Shows
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaPick Your Own - with Jane of The Scent Styling CompanyWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Who doesn't love the fragrance of a peachy rose on a Summer's evening, the zest of a freshly squeezed orange, a newly opened packet of coffee beans, walking past a bakery and so many more?Today's guest, Jane Helliwell must lead the most aromatic life of us all. As the founder of The Scent Styling Company, Jane specialises in elevating workplace wellbeing and productivity with the power of scent. Imagine if you could reach for an energising or...
2025-08-1414 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaPick Your Own - with Kavitha of IsifisoWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?"Sewing Bee for companies. I help your teams break out of their shell and form threads of connection through our sewing & mending workshops".Why re-word something that is already so baa-rilliantly and succinctly put in the LinkedIn headline of today's guest Kavitha Soundararajan?A corporate IT background might not be the most obvious pathway to her creative business but our conversation reveals exactly why Kavitha is in the right place, right now.And how a spot of mindful sewing...
2025-08-0720 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaPick Your Own - with Emma of Semper Hopkins Creative WorkshopsWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Re-use, recycle, re-purpose.... and create something you will use and be super proud of for years to come.One of the outcomes of a workshop led by my guest Emma Semper Hopkins. We love Emma for her intelligent, down-to-earth, no messing Yorkshire lass approach.And from visiting her premises we felt these vibes there too.Hence our invitation to Emma to be included in our bespoke Pick Your Own collection.Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their t...
2025-07-3019 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaPick Your Own - with Leila of Bake2ExploreWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome back to SheepDip, the podcast from Raising the Baa.Today our guest is Leila Moeeni who has a truly fascinating back story from immigrant to human rights lawyer to baker. We learn about her country of origin, the challenges she has faced (and continues to do so) and why she is so passionate about breaking bread with people.Whilst hundreds of companies have brought their teams to a farm to herd sheep, we know that the exercises are n...
2025-07-2322 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - Emma Hossack, Glow at WorkWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?In her own words Emma Hossack is "a recovering perfectionist" having burnt out not once but twice, after each of her children were born whilst juggling a high octane pharmaceutical sales career.Today she and her partners at GLOW and WeTalkWellbeing help organisations and most importantly their people to be their most authentic, happy and resilient selves.Not in a fluffy way however. As their website proclaims: "We take the stuffiness and usual jargon out of training - and instead offer a...
2023-07-1932 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - Lizzie Benton, Liberty Mind UKWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Lizzie Benton describes herself as a 'progressive culture coach'. Her business Liberty Mind helps its clients to adopt an alternative way of working that unleashes people to create their best work.In this episode Lizzie shares her thoughts on the world of wellbeing in the workplace - or not 'wellbeing' perhaps.For example:- it's NOT a separate entity, a label which can come across as patronising or condescending- it's NOT always something for which the HR department s...
2023-07-0534 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - with Sally Tanski & Shahani Jayesinghe of TalogyWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why? In this first episode of our new season we're delighted to welcome not one but two guests. Both are consultants at Talogy, which combines psychology and technology to help organisations such as M&S and BBC to develop their talent.Business psychologists Sally Tanski and Shahani Jayesinghe have extensive experience of guiding companies and coaching their people for optimum performance and well-being.We discuss:* How in...
2023-06-2831 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - with Ngozi Weller, Aurora Wellness GroupWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Good Mental Health is Good Business.So says the brochure of Aurora Wellness Group, co-founded by culture change strategist Ngozi Weller with psychologist and behavioural change specialist Obehi Alofoje.Ngozi had a truly compelling reason for launching Aurora and she opens up this episode by telling us her impactful and at times heart-wrenching story. We go on to discuss:- why looking after people is a win-win for ALL companies and how it impacts the bottom line...
2023-03-1531 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - with Michelle Reid, Director of Performance Culture and Delivery, IOMWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Two big themes come through loud and clear to us in our interview with this week's guest:PURPOSE and ASKING Michelle Reid is Director of Performance Culture and Delivery at the Edinburgh-based Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM). Having progressed within her 7 years at IOM from HR Manager to a seat on the Board, Michelle is clearly an utterly authentic 'people person'. We loved the way she doesn't just talk theory. Practically all her points are illustrated, sensitively, by real-life stor...
2023-03-0834 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - with Carolyn HobdeyWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Having left her corporate HRD career in 2020, Carolyn Hobdey is passionate about improving workplace culture - or community as she prefers to call it - through human-centred leadership.Carolyn is achieving this through her Midlife Mistress platform, making your (mid)life matter and more recently as co-founder of BEing HUMAN at the Farm Club, a rural leadership wellbeing space.In our conversation with Carolyn, learn about:- our personal micro-climate- how to save time and money by asking your team...
