Reaching Minds - ‘Thoughts for your Life Journey’

Welcome to Reaching Minds: Thoughts for Your Life Journey.In today’s episode, we explore the discipline and philosophy of Action Learning Questions - what they are, why they matter, and how this approach helps individuals and organisations navigate challenges that don’t have straightforward answers.Action learning was originally shaped by Reg Revans and grew out of scientific inquiry, experimentation, and a willingness to work from a place of “not knowing”. Today, the methodology remains highly relevant. We live in a world saturated with quick fixes and instant expertise, yet many of the issues leaders face are not puzzles with predefined solutions. They are complex, multi-layered problems influenced by social, technical, economic and cultural realities.To help us unpack this, I’m joined by Dr Richard Hale, co-founder of Know Will Do Action Learning Network and creator of the Action Learning Question approach. Richard has spent more than 25 years developing and implementing this methodology for governments, global organisations, and business schools. He has published widely in the fields of learning relationships, coaching, mentoring and organisational development, and brings a rich historical and practical perspective to this conversation.Together, we look at:Why action learning is essential for tackling today’s intractable problemsThe difference between puzzles and problemsThe courage required to say “I don’t know” in professional settingsThe value of multiple truths and diverse perspectivesThe role of knowledge mapping (sky, ground, underground)How organisations such as the Civil Service have used Action Learning Questions to drive real changeThe personal capabilities people develop through this work, including deeper listening, reflective practice and working constructively with uncertaintyWhy sponsorship and alignment with real business challenges are vital for successRichard also shares the evolution of the Postgraduate Certificate in Action Learning Facilitation, a unique qualification accredited through York St John University, and the importance of creating facilitators who can mobilise, catalyse and sustain learning across organisational systems.This is a rich, reflective and practical conversation for anyone working in leadership, coaching, development, systems change or organisational transformation.

Welcome to this episode of Reaching Minds: Thoughts for Your Life Journey. Today, we will be exploring what happens when leaders overuse their strengths, and how personality and persona shape that dynamic—and what the impact of this can have on self and on others. We also look into of leaders recognising when they overuse their strengths, potentially leading to negative consequences About Joseph OgbonnaJoining me today is my very good colleague, Joseph Ogbonna. Joseph is a leadership and executive coach, a PCC with the ICF, and an FRSA. He treasures wisdom and has expertise in mind-shift strategic thinking. Joseph also has a special interest in African affairs and the movement of our bodies. Joseph, welcome—and thank you for being here.Questions we pose in the podcast:What do we mean by strength? We often talk about ‘playing to our strengths’—but Joseph, what do we actually mean when we say a strength can be overused?What are the positive trait (e.g., confidence, empathy, drive) becomes a liability when over-relied uponHow does someone’s personality influence the kinds of strengths they lean on—and overuse?Mention assessments (like MBTI, Big Five, Enneagram) if usefulHow do you see persona shaping a leader’s behaviour over time?”What do you think the real consequences are—on individuals, teams, or culture—when leaders don’t notice they’re overusing a strength?”So how do we help leaders become more aware of when a strength is becoming a liability? What tools or practices help here?”Joseph, have you ever found yourself overusing a strength—even with the best intentions? What did that teach you?To our listeners—what’s one strength you might be overusing right now? And what would it look like to lead with more balance and intention?”Resources:https://www.talentsage.com/our-tools/the-5step-profile-report-tool/https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/286556/ndys.aspx https://www.hogandarkside.com/https://inemmo.com/lumina-learning-psychometrics/lumina-spark-self-awareness-growth/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/09/book-authenticity-jodi-ann-burey

