Ep 08: Navigating your mental health at work
Description
Have you ever wondered how emotions impact your professional journey and workplace environment? Join your host Jennifer McCanna as she interviews Nick Basannavar, a social historian, author and leadership coach who specialises in supporting leaders to build inclusive teams. They explore the intricate intersection of emotions and professional life, from navigating the challenges of suppressing emotions to understanding cultural impacts on workplace dynamics. Nick shares his profound insights and stories taken from an interesting and diverse career. Make sure you listen to explore strategies to better understand and navigate your emotional life at work.
Here are the Highlights:
- Introduction
- The personal journey to self-awareness
- Intellectualising your feelings doesn't lead to emotional healing
- How to embrace uncertainty within team dynamics
- Letting go of the answers and creating an open space
- A look at evolving workplace cultures in Japan
- How to start building inclusive, ethical work cultures
- Leadership in the social sector and supporting mental health
Want to support your own emotional wellbeing at work? Watch Jen’s Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Video
A note from Jen: This is the kind of tap I might do before even getting out of bed in the morning if I’m struggling to do so. It won’t solve everything, but it might create a moment of space to make some choices about how to address the day.
A note from Jennifer and McCanna Coaching Ltd: I invite you to tap along to the videos alongside these episodes whilst taking full responsibility for your health and wellbeing. EFT is a fantastic self-help tool with ever-growing credibility due to positive results from scientific studies. It is not a substitution for seeking professional advice. If you are concerned about your physical or mental health please consult a qualified medical professional. If you would prefer to explore EFT with a qualified practitioner, get in touch, and I’ll share some options.
Meet your host Jennifer McCanna:
Jennifer McCanna has been coaching leaders in organisations around the world since 2011. From the UN Refugee Agency to HSBC, government departments to national and local charities, she specialises in supporting clients to work through the often messy, emotional challenges of leadership so they feel calm, energised and able to have a real impact in the world.
If you’ve experienced a challenging relationship, restructure or other difficult period in your working life, and as a result your self-belief has taken a hit, Jennifer’s blend of pure coaching, emotional freedom technique and Resilience Dynamic® approaches will help you process the emotional fallout, as well as equipping you with tools to stay energised and effective as a leader.
When she’s not recording podcasts she’s busy working with leaders 1-1, or as part of their leadership team, and designing and delivering leadership development programmes for leaders at all levels.
Connect with Jennifer:
Download free resources from Jen at Resources and Insights | Jen McCanna
Explore more about Jen and her coaching services here Effective, Trusted Leadership Coaching | Jen McCanna
Follow her on LinkedIn here Jennifer McCanna PCC | LinkedIn
And on Instagram here Jen McCanna ⚡️Leadership Coach ⚡️EFT (@jen_the_leadership_coach) • Instagram photos and videos
Don’t forget to follow this podcast so you don’t miss an episode.
About Nick Basannavar:
Nick is a leadership adviser specialising in compassionate culture, ethics, leadership development, and strategic change. He is also an active social and cultural historian and published author and co-author. He has written numerous articles for trade magazines, academic journals, and other platforms. He holds a PhD from the University of London, Birkbeck, where he taught History and served as an Honorary Fellow.
Nick has worked in diverse contexts including music schools in the Japanese mountains, humanitarian charities, public bodies, manufacturing companies and factories in France and Japan, Fortune500 and FTSE boardrooms, UK universities, and many more besides.
Known for his non-judgemental, open, and thoughtful style, Nick creates a positive space for engagement, enabling self-reflection and ultimately behavioural shifts. His approach balances broader systemic change with individual coaching to achieve impact. He has held senior management roles at Deloitte and Included, a global impact-led DEI consultancy, and also serves on several educational and advocacy boards. He’s offering a free 1:1 to listeners interested in exploring any of the themes for their organisation and you can email him at nickbasan@gmail.com to enquire.
Connect with Nick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-basannavar-8a925757/
Buy his book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sexual-Violence-Against-Children-Britain/dp/3030831507
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk














