Rasheed Ogunlaru's Blog, page 25

Health, healing & putting patients first

Over the last few months I’ve been very pleased and proud to have taken part in a pilot project with 3 NHS Health Trusts to improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities of ethnic minority service users in the mental health service. 

It was last year when Dr Vivienne Lyfar-Cisse, Chair of the NHS National BME Network approached me to run three sets of training sessions for service users and three sets of training sessions for service users / their advocates to help then bring both groups together to develop a joint Reverse Commissioning Plan based on the service users needs and voice. The programme has been based around empowering and enabling the community and enlightening and educating professionals to enhance service delivery.

When I was first asked to run the training part of the project I was not sure I was the best person to deliver this project. This is despite my experience as a coach, trainer, speaker as former Co-Director of Samaritans (Central London) and work I had previously done nationally and in Bright and Sussex to help develop BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) staff . I felt that perhaps i required someone with a real specialism in the field of health, mental health and the sector.  Yet  Dr Vivienne persisted and felt I was right do help on this first stage of the project. I’m very glad that she did.

What I discovered – once again – is that people are quite remarkable. The project with mental health NHS Trusts in Northampton, Norfolk & Suffolk and Derbyshire led me to work with remarkably wonderful service users, community advocates and professionals in all these parts of the country. 

The above film made by Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust will give you a flavour of the project overall. I just want to thank everyone involved in the project across all the Trusts and the equality and diversity managers including Harinder in Derbyshire, Rav in Norfolk & Suffolk and Richard, Judith and Diana in Northampton who did so much work to enable, support and manage the project. Also huge thanks to Dr Vivienne for the vision and drive of the project overall.

Finally a message to the incredible service users, advocates and professionals. I’ve been so thrilled and impressed by how you’ve engaged and now connected together to form one Reverse Commissioning Group in each Trust. It’s this meeting of minds and hearts – mindful, respectful, honouring and celebrating of our differences – that will really enhance our services, wellbeing and communities. I look forward to seeing many of you at the National NHS BME Annual Conference in London this Friday

 Do check out the film above.

 

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Guest blog: A CEOs guide from distress to de-stress

 A CEO’s guide from distress to de-stress

Guest Blog: By Charlotte Corner,  journalist / PR and content executive at SearchLaboratory.com

Has the start of 2015 been demanding, with hectic deadlines, chaotic time plans and pressured workloads? Often the unspoken terror of stress leads to burnouts and poor performance, but what the mind, body and soul really needs is an urgent break, complete with relaxation and wellness. With the help of our eight stress experts, The Ultimate Travel Company looks at what stress is and how taking time out will help you to recharge your batteries.

 

The experts

 

Neil Shah is the Chief De-stressing Officer at The Stress Management Society.

Chris Johnson is the CEO and Founder of On Target Living.

Tiffany Cruikshank is a health and wellness expert, author of Optimal Health for a Vibrant Life, and founder of Yoga Medicine.

 

Rasheed Ogunlaru is life and business coach, author of Soul Trader.

 

Jonathan Alpert is a New York psychotherapist, executive coach, and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days.

Cat Williams is the author of Stay Calm and Content No Matter What Life Throws At You, and founder of Stay Calm and Content.

Joan Frances Moran is a creative thought leader and motivational expert.

 

Bryan Richards is a health and safety consultant at Arinite.

 
 
 
 

 

Are you stressed?

Being aware of stress and the affect it has on work and relationships may not be as obvious as it seems. So with the help of our experts, we have looked at a range of signs which may indicate that you are stressed.

Cat Williams says: Stress, put simply, is a feeling of ‘I don’t think I can cope with this’. When we are overwhelmed it is a threat to our well-being, so our fight or flight response kicks in. You might notice that you are sweating more, breathing quicker and shallower as well as snapping at other people, being argumentative and impatient.

Rasheed Ogunlaru says: Being stressed can burn bridges in personal and business relationships. By not addressing the problems you’re facing, health issues can develop and infringe on your creative thinking. Workaholics may put themselves under high pressure to exceed more than the typical working hours, falling into the potentially dangerous trap of comparing themselves to others.

Joan Moran says: There are times when the office can be difficult and challenging with constant changes and distractions that lead to stress, irritation and even a sense of disengagement. Stress results from a build-up of anxiety and uncertainty throughout the day, week, month or year, it’s cumulative.

Chris Johnson says: Stress is necessary to create optimal performance but if it’s too much, your body will talk back to you. You can monitor stress by checking your resting heart rate or blood pressure and notice signs such as having problems falling asleep or staying asleep.

Neil Shah says: Our performance zone is optimal to drive mental, physical and emotional performance. Above this zone is edging towards burnout where our problem solving, lateral thinking and creative thinking skills will diminish. Below the performance zone we may find ourselves unmotivated, energy and enthusiasm will be low and we will be bored sluggish and lethargic.

 

How may stress be affecting you?

Stress at its best can give you that useful adrenaline rush to help you think faster and more efficiently, however, there is a turning point when it becomes detrimental to yourself as well as your work. Being under stress, Rasheed Ogunlaru explains that you’re only working to forty to sixty percent of your capacity and can negatively impact your employees as the stress is accumulatively passed onto them.

When that pressure is excessive or continuous, Bryan Richards points out that CEO’s suffer most from a lack of concentration and poor decision making, whilst Neil Shah warns of a burnout and further serious health conditions.

He said: “Take Barclays’ head of compliance and Lloyds Banking Group CEO – both have had to take time away from work due to stress and exhaustion.”

 

What are the misconceptions of relaxing?

People often believe that there needs to be a perfect moment in time where things calm down to allow them to relax, yet the reality is that life never slows down and as a CEO or manager, there’s never the perfect time to relax.

Tiffany Cruikshank says: “Another misconception is that if you don’t feel stressed then you don’t have a problem. High stress levels on a daily basis leads to the body to bypass those sensations or reminders of stress.”

Others may have a completely different perception of relaxation: “You do not have to sit on your desk cross-legged, meditating and humming to be able to relax at work,” says Neil Shah, “the key is to incorporate relaxation into your day like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or taking your lunch away from your desk or even better – outdoors.”

 

Expert solutions to help you relax

There are a variety of methods to help you relax and relieve tension, regardless of whether you are in the office, at home or out and about in stressful situations.

Make time to socialise

Do not define yourself by work alone; know that you’re much more than an executive, Jonathan Alpert says. “Those who define themselves by their careers are more prone to being impacted negatively by work stress, whereas those who make it a point to wear other hats can thus enjoy varied aspects of life”. “It’s all about planning,” says Bryan Richards, “a CEO plans for their busy working day, so plan to ‘switch off’ and include social times into the day too.”

 

Manage your time

“A CEO needs to work shrewdly and only work until the work gets done”, says Rasheed Ogunlaru, who recommends setting alarms as a reminder of when to leave the office. “Book in important dates first such as time for family, holiday, fun and relaxation; remember there are only limited hours.” Neil Shah advises that good time management is essential when handling a heavy workload without excessive stress, prioritising the workload in order of urgency and importance will help. For example:

Do now: these are both urgent and important
Plan to do: these are important but not urgent
Reject diplomatically: these might be urgent but are not important
Resist and cease: these are both non-urgent and non-important

CEOs should also use the skills of the managers to do work. Bryan Richards says: “Delegation is sometimes difficult, but it is good management and reduces your personal workload. Being able to effectively delegate enables you to take more time out from work and relax.”

Take a break

Prioritising time for pleasurable activities is what Cat Williams advises to reduce stress. Ask yourself ‘with whom do I feel at my best?’ and ‘what activities make me feel at my best?’ and prioritise those. Neil Shah also encourages senior leaders to incorporate personal priorities, adding that starting a culture of wellbeing begins at the top. “The CEO has a responsibility to lead by example, so if you are emailing your team at 10pm, you are promoting bad habits.”

