When Gavin Larkin first planned R U OK? Day, our mission was never just about one day of the year. The one day did provide a point of focus, and it has served us well. We will always have one day that we celebrate, but it is not enough. R U OK?’s reach and impact […]
READ MOREBurnout is not about you, it’s about us
To pretend that mental health issues are solely due to an employee’s inability to cope, is like pretending that our bushfire crisis has nothing to do with global warming. If we pretend that global warming is not happening and don’t address the root causes, our bushfire issues are likely to intensify. Likewise, with employee […]
READ MOREBushfires, mental health, and selfcare – some useful resources
I had a heartbreaking phone call on Monday. A really caring and community-minded woman from the NSW South Coast explained why things were so desperate. In her town, there were still 420 people living in an evacuation centre. Many were dairy farmers who had lost their houses, were without electricity, and many of their cows […]
READ MOREHow to have fierce mental health conversations at work
What do you think of when you hear the word fierce? Fierce can sound savage and aggressive, but in Roget’s Thesaurus, it reveals the following synonyms: robust, intense, powerful, passionate, eager, unbridled, and untamed. I’m really fortunate to have a mentor who is a very successful CEO of an 8000-employee organisation. When we recently met, […]
READ MOREGraeme Cowan’s new speaker sizzle reel and speakers kit
Well today feels like a new day – and as Buddha says “What we do today matters most”. Today, I’m really excited to launch a whole range of new resources and videos. Jenny Thomson (my Business Manager) and I, have been working really hard over the last 3 months to produce a range of resources […]
READ MOREHow to eTrain thousands of employees to be better at asking R U OK? in 20 minutes
In eLearning pilots we recently completed with the University of Sydney and Ernst & Young, and 53 other people from 21 organisations: 94% said they were more confident they could help a mentally distressed colleague, and; 96% rated it 7/10 or above– in how likely they would recommend it to a colleague or friend (Net Promoter Score) We have […]
READ MORE5 great leadership lessons from our Governor General + 4 others
( Photo: Sara Ross) (His Excellency, David Hurley, me, Naomi Frauenfelder (Tracksafe), Katherine Newton (R U OK?) How do leaders inspire commitment and action? I talked with 5 remarkable leaders in Canberra on Wednesday who are doing this every day. I had the privilege of meeting our new Governor-General, General David Hurley, and his wife […]
READ MORE29 Great R U OK? Day @ Work Ideas for 2019
(Image: Lisa Nichols, Woolgoolga) As September 12 approaches, many people have been asking me for some ideas to celebrate R U OK? at work. Below are some ideas that have come from a number of sources, including entries in the 2019 Barbara Hocking R U OK? at Work awards, ideas I have put together, and […]
READ MOREKnowing 40% of doctors are burnt out, should worry us all
In findings just released this week, more than 40% of doctors—and 50% of female doctors—are burned out, according to Medscape’s 2019 research. Every Australian should be horrified by this. Having a son about to graduate from medical school, I am very angry. Although this is USA research, as I reveal below – Australian research and anecdotes, suggest […]
READ MORE10 Commandments of Truly Caring Leadership
Many people are overwhelmed by the rate of change in the workplace. As we rush into the digital revolution, workplaces can seem less human, and yet we all yearn to feel accepted for who we are. Loneliness at work has become a significant problem. We want to be part of a caring team, have a […]
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