Emanating Compassion: Showing Empathy in Trying Times Working at the frontlines during a pandemic is a genuine challenge. Prior to social distancing and pandemic protocols, you were only wondering how to balance your working life and your personal life successfully. Suddenly, the lines between these two very different things have blurred. How can we navigate through our circumstances and overcome this kind of hardship? In this episode, Anne Linsell answers this rhetoric with compassion and empathy. She discusses how organisations should make a real effort to be there for their employees at the right moment. She also talks about how believing and being kinder to yourself can take you to places of success. Similar to competing in a marathon, constantly move towards the things you want to achieve, and you'll be surprised how many kilometres you have run. If you want to know more about being compassionate and empathetic at different times and places in your life, this episode is for you. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover how Anne managed to compete in marathons, serve as a practitioner and unit head in NHFT and be a wonderful mum all at the same time! Learn more about the support and assistance organisations can provide their employees, especially during a pandemic. How can we achieve milestones and make mistakes while also being forgiving of ourselves? Resources Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Connect with Anne: Twitter Coaching with Angela Episode Highlights [03:23] Anne’s Marathon Story Anne shares how extremely proud she is to have completed seven marathons over the last ten years. Before realising how she finished a marathon, she would easily find herself training for another. Having a good friend to accompany her during long runs helps her to commit. Coming from a non-sporting background, it took a while for Anne to call herself a runner. [07:48] For People Who Don’t Believe in Themselves Anne encourages them to believe in themselves and the journey. She discussed how the whole marathon journey had taught her about health and well-being. The process can be scary at first, but you have to still believe in yourself. [09:59] Working for Northamptonshire Healthcare Since 2006, she has been a part of a team that provides healthcare in her community. Last year, Anne’s team had turned 70 days of physical well-being into a virtual festival using digital platforms. Sometimes, she would get things wrong because the first attempt of learning always fails. However, Anne emphasises the value of the whole journey and hard work to make a difference for their patients and their families. [13:28] Facing the Pandemic For Anne, the overarching feeling is ‘we are all in it together’; they are ready to go the extra mile to make a difference. Focusing on the well-being of their staff has now become a bigger priority.  She discusses how the importance of being there and displaying your actions makes a whole lot of difference. Helping people to recover means supporting them through reconnecting with them and giving them time and space. Listen to the whole episode to learn more about how Anne views workforce support during the pandemic. [17:57] What Organisations Need to Do Organisations can help in offering the opportunity for their staff to talk about how they're feeling. Anne reiterates that saying ‘It’s okay not to be okay’ can only be half of the process. She argues how supporting the staff in moments when they need it is more appropriate. Additionally, Anne recognises how difficult it is for organisations to provide the balance for their team as well. [21:32] Balancing Motherhood and Working Life Anne shares how it has been a real challenge to be a mum while keeping her career going. As she reflects, she learns how to be kind to herself and not try to be everything to