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#Alongisider meets Dr. Iain McCormick, a New Zealand-based coach and therapist, who transitioned from hard sciences to a lifelong exploration of human psychology and its workplace applications. His research highlights a compelling insight: successful psychotherapy outcomes correlate primarily with relationship quality rather than professional expertise. This finding raises a profound question: Does this principle extend beyond therapy to all professional—or even personal—relationships?
As an accomplished author of coaching books that integrate therapeutic approaches, Dr. McCormick specializes in working with "angry bosses." His guiding principle is striking: "Don't say anything until the client is ready to listen." This deceptively simple approach prioritizes presence over intervention.
When asked which clients he finds most challenging, Dr. McCormick candidly admits it's angry individuals. His solution? "Deliberate practice"—a methodical approach to developing comfort with discomfort.
For anyone seeking to transform challenging conversations from dreaded encounters into welcome opportunities for growth, Dr. McCormick's insights offer a practical pathway forward.
https://iainmccormick.net/
https://philipcrocker.com/the-alongsider
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#Alongsider advises fastening seatbelts for this delightful conversation with Claire Pedrick and Dr Judith Mohring. For those who seek a compassionate and practical understanding of Neurodiversity - this really is for you. We discuss 'dream polishing' - is it really good enough? Is it 'not yet' though a wonderful idea. Is that intense annoyance and distraction more than unhelpful - positively painful? Is there a name for this way of responding? There is - its misophonia. Claire and Judith share candidly their lives personally and professionally with ADHD. This serves as a reframe of the predictable and offers us an alternative response, however we experience the world. If your desire is to meet people where they are, they advise 'getting out of the boat' and into the water with the other person. This may well be mutually transformational. Judith builds on this with her open invitation to men to 'come to the vulnerability party'. The work place might experience bosses differently and our community and family life may recover intimacy and understanding and thrive. I commend this to you.
https://www.thenaturalpsychiatrist.com/;https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepedrick/; https://philipcrocker.com/the-alongsider
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Alongsider meets Emily Hinks, founder of Mischief Makers, a future of work agency that seeks to unlock potential by reframing 'fun'. Yes, she believes from hard evidence that serious results do not require serious behaviour. She is patient and those who work with her experience an acceptance and the freedom to be themselves to get some extraordinary things done. When working with the not-yet-converted, stony organisational face, she waits for the lifting of the eyebrow as an indicator that things are about to transform. This is an example of her patience and joyous humanity. She comes from the performing arts and brings a breath of fresh air to places that need a blow through, As an Alongsider people say she brings patience and grace. For herself, she loves working with diversity (she shares she has ADHD) and all those allowing her to work through apparent chaos to getting meaningful and important things done. This is a great conversation and I commend it to you, so relevant in the shaking of 2025.
https://www.mischiefmakers.co/
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#Alongsider - welcome back to season 2 of the podcast - finding your place and taking your place. We start this week on Friday with a wonderful conversation with Emily Hinks of Mischiefmakers facilitators. More on that shortly. For now, a little about what is coming up. We have used an AI tool to interrogate the 40 conversations from the episodes in 2024 and there seem to be 17 (yes, 17) traits that are appreciated both by the Alongsider and those alongside. We also asked the tool to consider these traits with Enneagram Type to see what that revealed. I will be sharing this over the coming months probably by theme. It will be so good to see what comes up for you with our findings. So please do share your thoughts. Equally, we have more lovely Alongsider conversations, some one to one and for others we are joined by a third person. Really looking forward to you joining us and see you soon.
https://philipcrocker.com/
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Alongsider's 40th and final Episode for 2024 and we meet Christopher AKA Peter Hill - one of life's genuine enthusiasts and Jestor (the only one at court who cannot be killed off). A highly skilled engineer who has been called to bring 'oil' and order to many varied situations from complex engineering challenges, manuafacturing processes, Board & Senior Leadership teams. His grandmother was a wonderful influence and encourager to a quiet and introverted young boy. She showed how all social events (inc Dinner Parties et al) needed listeners and speakers. All he has learnt he brings in a unique way - often to help us navigate with great skill the journey from micro-manager to coach. He says unkindness is probably to biggest obstacle to getting great things done. He doesn't tinker - his way is one of 'radical interference' to transformation. What could be better? I commend this to you and Joy this Christmas and a Happy New Year of new and energising adventures in 2025.
