¶ Resilience
The Northern Power Women Podcast for your career and your life , no matter what business you're in . Hello and welcome to the Northern Power Women Podcast . My name is Simone and this is the path to power season .
It's the season where , every week , I've been talking to amazing women , amazing change makers , trailblazers , amazing individuals who are making a difference in both their communities by challenging the norm and creating more inclusive cultures across their organisations . There's so much to learn every single week . I love it .
I get all the inspiration and , again , all of that advice and guidance to help me with my own personal and professional growth too . So it's absolutely a one to one for me . I'm sure that's what it is , but , yeah , I love every week having these conversations , and this week is no exception .
I'm delighted to introduce you to this week's guest , martina Witter , who is a cognitive behaviour therapist , speaker , author , trainer , health and wellbeing consultant . Hello Martina , welcome to the Northern Power Women Podcast . Hello , simone , great to be here .
Oh , I do know what you cover so much and you have achieved so much and you , you know constantly your bio and what I follow and on the work that you do . But tell me , tell me about you , would it ? Tell me a bit , let's before we get into sort of some of it .
Give me a bit of a set in that context of your tell me your life story maybe not your life story .
Oh gosh , where do I start For me when I think about my life story ?
It's been tough I can't overlook that fact and it has been a journey of resilience , a journey of growth , because , yeah , in my early twenties I unfortunately lost my mum , and that was that was a major turning point for me in terms of just reflecting on what is life about , my purpose and you know , when we think about life , you know , having your parents or
caregivers is so critical for your journey , for your growth and development , and I I had a choice at that point whether I was going to retreat , literally , whether I was going to stagnate or go forward . And I decided to to go forward and to use that setback and use it as a stepping stone for for growth and progress .
At the time , clearly , I wasn't thinking that , but for me , everything that I do , a lot of what I do , is driven by my mother , my mother that I lost because she personified resilience and I feel like I am , I'm here to live her unfulfilled dreams . So that is a large part of of of of what I do , and I love people .
I love people and so did my mum .
And what age were you when you lost your mum ? So I was 21 .
So yeah , I mean I was , I was young , I was final year at uni , still finding myself and did you get ?
did you get counselling or did you ? You know , and I say this as a personal for me , I lost my dad when I was 20 , you know , and it is , it's , it's , it's like you know , he's here .
I've got a picture of him here in the office now , which obviously you can't see because it's a podcast , you know , but I feel like he is watching over me going go girl . You know kind of thing Is your mum doing the same ?
Oh , yes , always I came into my office I've moved office recently with my sister and she's like she was saying , oh , mum would be cheering you on , saying Well done tea , and that just really , you know , touched my heart , Because sometimes , yeah , people can take for granted who they've got in their lives , essentially .
So , yeah , that little reminder was really nice for me , but I do feel like she's she's cheering me on and I'm yeah , I'm was very , I'm very much like her personality .
Yeah , and did you get any counselling ? Did you get any grief counselling ? I didn't .
No , I didn't , I had . I would say . For me it was that social support that really helped people family , friends rallying around and I'm the type of person , although I was grieving , I felt like I had to be strong for everyone else , so my grief reaction was slightly delayed . I was in my final year of uni so I couldn't stop .
And then my sister was suicidal and took an overdose , so you know it was dealing with all of that and I'm the second eldest , so it's . I had no time at that point to agree . We just had to keep going and fortunately I did . But I was very self-aware that I knew that I needed at some point , at the right point , to stop and then to process .
I wasn't in denial , but it's more about timing .
It's strange , isn't it ? And I think we talk way more openly now about grief and you know sort of an un-morning and sort of those different stages . I remember people would cross over the road rather than talk to me when I went back to I was in the Navy at the time and so you kind of go back to this world . It's interesting , isn't it ?
And it's you know , you talk right at the start when we talked about you and your history and where you talked about finding your purpose and you talked about your mum being resilient , and this is what you do now .
Right , you specialize in resilience training and we've just talked about , you know , in a small part about grief , and you know , but why is resilience such an amazing and key thing to have in ?
your toolkit . One of the main reasons is that it's a protective factor against stress , anxiety and depression . We're all living in this ever-changing world , vucal world , everything's just changing . Lots of volatility , uncertainty , complexity . So resilience is that kind of soft skill which can help us to navigate through it .