 During the working day, CEOs need to take advantage of their breaks and use them as such. Step out of the office, go for a walk and get sunlight. For an instant release of tension, rub gently or press the acupuncture points which you can find at the sides of the bridge of your nose, around your eyes, soles of your feet and fists.

Switch off

Chris Johnson recommends a bath once a week for 15 minutes using Epsom salts. “These salts will seep into your body and the body’s magnesium levels will increase helping you to relax.” Technology is also a worldwide problem and Chris urges to keep mobile phones 10 feet away from the head during the sleep as a result of the impact of the waves. “Also texting and checking emails at 3am is not necessary. Once a month, people should have a 24 hour technology break.”

 

Achieve mindfulness

Reaching mindfulness will help you see the possibilities and opportunities so you can prioritise with purpose. Joan Moran adds, “A CEO can do this by setting aside 10 minutes each day to quiet the mind and practise observing thoughts and anxieties without passing judgment – simply experiencing them.” When you are overwhelmed, simply slow your mind and observe the thoughts, don’t label them as bad or good. CEOs need to practise focusing on the present moment and nothing else, as it will tell you everything you need to know about where you want to go next. 

Take a deep breath

Deep breathing helps to bring cortisol levels down and to bring the nervous system into relaxation mode. Tiffany Cruikshank suggests setting an alarm on your phone a couple of times a day to remind you to do the following breathing exercise: 

Sit up in your chair and close your eyes to begin.
As you close your eyes, start to notice the natural pace of your breath. Sometimes you might notice the breath is choppy or short, sometimes it might feel more relaxed and longer paced. The quality is not important but just start to become an observer to the process of the breath, the natural movement of the breath.
Then start to count your inhale and exhale and see if you can make your exhale a little longer than the inhale. For example if you inhale for a count of four try to exhale for a count of five or six.
Continue this for one or two minutes.

The exhalation helps to tap into the parasympathetic mode where you can be most efficient in your work and reduce the effects of stress on your body.

Revitalise yourself- take a break

Take yourself away from the everyday norm to properly unwind and escape from the hectic office schedule and daily routine. Finalise your journey from distress to de-stress at some of the most relaxing destinations:

The beach holiday

Surrounded by tropical turquoise waters and pristine beaches in the Indian Ocean is Denis Island (Seychelles). With limited Wi-Fi and a sustainable farm, this island allows holiday goers to be at one with nature.

The rainforest holiday

Lapa Rios is a remote and pristine rainforest setting in Costa Rica, abundant with wildlife and natural ecology. The phone-free paradise gives visitors the chance to go horse riding, kayaking, waterfall rappelling or tour the national parks.

The spa holiday

Perfectly tranquil, is India’s Vana Malsi Estate, which has a philosophy that will help anyone find their inner peace and wellbeing. The retreat offers Ayurvedic therapies and yoga exercises to revitalise spirits with detox programmes and restaurants that serve healthy, organic foods.

Whilst we all address stress differently, it’s crucial that you prioritise your health, wellbeing and relationships. Being in control of these will allow you to do your best, without the fear of burning out. Make the most of leisure time and strive to meet your personal goals, not just business goals. Doing so will help you to achieve

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Rasheed in conversation with Simon Paul Sutton

“It’s not the world that needs to change – it’s our consciousness we must raise” - Rasheed Ogunlaru

Leading life / business coach Rasheed Ogunlaru in conversation with Simon Paul Sutton as part of the Simon on The Sofa show of transformational conversation. 

This talk touches on a range of topics including awareness, acceptance, peace, purpose, consciousness and connection. 

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Join me at Networking for Success – my new monthly event

When I run networking and professional / business development events I often say –  referring to my own business – “If I don’t meet, I don’t eat” to highlight that networking and making meaningful connections is crucial to your success and survival if you are your own boss – and increasingly so in any career. 