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Alongsider talks with Peter Brook, an Engineer fascinated by how things work. He shares this with his ancestry, one of whom invented the clocking-in machine - the time clock. Peter's main interest is in how things work together and particularly people. He has huge heart for community and believe this is the staple for how we experience life at its fullest and most raw. He has spent many years working in this way within the NHS and elsewhere (e.g. Citizen's Advice). He launched an initiative (EU funded, one of the last) within the Kent Community Care Trust to bring together central health care and District Nursing. This saw all those deployed across the region being enable and empowered to make good decision at the point of delivery. This meant building a new level of trust with the senior executives and across the network - the whole people system aligned. The outcome was higher levels of satisfaction and performance, lower absenteeism and higher retention of valuable expertise. He has also introduced Parish Nursing (Alongside Community Fridge, AA and Badminton etc. ) to his own Staplehurst Free church which he leads part time. The nurses provided further 'community glue' to organisations in transition who are largely very stretched. This includes GPs, social services et al. So helping the whole work better together is what Peter brings to the party. This approach can and will be replicated more widely. It offers more for less and with more joy. What's not to love? I commend this to you.
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Alongsider meets Dean Nicholas, normally known as Nick, currently responsible for the spiritual and organisational life of Salisbury Cathedral. His has not been an obvious path as he started in criminal law serving 7 years largely defending until he discovered that the Law could not always bring about a wise outcome. He then stepped into the role he has had a heart for ever since - that of priest. One where more wholesome outcomes are perhaps possible. He shares his love of the Beatles from an early age from 'Please, please...I want to hold your hand' and suggests that perhaps 'God is the great Alongsider.'. He spent 3 months as part of a small group witnessing justice done for all in Jerusalem. Working with those whose hearts are for Peace from all sides. He shares that the Church has been shamed and fallen short as a good Alongsider. 'The church has no monopoly on wisdom, on God. We need to be free to believe in the God we believe in. A thoughtful and powerful conversation and highly appropriate for our times. https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/
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Alongsider revisits Simon Acerson-Paine - Professional Trainer and expert running coach. When was the last time you were taught to run - Simon takes us through this transformation and shares what he learnt from the work of Russian, Dr Nicholas Romanoff. Learning to use gravity and the route of least resistance for peak performance. He also explores the energy that emerges from groups in harmony. 'Burning energy without the soul' is missing out. Exercise without an element of fun will not be sustainable. There is a sense that these lessons are transferrable to the workplace and our organisations. Attitude is key and is probably called morale or conductivity in other contexts. What we discern is that the quality of relationship between people is the necessary key focus for leaders in any context.
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Alongsider meets Richard J Roberts who he confides originally wanted to be a marine biologist. However, despite a fear of blood, he became a doctor and GP before adding Psychotherapy to his skillset. He shares about his recently published book on the remarkable life of St Patrick and Ireland. Kidnapped by pirates and taken as slave to the Emerald Isle, he managed to escape with some divine help and returned home. He felt a call to the priesthood, became a Bishop and returned to Ireland conquering the hearts of some 40 out of 150 tribal leaders. No mean feat in a culture where foreigners were not treated with kindness. Richard is an accomplished alongsider as spiritual accompanier and academic. This is a great open and informed conversation with someone of great passion and quiet energy. He says St Patrick's Alongsiider attributes would include - honesty, integrity and reliability - something he clearly shares with Richard himself.
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Alongsider has something for everyone in this episode. The common ground is our body and how it connects to mind and belief. Simon Acerson-Paine is a highly skilled professional with a significant grounding in psychology as well as nutrition, anatomy etc, He talks about his fundamental compulsion to 'burn energy' with the end in mind. He is a 9 on the Enneagram - an adaptive peacemaker. He would never force anything, overthink it (he is a mature 9) or overdo it. Most injuries are caused by doing too much. Learning enough and when to say 'no' is key. These are as useful in the gym as much as in the boardroom or on the Exec team. He reframes exercise for people (often misconceived) as an opportunity to find out who they are, how they feel and what they could be. Questions as much for the individual and the team as for the organisation or community in which we find out selves perhaps. Simon is a consummate Alongsider and you will enjoy his company in part 1 of this 2 part podcast episode.
