Award finalists!

We’re chuffed to announce that Willow & Puddifoot has been shortlisted for not one, but two prestigious awards this month!

?? Independent Education Provider - Business Awards UK

This acknowledges our commitment to providing exceptional learning experiences, innovative teaching methods, and outstanding support services.

?? Service Excellence - National Business Women's Awards

This recognition means a lot to us as we strive to provide excellent service to our clients. 'Client delightment' is one of our key business objectives, and it’s always top of mind in everything we do.

A big thanks to our team and our clients for making these achievements possible. We look forward to continuing to grow together!

Please subscribe to stay updated with our latest stories, tips, and expert advice in Learning & Development.

Willow & Puddifoot’s GUIDE process for impactful training!

When you are looking for your training to have impact, conducting a thorough Training Needs Analysis is just the beginning. In our latest blog post , we introduce the GUIDE process - a comprehensive, five-phase Learning and Development framework designed to tailor training and development to your unique needs. Discover how this structured approach can enhance performance, drive growth, and ensure sustained success for your organisation.

A word from Catherine on overwhelm

“Does it ever seem overwhelming sometimes, when you feel you have too much going on, too much to do and not enough time? Everything just seems too big to handle?

?When you're struggling with overwhelm, chunking it down can be a good tool to use both for yourself and to help support others.

?First, let's do the sciencey bit - when the brain encounters a big and overwhelming problem, it can trigger a stress response and lead to feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and cognitive overload. This is often referred to as the "fight, flight or freeze" response, where the brain perceives the problem as a threat, and the body prepares to react accordingly, but by chunking down an issue can significantly contribute to improved wellbeing by reducing stress, enhancing problem-solving abilities, and creating a sense of accomplishment. So, how does chunking it down actually work? I'm glad you asked:

• Reduces cognitive load: by breaking the problem into smaller, more manageable chunks, each part requires less working memory capacity. This reduces cognitive load and makes it easier for the brain to process and retain relevant information.
• Increases clarity and focus: chunking allows the brain to focus on one specific aspect of the problem at a time. This increased clarity helps in identifying the essential elements and understanding their interconnections.
• Promotes step by step approach: chunking encourages a step-by-step approach to problem-solving. It provides a clear sequence of actions, making it easier for the brain to plan and execute solutions without feeling overwhelmed.
• Boosts confidence and motivation: as each chunk is successfully solved, it provides a sense of accomplishment and positive reinforcement. This, in turn, boosts confidence, motivation, and resilience, making it easier to tackle the remaining parts of the problem.

Overall, chunking down a big problem optimises the brain's cognitive resources, reduces stress, and provides a structured and manageable approach to problem-solving.”

Hybrid working improves job satisfaction and retention, without affecting performance

A recent article in Nature by Nicholas Bloom, Ruobing Han, and James Liang sheds light on the positive impact of hybrid working. The study, involving over 1,600 employees in a Chinese technology company, found that hybrid working from home boosts retention without harming performance. Despite initial concerns from executives about productivity and innovation, the findings indicate otherwise.

Key findings include:

• Hybrid working improved job satisfaction and reduced quit rates by one-third, especially for non-managers, female employees, and those with long commutes.
• Performance grades and promotion rates remained unaffected over two years of reviews.
• Managers' perceptions of hybrid working shifted from a perceived negative impact on productivity to a positive one after the experiment.

For more detailed insights on the benefits of hybrid working, check out the full research in Nature .

If we can help with developing your people, please do get in touch. [email protected]