I feel that it is not people’s talents alone that shape their success; we are all incredibly talented and I believe that everyone’s talents – and potential talent – actually balances out. There are many factors; our circumstances, resources along with all manor of unfairnesses, inequalities and conscious and unconscious practices and prejudices. Outside of this it’s how we play the hand that we’re given and how we connect and engage with others that is key. Being resourceful, creative and resilient are major factors.

What’s all this got to do with networking generally and my Networking for Success event? Well quite a lot. As a species we are interdependent and inter-related business requires networking in the same way that organisations – as the name suggests – requires people working together co-operatively and in an organised manor. The degree of their success and survival depends – to a very large degree – on how well and authentically this is done. This is something that I’ve always been passionate about. It’s what the Co-operation and Conversations chapters of my book Soul Trader is all about and it’s what my new workshop is about.

Over the years I’ve attended hundreds of formal and informal networking events. To me what makes a great networking event is creating the right conditions to help people to really relax, feel comfortable, feel welcome, feel able to be themselves.  For many years I’ve gently toyed with the idea of running a networking event and now I’m pleased to have done so. What’s unique about Networking for Success is it blends 3 things: 1) understanding and developing a strategy 2) boosting the skills to network authentically, skilfully and naturally 3) The opportunity to put it in practice and meet like-minded people of all sorts of backgrounds to develop con acts and connections. 

 

Networking for Success

Monthly @British Library Business & IP Centre

Join leading life coach, motivational speaker and business / corporate coach, Rasheed Ogunlaru author of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business for this unique event to help you build your business, win new opportunities and contacts – and to punch beyond your weight. It is ideal if you’re starting or growing your own venture or indeed if you are looking to develop your skills to gain greater professional career opportunities.

Overall this empowering seminar and networking event will help you win customers, contacts and business opportunities by developing the clarity, confidence, communication skills to build rich relationships and connections to help you flourish. It will also help you carry out your networking effectively, authentically, with integrity – and free from nerves.

 

You will leave the seminar able to:

* Develop a strategic, effective action of plan for networking and business

* Overcome networking nerves, stress and anxieties

* Make a powerful, positive and punchy impression

* Find your own authentic networking style, approach and voice

* Become interested in others and make them interested in you

* Create rapport, respect, relationships and then rewards

* Identify the right people in the right places to network

* Work a room effectively and confidently

* Follow-up, forge links, friendships, partnerships and create opportunities

* Create win-win situations and learn the importance of being earnest. 

Who should attend?

* You / anyone who wants or needs to win more influence, contacts, customers or business

* You / anyone who fears or loathes networking – or indeed if you really love it.

* You / anyone looking to further develop their career and professional opportunities.

*You / anyone looking to build people and customer skills. 

Where? Venue: British Library Business & IP Centre 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

2015 Dates: 4pm-7.30pm on: 13 May, 17 June, 21 July, 19 Aug, 16 Sep, 14 Oct, 10 Nov and 8 Dec.

BOOK NOW:

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Networking for Success: with Rasheed Ogunlaru run at and in partnership with the British Library Business & IP Centre.

 

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How to motivate yourself and others

One of the things that people ask me about most often when I run events, talks and workshops is motivation. I meet people who are keen to motivate themselves in their life, career and other areas. I meet those who manage or who supervise teams or who run businesses who are looking to motivate and engage their team and staff. It’s a topic that comes up a lot as a coach and of course as a motivational speaker. If you are looking to motivate yourself or others then the clue is in the word…

The core of the word motivation is the word ‘motive’. So in order to motivate people you need to naturally understand what their motives, drivers, values and priorities are. Motivation is no something that you do to others to make them more inspired, engaged or productive.  There is only really a small degree to which this is true and it only works when – once again – you know what the values, motives, drivers and priorities of yourself and others are. 

Just stop and thin for a moment about your life and your career. Think about the managers who you have had who have been great. Think about those who have been awful. Thinks about those friends and family members, teachers, colleagues, peers, people who you have met who have had a rich impact on you and those who have had a poor impact. Think a little bit about businesses and service providers who you you have had dealings with. Think about politicians and leaders. How effective are those people whose agenda is that they want to influence you, win you over and get you to do this or that. How effective are they when they don’t listen to you, when they don’t understand you, when they don’t ask you, when they don’t learn what makes you tick. 