Welcome to Reaching Minds: Thoughts for Your Life’s Journey. In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into a topic that affects so many of us yet is still often misunderstood trauma. How in our social media-driven world, the term ‘trauma’ is often overused and misapplied, potentially diluting its real significanceNow, Traumatising experiences don’t always look the way we expect. They are not always singular, acute, life-altering events, incorporating also complex, relational difficulties that can start in childhood. The long-term effects are far-reaching and can shape everything from how we interact with others to how we view and navigate the world as adults. Adding even more nuance is the fact that what is traumatising to one person may not be at all to another, depending on how they were raised, whether they’ve experienced overwhelming threats more than once, and other factors, so it could be said that trauma expresses on something of a spectrum. In this episode we will unpack some of  these ideas, with special focus on the impact of complex trauma and how relational wounds — like neglect or witnessing violence — leave lasting scars. We’ll explore resilience, the role of environment in healing, and why understanding the root causes of trauma is so crucial with the  pioneering work that has been done  in this field, like Bessel van Der Kolk and Gabor Maté.About Charlotte NicholsonI’m joined by a truly remarkable guest, Charlotte Nicholson, who is a teacher, guide and facilitator trained in numerous styles of yoga and other embodied practice modalities adapted for addressing trauma. She has offered therapeutic support using trauma sensitive yoga to individuals living through anxiety, depression, compulsions, dysregulated eating and complex PTSD – all expressions of suffering and attempts to find coping mechanisms - offering both one-on-one and small group sessions, both in-person and online. She also brings her work into the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy, a promising frontier in trauma healing. She currently divides her time between the UK and Peru, where she training to facilitate ayahuasca retreats with veterans and other individuals seeking recovery.Questions we will pose in understanding Trauma: There’s increasing use of the term ‘trauma’ in everyday life. What’s your take on that?How would you define trauma, and how has that definition evolved in recent years?What’s one misconception about trauma you'd like to clear up for our listeners?How do you differentiate between trauma and stress, especially in therapeutic settings?How do social, environmental, and relational factors like racism, wars etc influence how trauma is processed?Is there a danger in pathologizing normal emotional responses? How do we find a balance?What are some of the most misunderstood symptoms of trauma?What does trauma healing really look, and why is it often non-linear?How important is the body in trauma recovery, and what role do somatic therapies play?Are traditional talk therapies sufficient for trauma, or do we need to rethink how we approach treatment?Resources: https://www.charlotte-nicholson.com/about - Charlotte is happy to have an initial  conversation The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Traumaby Bessel van der Kolk | 24 Sept 2015 Dr Gabor Maté 5 Books Collection Set (When the Body Says No, Hold on to Your Kids, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, Scattered Minds & The Myth of Normal)2022Trauma Sensitive Yoga Practitioners The Embody lab - https://www.theembodylab.comRoadmap for trauma and response change for organisations in ScotlandInterested in Working with me!Contact me on Linkedin if you wish to explore what I offer. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nita-sharma-cpcc-pcc-78b1a22/If you interested in One-to-One coaching contact me through LinkedIn or through my website www.nitasharma.com