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Another Alongsider participant kindly introduced our guest this time, Cathi Raffaeli. She describes herself as 'eclectic' and someone who is tenancious - she never lets go. It is no surprise that she has established a global reputation for her talent with money and organising. Money, she shares, is an enabler to prosperity and we hear some stories that support this. She also delights to tell how baby elephants are taught to dance - a talent that only shows its value as adult elephants. She cites some senior mentors and influencers (Jack Welch of GE). She equally mentions peers as valuable Alongsiders. For many, peers are more perhaps the competition. Her family used their wealth to build schools in parts of Africa and this informs her sense of money as an enabler to prosperity. Each year she picks a new topic to study or new activity to take up (currently sailing as a neophyte)...A great boss, peer, mentor and advocate. There is much to enjoy and learn here.
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Alongsider has great pleasure in meeting one of life's natural enthusiasts. James Garner's many years as a QS and working with Data to gain insight in the built Environment has not left him static. His thirst for 'what next' and 'what's new' embraces an interest in his sector's collective learning with RICS Construction Property Group panel . He loves to decompose the complext and reassemble it with more understanding and clarity. He is deeply curious about the possibilities of AI and has not one, but 2 highly successful podcasts/Newsletters exploring AI's potential within construction. His wife finds him equally annoying and a great companion, especially in their band in which they both play. I forgot to ask the name of the band. Another time perhaps. For now, enjoy this great conversation with someone who is informed and carries it lightly and with good humour.
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If you would like real insight into Diversity Inclusion and Equity and how it plays out in the workplace and elsewhere, this is for you. Alongsider meets a gentle man of great diversity, meaning someone who is interested and interesting. A stand up comedian, campaigner for fairness, University Rector and much more. He is also really great company - meet Simon Fanshawe OBE. He speaks of his upbringing in an upper middle class family, with a father in the armed services and a mother who remained on close terms for life with those ladies who helped with the domestic chores. So Simon is someone of goodwill and who values good connection. He speaks to the corporate world about the value of diversity and what is missed when we don't intentionally include. As a founder of Stonewall, we hear of their real mission and how it was accomplished in a most spectacular way. This is so relevant for our times and shared with great joy and glee. I commend this conversation to you.
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If you are looking to develop your corporate life whilst also building an external personal reputation - this is for you. Alongsider meets Dr Florian who as an Alongsider and Loyal Sceptic (Enneagram 6) shares how he likes to 'take the steering wheel' and allow joy to rise in the workplace. This is someone who does not find most things difficult once there is belief. He momentarily disappointed his father when he decided not to practice Law. Florian's sights were on a place more fast paced and where change was a given. Also, a place where excellence was expected if one is to thrive. He made the move from consulting to people development and is much in demand. He says for him 'work is somehow play' and drives his curiosity. He has 'found his place' and shares how he has taken it and now encourages others to do the same. His place is both within one of the world's most renowned consulting firms alongside building a highly successful personal professional practice
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Welcome back to Alongsider in conversation with Debra Green OBE, a person of great inspiration and influence. She has been described as being "very ordinary" and yet her stories reveal some extraordinary results. These are often in community settings where there is a belief that change is 'impossible'. She has a special gift for coming alongside communities to build trust and opportunity to discuss critical issues affecting local lives. This safe listening space generates collaboration across cultures, organisations and neighbours. She characterises the common traits of these groups as being people of 'goodwill'. This sees a letting go of the need to control and allows transformation to happen. Like 'Gunchester' reclaiming and taking its place and real identity as Manchester, where she is now Deputy Lieutenant. Anyone who seeks to bring about positive change in their community, institutions or workplace will be moved to good action by Debra's inspiring and practical approach. This really is an Alongsider story for our times and acts as an antidote to the current, seeming lack of innovation and new ideas. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious and brings about a rising belief that together local challenges can be faced and impacted significantly. Alongsider is in conversation with Debra Green OBE, a person of great inspiration and influence. She has been described as being "very ordinary" and yet her stories reveal some extraordinary results. These are often in community settings where there is a belief that change is 'impossible'. She has a special gift for coming alongside communities to build trust and opportunity to discuss critical issues affecting local lives. This safe listening space generates collaboration across cultures, organisations and neighbours. She characterises the common traits of these groups as being people of 'goodwill'. This sees a letting go of the need to control and allows transformation to happen. Like 'Gunchester' reclaiming and taking its place and real identity as Manchester, where she is now Deputy Lieutenant. Anyone who seeks to bring about positive change in their community, institutions or workplace will be moved to good action by Debra's inspiring and practical approach. This really is an Alongsider story for our times acts as an antidote to the current, seeming lack of innovation and ideas. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious and brings about rising belief that together local challenges can be faced and impacted positively.