And the reality is , whether you like it or not , you need to build your resilience muscles , otherwise you will struggle to get through in life . We will all experience some type of loss , some type of adversity and setback . So why not prepare for that in advance ? Why not get out of your comfort zone and just embrace the challenge ? I love a challenge .
That is my personality . I know I sound crazy , but I do . I just thrive off a challenge and I feel that that is when I really connect with the true and authentic Martina , and that's why I love doing what I do .
And how do you grow it ? How do you ? Is it something you can feed and cultivate ?
resilience- yes , definitely . One thing that you can do is get outside of your comfort zone , try a new skill . Learn a new skill , because that requires resilience , and then , when you face challenges and setbacks , then you can learn to navigate through those .
You're also able to identify your strengths , and leveraging your strengths is also another way of building your resilience .
So , instead of listening to that doubt , you've got to put a lid on it and maybe try and learn a new skill , or go for that job that you've been thinking about , or meet with someone you've wanted to connect with for a long time through LinkedIn or through wherever . You've just got to get out of your comfort zone , and that's where the growth comes .
It's uncomfortable , of course it is , but the end result is always beneficial .
And you just said I wrote it down because I loved it . I always talk every week about phrases or statements that should be on a tote bag or a T-shirt . You talked about retreat , stagnate or go forward . Does that yeah ?
I feel like there's a whole of a merch range here , martina , come on , but it jumped out at me that Is that kind of part of that training , or is that this just part of your new brand ?
Well , I guess it's what I do day in , day out , working as a therapist , working as a coach . So I don't think I actually think about it , but the way that I label it , I thought it was great .
But essentially it's about when we face with challenges or adversity , or even if we face a little bit of doubt , self-doubt , fear , imposter syndrome , we have got to choose our response and it's important to remember that everyone around us doesn't control us .
But internally We've got this internal locus of control and we've got to believe that we can influence situations . But if you don't have that resilient mindset , you will stagnate or , unfortunately , retreat . So I would say having a plan in advance , always , always having a plan , and you've got to believe in yourself . You've got to believe in yourself .
And do you know what people listening now will go gosh , she's amazing , she's so confident , she's so bubbly , she's so enthusiastic
¶ Public Speaking and Well-Being
. Have you always found it easy speaking in public ? So I would say generally speaking .
Yes , as a child I was there's four of us so I was labelled and I'd say it's a positive as a chatterbox . Chatterbox . I just I have this vision of being on the train with my mum and my siblings and everyone else was sleeping , but I was just chattering away . Mum can have this and that .
So I would say that that skill communication skill and being extroverted that has helped with public speaking , but it's not I wouldn't say it's always been easy . You've got to nurture that though , that skill , and you've got to build upon it .
And of course , I do feel anxious at times , but you've just got to look beyond that feeling and ensure that you don't allow that to influence how you're delivering . You've got to connect with the audience or whoever you're speaking to .
Are there any top tips out there ? Because you say you speak at conferences , you run the radio , you're giving keynotes , you know , and you're taking your space and you're talking about what you're loving , you're passionate about , but what would you say ?
Because I remember , you know , I was given opportunities early on and I was like , oh , I don't want to do that , I like being behind the scenes , I'm not really bothered about being on there taking the mic , so to speak . And now , you know , I don't . I find I feel things are more like a conversation or more like a chatter . What ? What would you say ?
What advice would you give to any ? You know anyone out there who thinks you know , who's worried about speaking in public or whatever ?
Yeah , I would say the first thing that springs to mind is visualization , seeing yourself on that stage , owning it . That is what I do , because that evokes those positive emotions . So , and it's a bit like in the sense of therapy , it's a bit of exposure therapy .
So when you actually come to deliver it , you've already done it , so you're just doing it for a second time and those emotions , those negative emotions , have subsided . And also preparation , preparation , preparation , preparation .
It's not rocket science but , like I've prepared to come on the podcast today , you've got to prepare and that will help anyone to excel and it will allow you to identify those areas that you might need to , might need to refine .
So , preparation I walk up and down the stage , make sure I'm smiling , look in the mirror , think about where I might need to interject a bit of humor , some quotes and just maintaining eye contact , but also what I've learned . I say ladies , running life not that old , but I'm not that young authenticity .
I would say that , as I've grown and developed as an individual , personally and professionally and I was just sharing this at Supervision Stay and I was with a client but just being your authentic self , it just flows . It's so much you get out of your head and you're more connected with what you're delivering , and then that has greater impact .
So own your , I say own your superpower , own yourself , essentially .
