It seems incredible that we're already at the end of another year! It's been a turbulent and unsettled one in many ways but we are ending on a high at The Hobbs Consultancy with new members of the core team as well as our coach/facilitator roster.
We thought we would ask some of the team to give their highlights of the year as a roundup of what we've been up to.
MyCoach - by Tanya
At the start of 2021 we kicked off a programme called ‘MyCoach’ with one of our clients. It was introduced to provide individuals with professional one-on-one coaching support during what was a very challenging time for us all. Individuals were offered three coaching sessions and were able to select their coach from our team. Fourteen of our coaches worked on the initiative and will have delivered nearly 900 coaching sessions between them by the end of the year! The feedback received has been phenomenal and our coaches have provided support and guidance on areas such as career opportunities, learning and development, leadership, work life balance and mental health.
“Roxanne was amazing, the best use of my time and the most valuable piece of work I have done as part of my personal and professional development in a long time”
I’ve worked behind the scenes in organising this initiative and it’s been great to be part of the team delivering such a worthwhile programme during 2021.
Inclusion Heroes Panel - by Adé
Moderating the panel session for Futerra was certainly a highlight for me. The panel brought together an intersectional group of people to share their personal and professional experience of inclusion and exclusion. I left the event with an even deeper understanding that Inclusion is an ongoing and active intervention. It’s not a destination that is reached, but a constant checking-in to ensure that any barriers along the journey are consciously addressed, minimised and ultimately removed.
The Disability Conversation - by Will
With the International Day for People With Disabilities taking place on December 3rd, the year ended with a hive of activity and positive feedback. I presented my talk entitled 'Proud To Be Disabled' to THC clients, Fishawack, IAB and forpeople. In each case, the talk was well received and will hopefully serve as a point of departure for future disability inclusion work. In fact, one client has already taken the conversation further and is keen to develop a Disability Taskforce who can provide insight across multiple disabilities - it's an idea we're going to explore. We've also updated the Disability in the Workplace e-learning module to make it even more relevant and to reflect how the pandemic has led to a more flexible approach to the workplace. All in all, it's been a great end to 2021, giving me much reason to be optimistic about 2022.
Use the code IDPWD2021 at this link for 30% off the module.
MIW 2021 - by Liz
If the pandemic has given us anything it is the ability to adapt and overcome. Moving the event to virtual was more fortuitous than we planned. Not only did it mean we could open up the event to those outside of London (and the UK!) but when Rox came down with Covid a few days before it meant we could continue without a complete upheaval.
Props to Rox for rallying to co-host the event with Daniele despite everything and huge thanks to Adé for stepping in to facilitate the panel!
One theme that seemed to underpin the whole event was the need for people to be able to get it wrong, safe spaces for people to ask for guidance about how they could be doing better to make everyone feel more included and seen in the workplace. This is one of our core beliefs and one that we carry through all of our training and a key pillar for 2022.
What I've learnt and plans for 2022 - by Rox
My highlight of the year is just how much I continue to learn and grow in this role. It never gets boring.
This year I've learnt:
That teaching Courageous Leadership is easier than being a Courageous Leader oneself
The scale of the challenges facing men at the moment, and how some of the ones most in need of support feel totally alienated from the DEI conversation
That we need to ensure we keep talking - which sounds so straightforward, but in a world of no-platforming there is a fear (which extends to me) of leaning in to certain conversations
That it's time to move on from hacking current processes to designing products and processes with inclusion in mind right from the very beginning
Inclusive by Design
Our theme for next year is Inclusive by Design which we'll continue to evolve and explore across the year. For now, it means that we think Inclusion First - right from the start of any planned products / processes etc, rather than adding it as an afterthought.
Our first free webinar - Healthy Dialogue or Cancel Culture? - will be on 12th January @ 12pm. In this dialogue, Adé and I will explore the impact of cancel culture. Does it create systemic change and eradicate unpopular and unjust behaviour? Or does it limit constructive dialogue that could create true sustainable change. We will speak to the fear of engaging in conversation - and the barriers in the way of healthy dialogue.
Register for your free ticket here.
And we are launching a podcast called Imperfect Conversations. This is 100% outside of my comfort zone because I want to do something different in it. Much like the 'Imperfect Conversations about Race' that we did about 18 months ago, I want to show how it's possible to have an imperfect conversation without it going wrong. We'll be talking empathy, curiosity, listening and boundaries. And we'll be speaking to people who have beautifully modeled this that we can learn from. It will be "inclusive by design" as our intention is meaningful dialogue rather than no-platforming.
And that's a wrap! We will be closed between 20th December and 4th January for the holidays but we hope to see you on 12th January for the webinar.
In the meantime, wishing you a happy, healthy and restful holiday season and New Year.
The Hobbs Consultancy Team xx