2023-03-0132 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - with Flick Wileman, ReckittWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome back to this season of SheepDip - themed Workplace Wellness.With a different expert on each show, you will be inspired by their insights and walk away with practical advice on how to create a healthy, sustainable culture for teams to thrive.Our second guest is Flick Wileman, Global Wellbeing & Engagement Lead at Reckitt, which pursues a cleaner, healthier world through brands such as as Dettol, Vanish and Nurofen.Hear Flick's incredible journey from a fascinating, and different, childhood, through...
2023-02-2239 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWorkplace Wellness - with Anastasia Vinnikova, City Mental Health AllianceWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the 7th season of SheepDip - themed Workplace Wellness.With a different expert on each show, you will be inspired by their insights and walk away with practical advice on how to create a healthy, sustainable culture for teams to thrive.Our first guest is Anastasia Vinnikova, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at MindForward Alliance UK about which you will learn in the show. With personal experience, as she openly shares, of mental health issues, Anastasia also volunteers much of her precious s...
2023-02-1536 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, XYZ are for ...?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?The final episode in our series, The A-Z of Team Building, covers topics beginning with X (ish), Y or Z - all rolled into one show as you might imagine.We've had a blast with this series which was inspired by the many lessons learned by our clients following their experience of Raising the Baa. And naturally the learnings have prompted analogies from the world of sheep and dogs, thanks to Head Shepherd & Founder of Raising the Baa, Chris Farnsworth, in these short and lively c...
2022-12-2816 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, W is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?The penultimate episode in our series, The A-Z of Team Building, covers topics beginning with W relating to the importance of:- all members of a team being supported - creating a judgement-free environment- including everyone in the fold (as it were)- personal growth and development essential to wider team success- enthusiasm sometimes needing to be managed This series was inspired by the many lessons learned by our clients following their experience of Raising the Baa. And w...
2022-12-2110 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, V is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Our series, The A-Z of Team Building, continues with topics beginning with V including:- one of THE greatest influencers on the development of a team and its journey to success- different perspectives being essential for so many reasons- the optimum use of talent and resourcesThis series was inspired by the many lessons learned by our clients following their experience of Raising the Baa. And we punctuate it with a few insights of our own too.Expect...
2022-12-1412 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, U is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?In the shepherding world and at Raising the Baa we find U a perplexing letter to use, as its pronunciation describes a female sheep. And for those who are familiar with our communications it is apparent that we substitute EWE for U more often than not!And we love it when people start using it when conversing back since we reckon we've got a real fan 😊Continuing our series, The A-Z of Team Building, the following topics are unpacked:- one of the abso...
2022-12-0713 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, T is for... ?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Er... team?Would be churlish for us to say otherwise!In the shepherding world the team comprises the shepherd and their dog, or for those with larger flocks, their dogs. This epitome of a trusty team is at the heart of all that we at Raising the Baa deliver, on and off the field. And this podcast series is just one example.Continuing our series, The A-Z of Team Building, themes beginning with T are discussed:- how c...
2022-11-3013 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, S is for....? (our competition continues)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?.... need we ask? Sheep quite naturally. Well in our world yes, but what do they have to do with team building? Have you ever seen how a flock works together? Sheep are not just followers - they can be pioneers, leaders, assertive, protective, caring. How many of these qualities would you like in a team? Continuing our series, The A-Z of Team Building, this episode covers S themes which:- might help both quiet and 'loud' members of your team
2022-11-2315 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, R is for.... ?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?... Raising the Baa of course!And indeed we aim to raise the 'baa' in every aspect of teamwork.In this episode we cover R themes which:- improve productivity- make optimum use of resources- help move the team towards its goals effectively - lift people's levels of engagementThis series, The A-Z of Team Building, was inspired by the many lessons learned by our clients following their experience of Raising the Baa. And we punctuate...
2022-11-1614 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, Q is for.... ? (our competition continues)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Quite honestly, we struggled initially with this letter.It transpires however that there's one or two really good topics from which to draw insights.In this series, the A-Z of team building was inspired by the many lessons learned by our clients following their experience of Raising the Baa. And we punctuate it with a few insights of our own too. Expect plenty of analogies from the world of sheep and dogs from Head Shepherd & Founder of Raising th...
2022-11-0912 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, P is for....? (plus competition)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Provocative perhaps? In this episode a couple of the themes beginning with P might seem a little negative in relation to building a strong team. As with so many aspects of team dynamics however it's about balance. Yin and yan if you like. So long as a potentially negative theme is recognised, action can be taken to redress it to create a positive outcome.In this series, the A-Z of team building, we continue to recall lessons learned by so...
2022-11-0213 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, O is for....? (plus competition!)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?O...MG, there's so many! From Observing through Outstanding to Opinions, plus a few others too. How can each of these help to develop a team into a baa-rilliantly collaborative and super successful one? Each episode of our A-Z series of team building aims to help.Expect plenty of analogies from the world of sheep and dogs from Head Shepherd & Founder of Raising the Baa, Chris Farnsworth, in these short and lively conversations with Paul Warriner, our Lead Facilitator.