Turn your attention once again to those people in your life who have taken time to get to now you, who listen o you, who are genuinely interested in you, who ask and find out what’s important to you. How effective are they? How rich are those relationships? How easy is it to get things done in these circumstances? How productive have you become in these circumstances? How much have you learned? How easy is it to learn? How many more hours have you put in in these circumstances? 

In the video above I explore this topic far more closely. Once you understand motivation more deeply it’s amazing how powerful and profound it can be. If you are a business owner, a manager a supervisor or have a role in which you need to engage and influence people in any way then you’ll find this useful. 

 

Your life story: part reality, fallacy & fantasy

 

“Our life stories are at one and the same time part reality, part fallacy and part fantasy” – Rasheed Ogunlaru. 

This video helps you explore your life journey and your life story. It helps you revisit and re-consider the stories you have been told about yourself and life itself and to the narrative that you tell yourself and others. This revisiting can be very liberating and powerful.

I go on to explore our relationships to stories and how we tell our stories as individuals, as groups, as a business and organisations. I also touch on our fascination with stories through books through to movies and invite you to re-consider how you can more powerfully and authentically tell your own story.

 

Spring is here – give your life a good clear

I’m writing this on what has been the warmest year of the year so far. We’re now into the spring. The temperature is changing, nature is changing, flowers are blooming, the trees are beginning to blossom. You are not separate from nature. Perhaps you’re at a time of change or ready for it.

I recently had a wonderful conversation with a colleague who was really feeling that they wanted to shake everything up. She was staring to question what was important to her in all areas – at work and at home. But not just that she was also at a point that she wanted a fresh outlook, a new mindset and  refreshed way of looking at things. Perhaps you can identify with that?  Where are you at? What feels as though it needs a tweak or a change. 

Perhaps you’re at a point where you thinking of changing your home around or moving home. Perhaps you’re at a point where you feel you’re a bit tired or stuck in your job and you want a new post, company – or even a career. Perhaps you’re your own boss and you’re wanting to shake up your business. Maybe it’s a time where you’re ready for new friendships, new relationships – or you’re wanting to refresh existing ones. Or perhaps you’re waning to do new things, go to new places, experience new foods, new thoughts, new things to do, get back in touch with your creativity, get back outdoors or in the garden. The list goes on and on. 

What feels right for you? How are feeling? What feels as though it’s going on beneath the surface. It might not be that clear yet. It may feel more like a build up more than a bossing at the moment. It’s all part of the process. But you may well find a physical clear out in a room, your home, your office and elsewhere may help create that space and may well create a better state of mind.

If this resonates with you then do check out and click on the video above. It’s my most recent free monthly webinar that I hod once a month over on Soul-Trader.biz. There’s lots of tips for your home, work, relationships and business. My guest is accomplished NLP hypnotherapist, Diana Powley.  Diana helps people overcome all sorts of doubts, fears, phobia, unhealthy habits and helps them develop a healthier mindset. Her work includes helping people stop smoking, loose weight, eat more healthily, overcome fears such as fear or flying and public speaking – and let go of all sorts of baggage from the past. We explore much of this in the talk above and you can find Diana via the hyperlink above which takes you to her website. 

 

Self Love & Self Care

It’s quite possible that many relationships will be significant in your life: family, good friends, partners, certain colleagues and business relationships and others that you know socially. But of all the relationships the most significant one will be that relationship that you have with yourself.

Every Sunday 11.25am-12noon I currently do a 35min guest slot on Colourful Radio’s “Self Central” Show with Lisa Bent where we explore various aspects of life and self and I thought I’d post one of those radio  slots for you here to enjoy. Just click to play. 

