004 Resilience, vulnerability and courage - creating balanced, powerful leadership

ALLI SPARGO Explores Human Behaviours at Work

Always thoughtful, quietly inspiring and hugely courageous, Julia Simister is Deputy Chief Operating Office of NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Authenticity is first

“The first thing that springs to mind about human behaviours at work is about being authentic. I try to be the best version of myself, every day.”

Vulnerability - an innate part of being human

“one of the aspects of being a human being, is about being vulnerable. And that's an innate part of being a human ……. it comes from people feeling vulnerable, because they feel threatened or they're uncertain. And you have to, in my experience of being open and honest, and perhaps sharing with my team that I'm not sure about something, or I'm not feeling quite the best version of myself that day has been quite a revelation.”

The importance of balance

I was talking to my God-daughter …who’s… recently starting out on her career. And she said, it's so great to hear you say about being open and sharing how you feel in a particular situation, because it validates it for everyone. And it makes it okay for everyone to not be okay on a particular day.….Its also important for them to know that perhaps on some days, you don't want to share it. And that's okay, too. For me, it's that real balance”

Building safe psychological space

(Vulnerability) …. came out as a real positive thing. There was no judgment in the space, the reaction was very positive, there was no judgment, and it was really good experience for everyone, ……by this person expressing their views and their difficulties, it enabled everyone else in the team to go “Okay, that's really good”. ….some of them (also) felt a bit “not sure” about things. I do think it's about opening up that (psychologically safe) space. And it's probably to do with culture as well, and making people realize, you know that this is how we are as a team – it’s is okay to feel like that. And that's what being part of a team is all about.

Resilience is like a spectrum or risk threshold

…resilience is probably like a spectrum or risk threshold … they acknowledged openly that they had reached their threshold or were coming to it, and actually needed help in order to fulfill the role and carry on being the super human being they are, being the best version of themselves. But at that time, ….I'm feeling not as strong as usual. And the reasons why ….. was a revelation, it was really inspiring.

Confidence and Courage are key

I started windsurfing …. It certainly taught, and continues to teach me how you need to keep going and try different things. I've learned so much from the experience, I had no choice but to ask for help. So, I couldn't be reluctant in coming forward because I didn’t have a clue. And I really had to put my hands up in front of all these real experts and say No, I really don't know, can you help me? And everyone was really willing (to help).

ABOUT JULIA SIMISTER

As a science and business graduate Julia started out working in the life sciences before joining the NHS, working in several London teaching hospitals as a biomedical scientist. With a curiosity for experiencing life in different ways, Julia enjoyed a short spell in a military hospital in the Middle-East before returning to the NHS.

Driven by a passion for enabling improvements and development, Julia has worked within Quality Improvement and Clinical Research within the NHS for many years. Making connections and making a difference through advancing health and care. Working collaboratively with a diverse range of people across complex systems is what Julia loves to do.

CONNECT WITH JULIA

https://twitter.com/juliasimister

https://local.nihr.ac.uk/lcrn/kent-surrey-and-sussex/

[e-mail]

ABOUT THE HOST – ALLI SPARGO

Alli is the mother of two daughters and a son, a wife, a daughter and a sister. She is also an executive leadership coach who passionately believes that every individual has the potential to be who they want to be, and do what they want to do (she is living proof of that!): to BE the BEST version of themselves. Alli specialises in behavioural performance as an executive leadership and systemic team coach. Her breadth of business experience, together with her coaching and facilitation expertise, enables her to enhance leadership capability and personal impact, whilst understanding the demands of the commercial and organisational environment.

WORK WITH ALLI

If you would like explore how working with Alli would support you to be the person you want to be, have the career (and life) you want to have and support your team to perform at their optimum, then please book a free 1 hour meeting with her: booking-Exploring-Human-Behaviours-At-Work-with-Alli

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HOSTED BY: Alli Spargo

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