2022-10-2614 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, N is for... ?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Into the 2nd half of the alphabet now with our A-Z series of all things team building, so we figured we'd celebrate with a competition.And there will be opportunities to win EVERY month! More on this further on...This podcast series continues to reflect on themes cited by our clients in their reviewing sessions, following their experience of herding sheep - Raising the Baa style. Today's episode features topics beginning with the letter N. Each episode of our A-Z...
2022-10-1910 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, M is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Mountains? Er, not specifically. Though they are the reason we took a week's break half-way through this A-Z series of Team Building. Raising the Baa co-founders Chris Farnsworth and Caroline Palmer, alongside a team of 5 entrepreneurial folk, clambered a marathon up and down mountains in the French Alps. Why? To raise much needed funds for Inner Flame, a charity close to our heart as you will be aware if you know the story behind Raising the Baa (our first episode of Sheep Dip).And m...
2022-10-1211 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, L is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Love! Who'd have thought? Yep, this is the theme we first discuss in this episode. But in what sense? Possibly not what you might expect...This podcast series picks up on all the themes that have been fed back to us by our clients in their reviewing sessions, following their experience of team building with sheep. And more topics of our own too.Each episode of our A-Z series of team building lasts around 10 minutes - just right for a (sheep)dip into each...
2022-09-2812 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, K is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?King. What else for the time of releasing this episode (2 days after the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II)?King Charles III has HUGE shoes to fill and without his team, more commonly called his entourage, around him, he would be the first to admit his role would be totally impossible.In the words of his dearest mother, our late and much revered Queen Elizabeth II:"Whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for w...
2022-09-2109 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, J is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Just the Job? Subtle difference to Just a Job. An effective team around you really is 'Just the Job'. An individual working alone can't fully achieve greatness on their own. And that's why we hear so often when someone leaves a role - "it's the people I'll miss most".Your team, be it physically or virtually around you, are all working towards the same aim. How can you ensure the team develops into the most effective team possible?We're her...
2022-09-0710 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, I is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Interested? Tune in and find out.Our aim as ever is to help you take your team to the next level - and this podcast series picks up on all the themes that have been fed back to us by our clients in their reviewing sessions.Each episode of our A-Z series of team building lasts around 10 minutes - just right for a (sheep)dip into each of the topics.Expect plenty of sheep/shepherd/dog references from Head Shepherd and F...
2022-08-3109 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, H is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Hoorah!?It's another episode of SheepDip after all!Some really thought-provoking insights this week, possibly from a couple of less common H-words too. Our aim as ever is to help you take your team to the next level - and this podcast series picks up on all the themes that have been fed back to us by our clients in their reviewing sessions.Each episode of our A-Z series of team building lasts around 10 minutes - just right for a...
2022-08-2411 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, G is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Good or Great?Our aim is always to help teams go from good to great. Teams discover for themselves just how great they can be once they've faced the challenge of herding a pesky flock of sheep.Many lessons are revealed and this podcast series picks up on all the themes that have been fed back to us by our clients in their reviewing sessions.Each episode of our A-Z series of team building lasts no more than 10 minutes...
2022-08-1708 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, F is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why? ... Flock (as we call our team)? Yes, but no in this instance.From all the f.... [oops nearly gave one of them away!] learnings our clients have told us about, we've taken just 4 of the F-words (steady...)The first is an unavoidable benefit of the exercise our clients undertakeAnother has been called 'the breakfast of champions'The third is a long-established car modelAnd the final one can sometimes be seen as its polar opposite You could g...
2022-08-1007 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, E is for ...?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Expectations? What would you expect E to stand in association with team building?Tune in to this 5th episode of our A-Z series and find out.Each episode is just 10 minutes or so long, perfect to listen to whilst walking the dog or waiting for a train.Expect plenty of lively sheep/shepherd/dog references from Head Shepherd and Founder of Raising the Baa, Chris Farnsworth, in these short and lively conversations with Paul Warriner, our Lead Facilitator.
2022-08-0310 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, D is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?D is for Dog - well in the shepherding world the dog is an essential part of the team.What else would it be for though, in the wider, more corporate sense of team building?Tune in to the 4th episode of our A-Z series and find out.Each episode is just 10 minutes or so long, perfect to listen to during that coffee break or waiting for the bus!Expect plenty of lively sheep/shepherd/dog references from Head...
2022-07-2709 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, C is for ...?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?A spot of team building trivia to kick off - when curating the content for this series of our podcast, C provided the highest number of words. This episode should therefore be the longest in the series. We were given strict instructions by the director (Top Dog Caroline) though and we're sticking with our approx 10 minute duration.How many C's associated with teams can you come up with? Go!Or save yourself the effort and hear what Chris (Head Shepherd) and Pau...
2022-07-2010 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, B is for....?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?B is for Baa - obviously!What else would it be for though, in the world of team building?Tune in to the second episode of our A-Z series and find out.Each episode is just 10 minutes or so long, perfect to listen to during that coffee break or waiting for the bus!Expect plenty of lively sheep/shepherd/dog references from Head Shepherd and Founder of Raising the Baa, Chris Farnsworth, in these short and lively conversations with...