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For anyone seeking to make their OKRs work even more effectively (start or start again!) to achieve your desired outcomes - this is for you. Alongsider tries something new this episode and asks Master (gender neutral Google tells me) OKR coaches Melanie Wessels and Mark Richard to join us again (see Episodes 1 and 19). They share some deep insights into how OKRs are being adapted to fit the context of the organisation in which they are implemented. As opposed to a 'one size fit all approach'. They notice that where OKRs are being used successfully, there is less rigidity and uniformity. The pace adopted is more measured, less fast and task. This is in service of sound thinking and reflection before acting - almost 'contemplative'...human. Better decision making throughout will engender better more sustainable outcomes. This development, they notice, offers too higher levels of engagement and psychological safety in the mission of the organisation and in the planning to achieve it alongside business as usual. It also offers a deeper level of trust in the process - OKR mindset, skillset and tools - the cadence, reflection and resetting. They see more excitement and something bigger emerging for organisations who learn along the way and apply it effectively together with more humanity. I commend this to you - there are some great stories to learn from here.
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Alongsider meets Colin Newbold, a force to be reckoned with, who says we 'live in interesting times'. Clearly life is never dull around Colin who is at an age where most might be slowing down - Colin has merely moved from racing on the track to rallying in town and country. He has been dubbed 'crazyboy' by his partner who should know! A successful career in Pharmaceuticals starting at the bottom to become head of National Sales, inspired him to develop an interest in people and motivation. He believes that creativity, innovation and curiosity about people is key to creating better bosses - influential alongsiders. He has run his own Leadership development and training organisation for many decades. He describes an example of a good alongsider was an early supportive boss with a particular taste in eating venues. More recently, his race navigator - another alongsider who he values hightly is a man of few words, clear in what he means, good at maths (not Colin's strong point), very generous and fun. He is also a skilled HR professional in financial services. Colin's heart's desire has been to own a AC Cobra and he has learnt to moderate his desires. This is great fun and offers some deep learning for those who want and aim to be better bosses.
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Join Alongsider for a great collaborative conversation with Des Kennedy a highly creative, strategic designer and coach. Most of all, someone you would like to have alongside as you start something new - especially, if it involves technology and practical solutions. Des shares his story from Design school graduate to the lights of 80's London where he and his colleague creatively found a central place to live with their own front door - all without paying rent...also called squatting :) Low finances forced him back to the North East where he has since established an enviable reputatation and flourishing design consultancy. He is an accomplished OKR coach and published author on the methodology. Someone you would really want alongside as you face big new challenges that requires creative, 'can do' thinking and practical application. Des is also great fun and his gentle georgie accent hides the necessary steel and focus he possesses to achieve sustained success for his clients and teams. Curious, supportive and open to learn - some key traits of this Alongsider. Join us, you will pick up some valuable pointers.
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Alongsider meets Fr Nigel Mumford whose unlikely story he shares with great humour and groundedness. An early yearning to serve in the Police Force was thwarted and he turned to the Royal Marines - their demanding fitness test he passed. All this via Selfridges and a thriving framing business. As Royal Marine, he served in Northern Ireland, endured PTSD and experienced healing. This led him to US and priesthood where from Virginia he leads a church right alongside one of the largest naval bases in the world. There he comes alongside victims of trauma and now has a global reputation for bringing healing and wholeness - especially to service people. An enthusiast at heart, he shares his story with huge fun, vigour and a powerful of depth of conviction which is infectious. I commend this to you.
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Alongsider is in a rich and wide ranging conversation with, Mark Goyder, Founder of Tomorrow's Company formed to encourage business to find and take its place within the global and local community in which it seeks to flourish. The 8th child of parents who greatly influenced the young Mark - from his mother he received the gift of 'peacemaker' and from his father - 'battling'. All this has been foundational to Mark and built further by those who have come alongside him at University encouraging him to go further - instilling self belief. Also in his career at GEC (now BAE) and elsewhere where alongsiders have engendered courage to face situations he may have felt less equipped to navigate. A fluent and insightful guest who shares generously of his experience and learning, where the brave and direct approach of others has seen him grow. Mark weaves together a rich tapestry of threads, spanning silos and decades. An evident enthusiastic visionary (Enneagram 7) one of his closest friends, very sadly untimely lost, called him 'Joyboy'. This is a person very comfortable in his own skin who embraces the third stage of life with gusto. He brings an holistic view which is prescient, relevant and inspires brave action. Enjoy!
- Se mer
