workshops
- Bespoke training
- Join our complimentary monthly online session for support, growth and guidance
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
t: www.tiktok.com/@garrettlearning
Last month I let you know I would be holidaying in Marrakesh. Life changes; sometimes curveballs are thrown. We will now be taking a break in Wales for a few days and Marrakesh can now wait until 2027, with good reason, we’ll get there soon.
See you soon,
Wendy