2022-07-1310 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaIn team building, A is for... ?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Baa-aaa! (that’s Hoorah in ovine language) - SheepDip is back!This 6th series is quite simply entitled the A-Z of team building.After running our very first team building programme over 10 years ago we were excited and delighted to hear how much our clients had learnt from their experience of herding sheep.Ever since, as soon as they come off the field everyone is offered a lovely piece of cake (they’ve jolly well earned it!), a brew and a Refl...
2022-07-0610 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaCompassionate Leadership with Manley Hopkinson - Episode 5What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?In the 5th and final part of our series on Compassionate Leadership, our expert guest Manley Hopkinson talks about Balance.Manley believes that to be a Compassionate Leader "you must balance the needs between achieving the task, building the team and developing the individual".His philosophy is based on the British academic and leadership theorist John Adair's model of 'Action Centred Leadership', often referred to as the Three Circles Model.In listening to this episode you will gain an understanding of...
2022-04-0630 minSheep Dip with Raising the BaaCompassionate Leadership with Manley Hopkinson - Episode 4What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Continuing our series on Compassionate Leadership, our expert guest Manley Hopkinson explores power and, or perhaps versus, influence.It follows perfectly on from the last episode in which we discussed the difference and the merits of committed as opposed to compliant teams. Firstly Manley reviews our answers to the 3 questions he set as our home-play at the end of the last episode. He interprets our responses to demonstrate how they reveal our individual needs. These findings would give any lead...
2022-03-3032 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaCompassionate Leadership with Manley Hopkinson - Episode 3What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?How did you get on with the exercise our series guest Manley Hopkinson set for us at the end of the last episode?We found it fascinating as you will find out when Manley gets us to share our efforts at the beginning of this week's show.And if you're curious to know why he set us the exercise, and how it can help you to become a Compassionate Leader, hit the back button and listen to Episode 2 (and 1 as well ideally) first.
2022-03-2336 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaCompassionate Leadership with Manley Hopkinson - Episode 2What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?How are you feeling after following the top tip at the end of last week's show? It has certainly affected us in a most positive way. If you haven't done it or you don't know what we're referring to, check out the first of this new season of SheepDip podcasts. The series is all about Compassionate Leadership. And we are being guided through the concept by THE expert, adventurer, author and thoroughly engaging speaker Manley Hopkinson.Episode 2 might remind you of an...
2022-03-1624 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaCompassionate Leadership with Manley Hopkinson - Episode 1What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?This series of SheepDip is dedicated to the topic of #compassionateleadership and we're delighted that the global leader on this topic, Manley Hopkinson, is our guest throughout.Whilst Manley wrote his book on the subject in 2014 followed by his Academy in 2015, the practice of Compassionate Leadership really came to the fore when the first lockdown hit - though it should not have taken a pandemic to do so.We urge you to tune in to this series. Manley is a thoroughly engaging speaker...
2022-03-0927 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa10 qualities of an outstanding team building event (part 2)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why? We've been serialising the book over the last few weeks and the final chapter concludes with 10 qualities of an outstanding team building event.In our humble opinion naturally.The 10 tips are available as a free download from the pop-up on our website and in our podcast we delve into each one a little deeper. Numbers 1 to 5 were discussed in last week's episode. And here are the final 5!So when planning your next team building programme, cross reference it aga...
2021-12-2214 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa10 qualities of an outstanding team building event (part 1)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?The final chapter of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' concludes with 10 qualities of an outstanding team building event.In our humble opinion naturally.The 10 tips are available as a free download from the pop-up on our website and in our podcast we delve into each one a little deeper. Numbers 1 to 5 are discussed in this episode. The final 5 will be covered in the following show.If these thoughts prompt any que...
2021-12-1514 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaBuilding that magnificent team (Chapter 8)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Chapter 8 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' is the final one. And appropriately the book culminates in final thoughts on building that extraordinary team.The analogies continue between shepherding and the corporate business world, with a focus on how teams usually celebrate the festive season. At the release date of this episode of December 2021, most business leaders are treating team gatherings differently than before the pandemic.In this series of conversations with the author, and...
2021-12-0814 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaHow would ewe react to the dog? (Chapter 7)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Chapter 7 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' delves a little further into the relationship between dogs and sheep.Why is that something so comparatively small can have such an impact on not just one but a whole flock of sheep? What are the different ways that a sheep reacts and why?And how does this relationship reflect the way we as people act within teams or as a leader? In this series of...
2021-12-0115 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaAssessing the right dog for the team (Chapter 6)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why? So when you're recruiting for your team what process do you go through? Would a few tips from a shepherd help? What assessments take place when they're selecting their most essential team-mate, the dog?Chapter 6 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' reveals all. In this series of conversations with the author, and veteran shepherd, Chris Farnsworth this is not just an audio book.His stories from the farming world and Rais...
