Down at the coalface

Day 45 (Thursday 14th January 2016)

45 rpm vinyl phonodisc records and a bakerlite player were introduced in 1949,
by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), as they were seen as being smaller, more
durable and providing a higher fidelity recording than those produced on the traditional phonograph cylinders or 78 rpm gramophone records made of shellac.

Jon Bartlett is the author of today's post. Jon was one of the people I got to know soon after I first joined Twitter and, as well as being in contact via social media, we now meet when we can IRL, and I am proud to call him my friend. The three glorious photographs of sky-high drama and showers of sparks like a comet's tail, used to illustrate the year just gone, are all taken by Jon - as many of you know, he is a talented photographer. You can see more of his pictures on his work website: Project Libero, as well as getting a better feeling for him and how he operates. Jon is a coach, trainer, specialist mediator, mentor and one of the UK's recognised experts on mental health and related issues within the workplace. Jon writes an excellent blog at projectlibero.wordpress.com

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When I started my business I had a vague business plan about helping operational staff rather than executive teams. My experience in organisations led me to the conclusion that many of the frontline teams had management “done to them”, rather than it being collaborative or generative. I wanted to show staff how to manage upwards, how to take the initiative and become leaders themselves.

Along the way I got pleasantly side tracked into delivering a lot of training and consultancy on mental health and the organisational challenges (and opportunities) of managing this well. When I started this, I naively assumed that leadership teams would want to, well, lead on these issues. The reality was somewhat different. So as I look back and reflect on 2015 I realise how much time I’ve spent at “the coalface” this year. Not for me the comet trails of the C-suite but rather being down in the coal dust at an operational level. The place where lots of people want to see change, where they are willing to embody that change and push it upwards. With teams who are ready to seek forgiveness rather than permission.

This year

I’ve stood in front of a 15 strong SMT who all agreed that something “must be done” and were somewhat lost, until I pointed out that presumably we had all the necessary decision makers in the room…  And had their junior staff get on with setting up a knowledge sharing lunch and learn session.

I’ve had a senior operational leader discount my training to their staff as “more time with the men in white coats”….  And had their support staff make amazing adjustments to keep people on the team and bring them back to health and productivity.

I’ve heard a senior executive ponder on whether “we have those sort of people round here”….  And had 60% of their management cadre sign up for training and another 10% ask to be on a waiting list.

I don’t count those as my successes. Sure I was involved but I didn’t lead those initiatives. Good HR and L&D teams did. Motivated staff did.

My successes? Well the nature of my work these days mean that I spend a lot of time with people going through tough and frightening situations. Getting some of those people to look up and start to aim for the comet tails, for their own personal goals is reward in itself but perhaps my happiest moment was the time when someone talked to me about 10 years of self harm. The first time they’d spoken to someone other than a clinician and the trigger for them to ask for help from their employer to prevent it happening again.

All in all a successful year and with the prospect for more of the same in 2016, that’s enough to keep me chasing comets.

Focus - Day 53

Day 53 (22nd January 2015)

53 villages alone, from across the UK, required no war 
memorial after World War One.
The First World War lasted 53 months, from June 28 with the attack
on Sarajero, until Austria proclaimed the republic 
and its return to Germany, November 11, 1918.

Today's post is by Jon Bartlett, who has been an important figure throughout the history of the Advent Blog series - it was his impactful post, Courage, about the experience of suffering poor mental health, which you can read via this link, that resulted in the creation of #HR4MH (HR for Mental Health). Jon works as a coach and mediator, specialising in resilience and conflict resolution. Increasingly over the past few years he has become recognised as one of the UK's foremost experts in raising awareness of mental health. Jon has an active body as well as an active mind - he walks, cycles, travels, reads, and is a valued friend. He and I met via Twitter (his handle @projectlibero is the same as his business site, Project Libero). As well as being an inspirational writer and thinker, Jon is a talented photographer - all the pictures in the below post, summarising his journey over 2014, were taken by him during the course of the year. It is said that "a picture is worth a thousand words", certainly, these pictures spoke to me. 

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When my mind fractures and betrays me I often take comfort in nature. Over the years it has been an escape, a sanctuary and an analgesic. In 2014 I decided to try to make nature my teacher by studying shamanic practice. Now before you rush to imagine naked dancing round the campfire, painted faces or ritual sacrifice I had better reassure you that my studies have been far more prosaic. What they have involved is a greater appreciation of the world around me and a good deal of quiet reflection on rhythm and harmony within nature. I've looked at the seasons and the behaviour of animals, drawing wisdom from their innate reactions and responses. If I tried to write down all I have learned then we would be here a long time, so instead I offer you a quote from the photographer Ansel Adams:

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”

Whilst not in the same league as Adams, I take comfort from photography, as a way to record and retrieve some of the insights that nature gives me. Here are some images of my path and perceptions from my year on the “Red Road”

“Trail”

This picture was just an instinctive snap but actually as I looked at it again I realised that being out on the ‘trail” often helps me make sense of the thoughts which “ail” me.

“Reaching”

I lay under this tree a long time. Although damaged by fire it continues to grow and thrive - much like I do.

“Siesta Lake Reflection"

This reminded that the very best of us is often reflected in what we do for others.

“Formation”

Pelicans working as a team to search and quarter the water - a theme for me professionally this year.

“Relaxing”

This sea otter taught me about being willing to relax in any environment.

“Fallen”

This picture of rose petals reminds me of recent friendships that have crumbled and fallen, people worn down beyond the limit of their patience by the slowness of my recovery or hurt by the outbursts of rage I have fired at them. Those people remain ever bright and colourful in my mind.

“Fragility”

At the most beautiful stage of its life this butterfly was fragile and vulnerable.

“Hiding in plain sight”

However I feel about myself, most people won’t have noticed any dysfunction.

“Ghosts”

Many of my darkest thoughts are like these jellyfish - they can give an uncomfortable sting but they are not deadly. It’s learning which thoughts are the most dangerous which takes time.

“Intricate”

The complex connections here inspired me when I was working on a creative project this year.

“The gathering storm”

Light is sometimes found at the darkest of times.

“France to the left, Italy to the right"

Stood high on the Mont Blanc massif, I realised that most of the boundaries and limitations in my mind are man made and artificial - much like the borders between countries.  

“Last Day”

Trying to focus on the perfect sunset led to an insight about focussing on the texture / quality of my life now, right in front of me, rather than worrying about the happy ending.

Whilst there are no humans in these images Adams always maintained that there were two people in every photograph. The photographer and the viewer. I’ve told you where I am, so I hope you find something of yourself in these pictures and that you’ve enjoyed walking with me on my path for a brief while.

Landscape With Couple Walking and Crescent Moon
Vincent van Gogh, 1890

Walking Man - sung by James Taylor, 1974