THE FIVE WAYS TO WELL-BEING

The new economics foundation has published a new report on happiness...

The new economics foundation (nef) is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being. It aims to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues.

Their report, 'The role of local government in promoting wellbeing', presents the findings of a project commissioned by Local Government Improvement and Development and the National Mental Health Development Unit. It aims to dispel a common misconception – that well-being is first and foremost a health issue to be dealt with by health professionals and identifies five ways to well-being.

The Five Ways to Well-being

1. Connect…
With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

2. Be active…
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

3. Take notice…
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

4. Keep learning…
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

5. Give…
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

If you want to read the full report you can visit the nef website at http://www.neweconomics.org
Chris

This is not as good as it gets!

The scary thing isn’t what we have achieved so far, but our potential to achieve so much more if only we can release the magic by switching people on who are currently stitched off. Switched off by a lack of interest, a lack of motivation, a lack of enthusiasm, a lack of energy and drive. We all have so much potential. Our job as leaders, as managers, as coaches, as teachers, as parents, as people who care, is to help individuals set their goals, realise their enormous potential and understand that this is not as good as it gets!
Chris

As one door closes another opens...

We all know that we face some enormous challenges over the next few months and years...
Uncertainty is everywhere as we wrestle with structures, budgets, reorganisations and general uncertainty about the future. We need to get organised, to be more consistent, to improve our management, to sort out the paperwork and to spend more time doing the really important stuff. We need to set our priorities, stop doing things that don't make a difference, discipline ourselves to do the strategic stuff, delegate more, get others to do things and work harder. Everyone's talking about these challenges, but wherever I look there is talent; optimism; hope; and extraordinary people, places and provision.

We all know the keys to brilliant: people, leadership, teamwork, attitude, trust, determination, commitment, partnership, ownership and engagement. We must continue to build extra-ordinary learning places for all our children and young people.
Keep the faith!
Chris

PASSION, PURPOSE AND CULTURE!

How do we create extraordinary learning places? How do we release the magic?

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."
John Maxwell

People constantly tell me that things are impossible. They tell me that you can't get every child to read by the time they are seven or eight. That every child can’t be a brilliant little learner by the time they leave primary school. That you can't get every young person the equivalent of 5 good GCSEs including English and maths by the time they are sixteen. That every school can't be a great school. That you can't create great teams with the current people.

However, we all know that success doesn't come in can'ts it comes in cans. We simply need to change the culture and get people to believe; to believe in themselves and to believe in our children and young people and our colleagues. The next person who tells you it's impossible with these children, these young people, these families or these colleagues, tell them that if you believe anything is possible and that achieving the impossible is nothing!
Chris

BUILDING A PASSIONATE ENTERPRISE!

The scary thing isn’t what we have achieved so far, but our potential to achieve so much more if only we can release the magic by switching people on who are currently stitched off. Switched off by a lack of interest, a lack of motivation, a lack of enthusiasm, a lack of energy and drive. Our job as leaders, as managers, as coaches, as teachers, as parents, as people who care, is to help individuals set their goals, realise their enormous potential and understand that this is not as good as it gets!
Chris

Colleagues and friends keep asking me what I am going to do after Education Leeds...

The answer is that I am going to continue to do what I have been doing for the last 15 years... releasing the magic; building brilliant organisations, helping to change their culture and develop their leadership and as always challenging the negativity that we all face.
Keep the faith.
Chris