2021-11-2419 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaKISS - Keep It Simple, Shepherd (Chapter 5)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Systems. Love 'em or hate 'em every industry has them. And shepherding is no different. As Chapter 5 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' reveals. In this series of conversations with the author, and veteran shepherd, Chris Farnsworth this is not just an audio book.His stories from the farming world and Raising the Baa's client programmes bring the theory to life in an engaging and often humorous way. In this episod...
2021-11-1714 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaA dog is a man's best friend - or is it? (Chapter 4)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?If you're a dog lover, Chapter 4 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' will be of particular interest.In this series of conversations with the author, and veteran shepherd, Chris Farnsworth this is not just an audio book.His stories from the farming world and Raising the Baa's client programmes bring the theory to life in an engaging and often humorous way. As the artwork for this episode implies, shepherds use several breeds of...
2021-11-1013 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaWhat makes a good shepherd? (Chapter 3)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Chapter 3 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' is somewhat self-indulgent!In this series of conversations with the author, and veteran shepherd, Chris Farnsworth this is not just an audio book.His stories from the farming world and Raising the Baa's client programmes bring the theory to life in an engaging and often humorous way. In Chris' opinion a good shepherd must pay attention to three factors:Detail - after all shepherds de...
2021-11-0313 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaSo what is it about sheep? (Chapter 2)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Chapter 2 of our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You' focuses on, no surprises here, sheep!In this series of conversations with the author Chris Farnsworth this is not just an audio book. His stories from the farming world and Raising the Baa's client programmes bring the theory to life in an engaging and often humorous way. Sheep are often dismissed as being 'just followers' and even 'stupid'. Many of our clients, after experiencing one of...
2021-10-2712 min
Sheep Dip with Raising the BaaSheep, shepherd, dog - which perspective do you take? (Chapter 1)What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?The Autumn/Winter season of SheepDip unpacks our Head Shepherd's book 'Sheep Shepherd Dog - Building a Magnificent Team Around You'.In a series of interviews with the author Chris Farnsworth this is not just an audio book. His stories from the farming world and Raising the Baa's client programmes bring the theory to life in an engaging and often humorous way. Chris' experience as a shepherd brings a whole new perspective to people and team development. We sometimes look...
2021-10-2010 minSheep Dip with Raising the BaaSummer reflections and Autumn excitementWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Three months to the day of our last episode and we're baa-ck!August is a quieter time of year for our Head Shepherd as he explains in our conversation. And the Autumn is when he starts planning ahead for the next year - and for most sheep farmers in the UK 'new year' is November. It's when the boy sheeps are let loose with the girl sheeps (to use Jeremy Clarkson's language) and, well, you know what happens next...Just like any other b...
2021-10-1306 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#51. A Day in the Life of a Shepherd - JulyWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the July episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd.The next big task after shearing is weaning. It's a topic which prompts many questions. Why is it done? How do shepherds manage the process? Does it upset the ewe or its lambs?We also discuss why now is a good time for sheep farmers to sell some of this year's lambs.Next month, August, is the quietest time in the shepherding calendar. It's a time for...
2021-07-1305 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#50. How holding successful meetings shows great leadershipWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Caterina Kostoula coaches leaders for impact and fulfilment as the founder of coaching company, The Leaderpath®. Before that, she was a business leader at Google. So if you want to get the scoop on working at Google, you're in the right place!More importantly, the main topic of this episode is prompted by Caterina's book, part of the Penguin Expert Series, "Hold Successful Meetings". First we discover what prompted Caterina to write on this subject - given that she actually hated meetings in her corporate li...
2021-07-0630 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#49. Is the grass always greener for leaders?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Self-described "obsessed with possibility" Stacey Ashley has over 30 years of experience in coaching high performance leadership competence, confidence and credibility. Talking to us from the gorgeous city of Sydney, Australia, we delve straight into the topic of 'possibility'. Where did this obsession come from and how does it play out for Stacey and those she influences?Naturally Chris sees an analogy with sheep, which will always believe the grass is greener. Some sheep will regularly challenge the electric fencing just to see if it really is...
2021-06-2925 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#48. New work patterns = new internal communicationsWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?The 40-hour work week is out, being paid for competing tasks is in. Other than manufacturing this is the way employers should now be thinking, according to Ben Baker, specialist in employer brand marketing and our guest in this episode.Whilst it may have been chaotic at first, the pandemic has proven that the traditional working pattern can be disrupted. And it succeeds if companies have evolved their culture and maintained, or better still, upped their game in employee engagement.The w...
2021-06-2230 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#47. A Day in the Life of a Shepherd - JuneWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the June episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd.Chris and Caroline are in the farmyard this month, with the sounds of loading hay bales going on in the background. So we kick off by having a discussion about - well - hay! Do you know how to tell the difference between hay and straw?Whilst observing the goings-on in the hay barn, we were leaning on a couple of giant wool sacks which of course led us to...