I'm a big fan , big fan , martina . The Wonder Woman pose any time before going on stage or podcast or whatever it is Hands on hips , you know , shoulders back , head up I'm like five foot tall , I'm suddenly six foot and then you just take , take the stage . But I think that authenticity is really key , isn't it ?
You know , we've talked many , many times on this podcast about imposter syndrome and you know , I think that don't try and be someone else , isn't it ? Because you know they're doing them , you do you , you know , I think it's really important . I think that , and the power , it's owning your own super oh , wonder Woman , superpowers we've got , I can feel it now .
We've got . We've got capes , capes to go with the merch . Now , martina , that's what we've got .
Oh , wow , I'm just visualising myself with this cape . Oh , am I going by ? Do it do ?
it have it and it will have retreat , stagnate or go forward on the back . I'm sure it will . But you know , and I know you work with a lot of big organisations , whether it be in the chief execs or board or HR , and it's very much passionate about well-being in the workplace and there's a lot of talk , isn't there , about well-being ?
And you know , I remember going to when we had our Northern Path Futures event a few years ago , when a session which was , you know , well-being is more than just putting fruit in a basket .
you know you can get fruit in a basket at home .
Absolutely , but talk to us about how that well-being is linked to productivity , profitability , you know . Talk to us about how that is all connected . Yeah , so .
Clale . If someone's well-being is enhanced , they're not feeling stressed and they're just a lot happier . That's going to impact upon their mindset , their outlook , how they interact with customers , with one another . It will strengthen team cohesion and essentially it will improve decision making . It will improve productivity . It will reduce sickness absence rates as well .
So it's all interlinked . And if we think about if you're happy in delivering a service or just in your job , it permeates throughout the whole organisation , so that well-being , productivity levels will be a lot higher . You'll be less distracted If you are feeling a bit stressed .
You've got some tools and skills to help to anchor you in the present moment , so that there are some of the main ways that well-being helps with with productivity and we're all looking to boost our productivity . And I would say it's about the organisation taking a role alongside the individual .
It shouldn't just be viewed as the individual's responsibility , because sometimes organisational shifts need to take place to enhance well-being .
We love a top tip , don't we ? And so what are the sense of some of those tools that employers can use to help staff morale and well-being ?
So I would say creating psychological safety within organisations , creating a space where employers and staff feel safe to talk about challenges or just to talk about experiences or to even question that .
And the leaders and managers should lead by examples , so they should display psychological safety , and then that will encourage employees to follow suit , and then that will help to strengthen the organisation , strengthen teams . People will feel less isolated , less lonely , more connected , and more so with the remote work and hybrid work .
And this is really critical in supporting employees to enhance their wellbeing , because the reality is you don't know what someone's doing when they're at home working . You don't know what I mean . It works for some people . For others it can actually be more stressful and everyone's environment is different .
So , taking a holistic approach and an individualised approach simultaneously , you've got to know your people , which takes time . Do the work .
Absolutely Lisservaux , isn't it ? You know , talk to me . You know the busiest woman in the world . You know whether it be training , coaching , speaker , therapist you know ?
So no , that's you . You're the busiest woman in the world not me , Tell me .
tell me what's next for you . What's next ? What are you excited about ? What's next ?
Well , we're doing a lot of recruitment . To be honest , I'm really yeah , really excited about growing the team and looking at working . I mean , I'm really passionate about health and wellbeing , but passionate I love my spa breaks .
So we're looking towards looking forward to working with those organisations , working with the organisations that already promote wellbeing , but in a slightly different , less corporate way . So I'm all about connecting with my values and what's important to me , and I know spa breaks do wonders for me .
So taking that holistic approach and also connecting with other organisations and creating more bespoke packages . So I work with children as well . So we're doing more work around that , not just the adults .
Amazing and it's the power of that collaboration as well , isn't it ? And keep sort of refining how you work , because you know the world has changed and will continue to change . So I look forward . We need to watch this space , martina .
We will put details in the show notes so people can stay connected with your amazingly enthusiastic work that you do out there . Martina , I don't know where the time goes . Thank you so much for joining me this week . Let's get that . Let's get the merch , you know , wonder Woman . Thank you , martina , thank you , it's been a pleasure and thanks all of you
¶ Weekly Podcast and Online Platform
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Look up Martina's profile while you're on there . Thank you so much . My name is Simone . This is the Northern Power Women podcast and what goes on media production .