 

Your mindset, your wellbeing

What’s the link between health and mindset? To what degree does you relationship toward yourself, your health and your life affect your state of health and your health outcomes?  How do you feel about yourself and your wellbeing – and what’s your own relationship with you mind like? Yesterday I caught up with my friend and holistic wellbeing coach, Adam Cox to talk to him about various aspect of life, health and wellbeing.

As a life coach I’ve always been fascinated  by the link between mindset and our everyday wellbeing and  fascinated by coaching in sport – and how mindset plays a crucial role in separating two elite athletes or teams. In Adam’s own life he was a talented swimmer, then had a major health challenge and trained to become a health and fitness expert. Today he helps people of all backgrounds recover, re-couperate and progress holistically; mind, body and spirit.

Be it that you’re keen to be motivated to get fit, go to the gym, eat more healthily or just to improve your confidence, wellbeing, self belief and self esteem I think you’ll find our conversation above insightful, interesting and useful. Overall this talk is designed to help you to move to a more ‘healthy’ relationship with yourself, your body and who you are – and to have a more empowered take on managing your life and well-being.

 

The 5 sides of love

When we think of relationships we often first think or romance, Valentine’s Day and finding that perfect match. The reality is that there’s much more to relationships than this. Here are 5 tips to help you move on up in love.


Step 1 Self Love: The first step to a rich, joyful and rewarding life is self-love. You will not be able to find lasting fulfilment in relationships, career or any aspect of your life until you accept yourself. Any beliefs that you hold that you’re unworthy, unlovable or incomplete are simply beliefs – stories you’ve been told and clung on to. The moment that you embrace, respect and appreciate yourself and life – and others will too. Self-love is the key to all love.

Step 2 Family Ties: Some families are tightly bonded. Some feel like a knot. Some may have no ‘family’. You did not select where / when you were born. You did not control who your parents and siblings were, nor their personalities. Acceptance of this is important if you’ve had strained relationships. If you have been fortunate about how these things have turned out then appreciation is in order. Either way the more you can allow yourself to be yourself and others to themselves – giving space and support in the measure that you are able – the richer, healthier and happier your family life will be.  

Step 3 Genuine connections at work, socially and business: In the course of life we interact with people all the time at home, work, socially, passing-by the street. Some of those relationships are more significant than others e.g. mother-child boss and employee. Whatever the roles and titles the key to all relationships is a genuine interest in the other and their wellbeing. I often point out that it’s always wise to be warm to others for you may not know what’s just happened to them immediately before they arrived in the office, train platform or back home. Look beyond your own assumptions, assertions and ego. Connect beyond the label  – connect at the heart not just the head – and you will find that all your relationships will become richer and healthier overnight.

In your working relationships be mindful of your values, goals, role and those of the individuals groups and organisations concerned. My 3 Golden Rules: always be 1) Personable 2) Professional 3) Deliver in words and deeds.

Step 4 Friendships: Friendships emerge and blossom through the (often natural) process above. They can take many forms. When any type of relationship is rich there will be an element of friendship in it. Companionship, co-operation, support, fun and creativity can bloom. Your friendships are likely to be among some of the most important, supportive and enduring relationships in your life. If you’ve forged good, organic, nourishing, mutually supportive friendships then pour this learning into all your other bonds.

Step 5 Partnerships / lovers: Partnership can emerge and blossom when you are mindful of all the other steps. It is a myth that you are incomplete until you find your ‘other half’. However it is possible that you can experience, grow and appreciate yourself powerfully through this special relationship where two can connect on all levels.  If you are seeking that special relationship it will become available to you when you become available to yourself. My tip honour 3 things 1) yourself 2) your partner and 3) the relationship. Have the welfare of all three in mind at all times.

Remember: The old adage that some relationships are for a ‘reason’, ‘season’ or a ‘lesson’ is valuable to note in all relationships but may bring comfort in being mindful of with regard partners. Some relationships may last for most of a lifetime – may be short-lived. What’s really important is the richness, the kindness, the value, the self and mutual appreciation and encouraging all parties to grow and have warmly fulfilling lives