2021-06-1609 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#46. From charitable beginnings to re-igniting that inner flameWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?This week's guest is a long-standing friend of Raising the Baa, David Wreathall, who is founder and now Chair of Trustees at the youth charity Inner FlameAn episode of two distinct halves, we hear David's perspective on how the concept of team building with sheep was born and how the exercise developed over the next few years. An off the cuff idea evolved with groups of young people on a purely voluntary basis until, serendipitously, a totally unexpected opportunity arose. A tight de...
2021-06-0126 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#45. Creating a workplace where people want to beWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Dana Vogelmeier delights in helping leaders create workplaces people love.Having led multiple teams for 25 years in a Fortune 50 organisation, Dana's experience in creating great work environments has prepared her to help others through her own consultancy Vogelmeier Consulting. She is also heavily in demand as a facilitator, remote and in person again soon, for the Association for Talent Development in the States.During and post-Covid it is more commonplace for teams to be scattered, with some working in the office and others...
2021-05-2529 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#44. Engaging your team - the rebellious wayWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?After 20+ years in the corporate world, Debra Corey wanted to be creative with her own title - Chief Pay It Forward Officer - of her business DebCoHR. Guesting on our show is just one of the many ways that Debra shares her extensive skills and knowledge gathered during her career as an award-winning and respected HR leader at such companies as Gap, Merlin Entertainment and most recently Reward Gateway. Author of 3 books and an in-demand speaker, Debra has a rebellious streak about her which fits o...
2021-05-1828 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#43. A Day in the Life of a Shepherd - MayWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the May episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd.Chris and Caroline are back in the churchyard, amongst a few orphan lambs - complete with natural sound effects!Grass is on Chris' mind this month. He always jests how he spent 3 years at agricultural college studying grass and indeed with his monthly National Sheep Association magazine there is a frequent supplement dedicated to forage. After all, good quality grass is fundamental to the healthy growth of his sheep, th...
2021-05-1106 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#42. Why bother? How identifying your team's motivation is critical to successWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Motivational Leadership was co-founded by our guest Kate Turner over 20 years ago to "shift the paradigm of motivation and leadership in the workplace" She and her associates strongly believe that motivation is an essential ingredient of performance, yet isn’t well understood, or indeed nurtured, by organisations. And yet It drives employee engagement and enables cultural change.With her co-founder and other team members, Kate delivers leadership solutions using Motivational Maps to clients such as Novartis Pharmaceuticals, John Lewis Partnership, Alzheimer’s Society and the UK's...
2021-05-0433 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#41. "It's HR - but not as we know it"What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?It is wholly appropriate for an outdoors team building company podcast guest to have been described as "a breath of fresh air" within her profession! Michelle Hartley rose through the ranks of HR to Director level at Multivac UK and during the pandemic launched her independent HRD business People Sorted. Fittingly, her company offering is "it's HR - but not as we know it". We love Michelle's energy and totally get the fresh air descriptor! And she tells us how it came to be i...
2021-04-2726 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#40. Raising our own BaaWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Head Shepherd Chris' own lambing has finished. It's time to reflect and review.With all the new life around us in the fields and the easing of lockdown restrictions it feels like a new beginning. A great feeling!In this episode we reveal how we're raising our own 'baa' to respond to the needs of our clients. We'd love to know: how do you you plan to celebrate reuniting with your team? Roll on 17th May when our gates will b...
2021-04-2010 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#39. A Day in the Life of A Shepherd - AprilWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the April episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd.Chris and Caroline are in amongst a few ewes and lambs in this show, though not from a traditional field. Somewhere a bit more pastoral, can you guess where?It's nearing the end of another lambing season, the time when a few issues always seem to present themselves as Chris explains.We'd love to know the most surprising fact you learn from our conversation this month. Or p...
2021-04-1311 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#38. Got a presentation to deliver to your team? Let's sort it.What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?"Presentation skills and public speaking ability is the #1 leadership skill you need to have in order to stand out from the crowd and be a voice in your industry. Are you ready to step up to the mic?" asks our guest Johnny Ball on his LinkedIn profile.To truly work WITH your team, not just be there for them, they need to see you show up with authority and be eager to hear your voice. Mastering presentation skills helps us to bring the whole team...
2021-04-0634 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#37. Mastering leadership - including a canine perspectiveWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?With a background and passion for outdoors experiential education, the effervescent Iggy Perillo has evolved her business WSL Leadership to specialise in curating leadership Masterminds.According to her LinkedIn profile, Iggy has:"spent the past 20+ years molding cranky strangers into high-performing teams by building psychological safety so people can get important things done"Delving into this description Iggy highlights the importance of the permission to 'fail' and everyone's voice being not just heard but listened to. In the shepherding world Chris...
2021-03-2328 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#36. A Day in the Life of A Shepherd - MarchWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the March episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd.It's just a few days away from our Head Shepherd's busiest time of the year - lambing. Chris chooses to lamb in the traditional way out in the fields. So tune in and find out how he gets prepared for this special and most important period in the shepherding calendar.We'd love to know the most surprising fact you learn from our conversation this month. Or perhaps it's prompted a...
