Ethical Reading volunteer Peregrine Chard summarises our Leading with Heart and Mind™ workshop on 13 October with Alison Bell.
We had a great afternoon in Reading as Alison Bell introduced us to Leading with Heart and Mind™, an approach to leadership that combines clear thinking, self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
The two-hour interactive workshop brought together people from a range of industries and backgrounds, creating a great opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another.
We kicked things off with introductions, but with a twist: everyone was invited to share two of their positive characteristics with the people sitting next to them. It was a simple exercise, but a lovely way to get everyone talking and set a positive tone for the afternoon.
Balancing heart and mind
The central idea behind Leading with Heart and Mind™ is that good leadership needs both. The mind helps us think things through, plan ahead and make sound decisions. The heart helps us understand people, build trust and connect on a human level.
Finding the right balance between the two can make a real difference to how we lead, work with others and approach challenges. It’s about combining clear, rational thinking with empathy, rather than relying too heavily on one or the other.
When leaders get this balance right, they can help people feel valued and motivated, make better-informed decisions and create working environments where trust, accountability and new ideas can flourish.
Looking inwards to move forwards
A big part of the workshop focused on self-awareness and understanding how our own thoughts and beliefs influence the way we live and work.
Through a series of guided exercises, Alison encouraged us to explore our inner world, recognise patterns in our thinking and consider how these might affect our behaviour and interactions with others.
We also looked at how to overcome internal barriers that can hold us back, along with developing personalised affirmations to challenge limiting beliefs and develop a more positive mindset.
It was a useful opportunity to pause, reflect and think about how small shifts in our thinking can influence the way we approach both work and life.
A worthwhile couple of hours
Alison made the session engaging and thought-provoking, giving everyone the chance to reflect on their own experiences and take away ideas to put into practice.
The workshop was a great reminder that effective leadership starts with understanding ourselves. By becoming more aware of our thoughts, beliefs and behaviours, we can make more conscious choices about how we lead and how we connect with others.
A thoroughly recommended session for anyone looking to build self-awareness, develop their leadership skills and find a better balance between leading with their head and leading with their heart.
Find out more about Alison and her work at www.alisonbellwellness.com.
About the author
Peregrine Chard
Peregrine’s career has focused on helping businesses manage change and build natural resilience to risk, enabling them to deliver strategy with confidence. Having worked for several Big Four accountancy firms as well as major retailers, he has deep expertise in business transformation, risk management, control frameworks and integrated assurance.
On a personal level he is passionate about philosophy, sustainability and community. He volunteers on the RCCP Nature Working Group and has recently joined the Ethical Reading team.