Welcome to Reaching Minds: Thoughts for Your Life Journey! Feeling caught between your job and your life? You're not alone — and you're in the right place. Today, we’re unpacking the myth and the reality of work-life balance. It’s not one-size-fits-all. It looks different for everyone — depending on your values, priorities, and where you are in life. The world of work has changed. The pandemic, remote teams, and a new generation of workers have pushed flexibility to the forefront. So, what does balance look like now? We’ll dig into how to set clear boundaries, why you need to advocate for yourself, and how organizations can — and must — get more creative in supporting a healthier culture. This isn’t just a conversation — it’s a call to action. Because real balance starts with a mindset shift — at the individual, team, and leadership levels.About Leyla OkhaiLeyla Okhai Is the founder and the CEO. Of Diverse Minds UK Limited. Featured on the Diversity Power List, 2023-2024. Diverse Minds creates a positively productive workplace for all those training and coaching and consulting. The focus is placed on well-being, mental health and race equity. Leyla has over 18 years of experience in developing and implementing diversity, inclusion and equity practises with senior leadership team. Leyla is also the host of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast (https://bit.ly/DMPAIT) . weekly show about mental health and inclusion. She is a TEDx speaker and her  is entitled the connection between race, culture and Mental Health. ( https://ly/TEDxWolvesLO). Leyla is a trained coach, mentor, speaker and mediator. Her coaching practise centres on how staff can navigate boundaries and reach their full potential while maintaining their well-being. Prior to running her own business Leyla was the head of the Centre of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Centre at the Imperial College London between July 2012 and June 2017, managing a team of staff working on various projects and initiatives. Layla is a trustee of Serendipity. Institute of Black Arts and Heritage and Pedestrian. A young people's art. Arts Organisation.Questions we pose in this podcast: How do you define work-life balance?Has your idea of balance changed over the years?How do people deal with the pressure to be available 24/7?What’s one policy or practice you’ve seen that truly promotes balance in the workplace?Do you think companies have a responsibility to actively support employee well-being?What’s one small change someone can make this week to improve their balance?If there’s one thing you hope listeners take away from this conversation, what would it be?What books, podcasts, or thinkers have shaped the  perspective on work-life balance?Resources : My Work Life balance course: https://diverseminds.thinkific.com/courses/the-mentally-healthy-professionalPodcast: https://diverseminds.co.uk/category/podcast/ Website: Laura Vanderkam: https://lauravanderkam.com/ Work with me!Contact me on Linkedin if you wish to explore what I offer. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nita-sharma-cpcc-pcc-78b1a22/If you interested in One-to-One coaching contact me through LinkedIn or through my website www.nitasharma.comBook: Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself

Welcome to the episode of Reaching Minds: Thoughts for Your Life Journey. Today, we’re exploring a powerful and deeply personal theme — ‘Moment for M.’ As we will explore with our guest today.  It’s about what happens when we pause, listen inward, and make space for real change. We’ll be reflecting on the courage it takes to make intentional decisions, the strength it takes to walk away from what no longer aligns, and the transformative power of choosing authenticity over comfort. This episode is for anyone who’s felt the pull toward something more meaningful — who’s been at a crossroads, questioning, shifting, evolving. We’ll unpack the lessons, the struggles, and the breakthroughs that come when we finally decide to honour ourselves and step into a life that feels true. Let’s begin.About Sonia Vora: Sonia Vora is a cultural catalyst and visionary leader – these are the hallmarks of her journey from a child of immigrants to a transformational executive experienced in optimizing organizational effectiveness and igniting individual potential. Through a potent blend of analytical thinking and creative insight, she helps organizations navigate transformation on a global scale while building great cultures where every voice matters. She has led a Fortune 500 company's talent strategy , has been a speaker at high-profile events, where she has brought bring a powerful combination of business acumen, cultural intelligence and transformative vision.Questions we pose in this podcast: Sonia, can you share a moment in your life when you realized you needed to make a change — a "Moment for Me"? What did that moment feel like, and what led up to it?Taking the leap to follow your passion is no small feat. How did you gather the courage to make that decision, especially when there were easier, more comfortable options available?We all know that personal growth often comes with a mix of excitement and fear. What were some of the hardest or most unexpected challenges you faced during your transformation?Transitioning into something new often means learning things about yourself you didn’t know before. Were there any surprising lessons you learned along the way?Staying aligned with your true self can be tough, especially when life throws challenges your way. What practices or mindset shifts have helped you stay connected to your core values throughout your journey?Making a big shift often involves overcoming fear. How do you know when a decision is coming from a place of fear, versus one of trust and intuition? E.g. choosing  passion over a lucrative offer?How has creativity played a role in your personal growth and in finding alignment with your true self?For someone who might be standing at a similar crossroads, torn between the comfort of the known and the pull of their passion, what would you say to encourage them to make that leap?Resources : Contact me on Linkedin if you wish to explore what I offer. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nita-sharma-cpcc-pcc-78b1a22/If you interested in One-to-One coaching contact me through LinkedIn or through my website www.nitasharma.com