2021-03-1609 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#35. Top-flight tips from a pilot for your teamWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Just how relevant do you think the skills of an airline pilot might be in business? Today we find out with thanks to our guest Paul Green, former commercial airline pilot who has since launched his organisation The Cockpit Method.If you've ever been an airline passenger you'll be utterly absorbed by this peek into the life of a pilot. Paul takes us behind the scenes of the cockpit telling many stories from his aviation career.We hear top tops on communication, empowerment...
2021-03-0931 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#34. How HR can be less tactical and more strategicWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Today's guest helps organisations identify the gaps within their HR process where technology can be leveraged, freeing up their time to be less tactical and play a more strategic role. Kevyn Rustici is a Human Capital Management Consultant working for ADP, which provides award-winning payroll and HR solutions to companies in over 140 countries. With a degree in biology Kevyn adopts a scientific approach to the world of HR and is (in his words) obsessed by technology and data - and more specifically how it is...
2021-03-0233 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#33. How it all began - the Raising the Baa storyWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?If it's good enough for the TV world it's fine by us! One of our most popular episodes relates to THE most frequently asked question we still receive here at Shepherd's Hut HQ:" How on earth did the idea of Raising the Baa come about?"Usually followed, thankfully, by:"It's just so out there , like nothing I've heard of before!"So here it is, a repeat of our Once U...
2021-02-2318 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#32. From Dell and 3M to luxury brands and insurance, adaptability is keyWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Team effectiveness, behavioural preferences and what motivates people to think and act like they do - all topics which fascinate today's guest interviewee. In his words "it bakes my noodles"!A determined individual, Ian Beer funded his way by selling cars to attend university as a 'mature' student. His subsequent corporate career spanned Total Oil, Dell Technologies and 3M before flying solo as a consultant and trainer working currently in luxury cars and insurance amongst other sectors.One of 3M's most famous products Po...
2021-02-1627 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#31. A Day in the Life of a Shepherd - FebruaryWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the February episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd. And in Head Shepherd Chris' calendar, an unusual occurrence for this time of year - he explains why....We'd love to know the most surprising fact you learn from our conversation this month. Or perhaps it's prompted a question?Ask the shepherd: chris@raisingthebaa.com, leave your comment or question in the review notes on your preferred podcast platform or comment on our LinkedIn page.E...
2021-02-0906 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#30. Is 'fun' a prerequisite of your team training - real or virtual?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?An American angle on team culture and engagement this time in our conversation with funny, motivational keynote speaker Brad Montgomery.Brad helps leaders, managers and their teams improve their bottom line by improving individual and organisational happiness. In fact he has trademarked "Laugh-o-nomics" one of his presentation packages delivered to Microsoft, the CIA and Lockheed to name just a few.One of only around 180 living inductees of the CPAE Hall of Fame (alongside such luminaries as Zig Ziglar, Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield), Br...
2021-02-0229 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#29. Have you 'herd' the one about cows flying to Africa?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?If someone suggested flying cows from the UK to Africa to assist in a time of extreme famine, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was too crazy an idea - and what's more would it even be possible?If ever there was a reason to see that thinking outside of the box, or perhaps the field, and to ignore naysayers, the charity Send a Cow is an absolute inspiration.So we'd like to introduce you to Catherine Harris, Interim Corporate Partnerships Manager at...
2021-01-2628 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#28. Keeping it SimpleWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Executive coach, speaker and author of 5 books, Simon Tyler is our guest in this episode. Local to Raising the Baa, Simon is a humorous and popular keynote speaker at networking meetings - always a bonus when people have risen very early to be present! His passionate belief in the power of Attitude, creating Impact and above all else to Keep It Simple comes across thoroughly in our conversation. Simon's blog 'Simple Notes' has been running consistently for over 4 years which are reflected in...
2021-01-1928 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#27. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange ...What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?[title courtesy of the late great David Bowie, shortly after the 5th anniversary of his passing] Our guest today is Tammy Deakin, who in 2020 co-founded coaching and change consultancy Capable Strides with a former colleague. Tammy draws from her 20+ years of organisational and talent development in the water industry to help people get through times of change as effectively as possible. Tammy didn't quite expect such an enormity of change when planning her business launch - impeccable timing in many ways!Unsurprisingly this...
2021-01-1227 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#26. A Day in the Life of a Shepherd - JanuaryWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Welcome to the January episode of A Day in the Life of a Shepherd. Normally each episode is recorded on the farm, however on this occasion we're somewhere different... We'd love to know the most surprising fact you learn from our conversation. Or if you're left with more questions. Email us: baa@raisingthebaa.com or leave it in the review notes on your preferred podcast platform.Enjoy - and thank ewe for tuning in :-)Free resource:
2021-01-0508 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#25. Launching EWE ROCK!As our final episode of SheepDip for 2020 we want to shout from the rooftops!Which company would you like to say "EWE ROCK!" to? In 2020 there have been so many incredible examples of kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness and innovation, it's been quite a revelation. In this episode we outline just 3 examples from the UK that have stood out to us. We wish to play our part and offer what we do best - lure people away from their screens, into the fresh air and have a go at herding sheep.And you...
2020-12-0106 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#24. Wishing all shepherds a happy new year! Yes, in November...What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?In the second of our monthly series from the farm, we're marking the start of the shepherding 'new year' - otherwise known as tupping time. You'll need to listen to find out what this is!Farmers are businesspeople too and we'll be discussing how they face challenges which we can all relate to. The shepherd's fresh perspective might help you view your world in a different way. Each episode is recorded on the farm, reacting to whatever Mother Nature throws at us!
2020-11-2411 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#23. A holistic learning approach with the help of Mother NatureWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Our guest this week endorses a holistic learning approach, much of it in nature-rich surroundings. Founder and director of Saltbox Training and Events, established in 2008, much of Nicki Davey's work focuses on helping people to learn in, with and from nature.Clients of Saltbox are mainly charities and commercial organisations with "a purpose beyond profit". Nicki believes that by helping their people to be more aware, more connected, and more compassionate, it will help to foster the sustainability and wellbeing of the planet and humankind.
2020-11-1727 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#22. Leadership lessons from the North Pole - no skis requiredWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Be inspired by lessons in leadership and teamwork from the first British woman to ski to the North Pole - without a snowflake in sight! With such an accolade that can never be taken away, you can imagine that Sue Stockdale has many tales of teamwork and leadership to share from this experience alone. Sue's expeditions on the icecaps of the Arctic and Greenland were springboards for her long and successful entrepreneurial journey. Using her unique combination of knowledge and experience Sue is...
2020-11-1029 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#21. The Emotional Cycle of Change and herding sheep? Yes indeed.What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Uninformed optimism. Informed pessimism. These first stages of the Emotional Cycle of Change arise during our discussion with Morten Wiil, relating to his experience of herding sheep whilst he was Group HR Director at Europe's leading office supplies company Lyreco.With an original background in the Danish army, Morten also draws analogies between teamwork in military action and in business. And whilst herding sheep.We also discuss the changing and expanding role of HR, especially within large organisations such as Lyreco and...
2020-11-0328 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#20. Introduction - monthly musings from the farmWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Reflecting the English school's half-term break we thought we'd disrupt our usual routine too.This trailer episode is brought to you straight from the field, in amongst the sheep with our Head Shepherd, and founder of Raising the Baa, Chris - and his dog too of course. It introduces our monthly series of shows which will dip into the shepherding calendar. Farmers are businesspeople too and we'll be discussing how they face challenges which we can all relate to. The shepherd's fresh perspective...
2020-10-2705 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#19. The lessons Mother Nature can teach us about teamworkWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?With Mother Nature as her business partner (and one of ours' too of course) Rachel Woods MSc shares her thoughts on how to improve teamwork and connectedness in the outdoors. Most recently Rachel was HR Business Partner UK and Ireland for Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition, the specialised healthcare division of Danone food group. Having completed her MSc Coaching and Behavioural Change and now EMCC Accredited as a Senior Practitioner, Rachel has this year launched her own coaching enterprise, Coach in Nature.To quote Rac...
2020-10-2032 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#18. Dog, wolf, hunter, farmer - who's in your sales team?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?Dog, wolf, hunter, farmer - just a few of the descriptors for salespeople and their selling style. And the most successful sales team is likely to have a diverse mix of them all.In this episode we're in discussion with Simon Hares of SerialTrainer7 who, like Raising the Baa, is based in the South West of England. With over 200 recommendations on his LinkedIn profile, it's fair to say that Simon is a well-regarded, experienced and much loved sales and management trainer. Our conversation w...
2020-10-1326 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#17. Remote team tactics from tech industry FTSE 50 senior exec/entrepreneurWhat struck ewe most from this episode - and why?If you're starting, building or re-structuring your remote team for massive success, this episode is for you. FTSE Senior Exec turned Entrepreneur Ian Drew shares his team tactics drawn from 20+ years in the global technology industry, including long stints at Intel and Arm.We discuss the challenges of building and motivating a remote team, noting especially how much harder it is to build trust when not face to face. And when under stress Ian would choose "a medium performer that I can trust a lot, o...
2020-10-0625 minSheep Dip with Raising the Baa#16. Developing people or training sheepdogs - is the psychology the same?What struck ewe most from this episode - and why?In this week's episode we welcome an award-winning people development specialist who brought together a remotely based cohort of lead consultants at management consultancy firm Newton Europe to spend a day with Raising the Baa. So why did she feel this was a good idea? Our first question will reveal all!Diane Law has built her career helping organisations and their people to perform better. Her psychology background gave insight into how people learn and are motivated. Diane gained business and organisational insight...
2020-09-2921 min