"It is not enough to be free, we have to know that we are free, and know how to live freely"
   

Appeal: Help us transform Healthcare Culture into a happier, healthier working environment! Read more...

Ruth Hadikin & Associates
Supporting the transformation of workplace culture through deeper awareness and emotional intelligence.

PD articles by Ruth.

Read Ruth's Blog.

Coaching in-person or by phone.

"As an experienced midwife, I found that I was unable to control the stress that was building up in my life. Working with [Kathleen] Ruth as coach, my stress level was down by 80% in just over two months! Everything is back in perspective, and I am beginning to enjoy my life again."

Jacqui, Midwife, Merseyside (UK).

Quick Help Links:

Books by Ruth:  

Effective Coaching in Healthcare

 

The Bullying Culture

 

Click HERE to read reviews (in left-hand margin)

 
 

Personal Development (PD) Articles

Click here to read and/or print free articles by Ruth

   

Recommended reading

Click here to find some of the books that Ruth recommends to her clients and workshop participants

   

Effective Coaching in Healthcare by Ruth Hadikin BUY NOW

This book predicts the rapid growth of the coaching role in healthcare, as healthcare practice responds to changing technology, evidence-based practice and attitudes to health and healing. It includes a comprehensive discussion of the psychology of effective coaching, in addition to basic coaching skills, practical techniques for developing emotional intelligence, and their aplication in practice. The coaching process is explored from the practitioner and managerial perspectives.

This book not only discusses how to transform conflict in the workplace into opportunities for growth, but invites us to consider that coaching is an effective and appropriate tool for transforming the organisational culture. After researching and writing The Bullying Culture, the author wanted to explore valid solutions to the problem of workplace bullying. Since low emotional intelligence is a major factor in workplace bullying, coaching is proposed as an effective tool to increase emotional intelligence and thereby reduce the incidence of workplace bullying in healthcare.

BUY NOW

Whether you are a beginning coach wanting a clearly presented overview of coaching, or a coach interested in coaching healthcare professionals, or a healthcare professional wishing to add coaching skills to your toolbox, or an experienced coach looking to understand the psychology underpinning coaching, this book is a must-read for you!

"Like its author, the book is full of common sense, harnessed to knowledge and a sincere desire to help those who need it."

-Dame Lorna Muirhead, Past President, Royal College of Midwives

"If I'd read your book before I wouldn't have paid for coach training!"

- Dr. Anne D. Gooding, Ph.D., USA

BUY NOW

Table of Contents:
    • What is coaching?
    • The Psychology of Coaching
    • Coaching skills, tools, terms and techniques
    • You as coachee:The coaching experience
    • Being the coach: The coach practitioner
    • The coach manager
    • The evolution of a coaching culture
    • Future visions: The future role of coaching in healthcare
    • References
    • Further reading
    • Resources/websites
    • International Coach Directory
    • Index

Ruth Hadikin's book is a comprehensive introduction to the theory, practice and process of coaching in a healthcare context. It starts from the premise that the reader is new to coaching, providing key definitions and outlining the psychology of coaching and its relevance to healthcare. The book then moves on to describe how to develop coaching skills, with simple exercises which improve your skills and help you to apply them in practice.

 

"Coaching in Healthcare turned out to be an excellent introduction into the principles of coaching – actually the best of this kind which I have read so far." - HW. Scotland.

 

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[*Note from the author (May 2005):

Since publication there is increasing evidence of the effectiveness of coaching in a healthcare context with tangible benefits for healthcare practitioners themselves, and for employers in terms of staff recruitment and retention. One recent study concludes:

"Positive benefits noted by the doctors who were coached were: increased effectiveness at work, career planning, re-examination of their work-life balance and improvement in the quality of relationships at home and at work. Five of the 33 GPs interviewed (15%) were considering leaving general practice and reported that they had changed their career plans as a result of the coaching as they realised they were happy to remain working as GPs. The consensus was that this type of coaching should be made available by the NHS to support GPs." - GP Life Coaching Pilot in Shropshire and Staffordshire. (awaiting publication) by Sara Buckley and Professor Ruth Chambers.

Copies available from Centre for Health Policy and Practice
Faculty of Health and Sciences
Staffordshire University
Leek Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 2DF]

Coaching creates an environment in which development and growth can take place and is about real people in real situations overcoming real problems. Effective Coaching in Healthcare provides skills for applying the principles of coaching in your daily life to both foster a positive, supportive, working environment and to realise your personal potential.

With it's personalised style, using you as the reference point, this book takes you on a journey of self-discovery in which you are transformed, if you are willing to allow yourself to be coached!

   

This book is also available at:

(click here for articles by Ruth on the relationship between workplace bullying, emotional intelligence and coaching in healthcare)

Appeal: Help us transform Healthcare Culture into a happier, healthier working environment! Read more...

 

   
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The Bullying Culture by Ruth Hadikin and Muriel O'Driscoll BUY NOW

 

This book appeals to everyone who has experienced workplace bullying and is interested in understanding and improving dysfunctional workplaces.

"a definitive text to read for all those aspiring to or within management, and of interest to workers, in any profession"

"very clear advice about how bullying cultures can be changed for the better"

"It is difficult to say who shouldn't read the contents"

Drawing upon their combined wealth of experience (and Ruth Hadikin's research in the UK Health Service as a 'case study') the authors conduct an intelligent and in-depth exploration into the causes and effects of a bullying culture in the workplace. Their remarkable insights lead them to recommend practical steps that can be taken in any profession or industry for assessing risk and reducing the harmful effects. This book is an essential starting point for anyone attempting to understand how bullying cultures form among groups and in workplaces, what structures support them and what strategies are effective in addressing the issues and effecting lasting change.

BUY NOW

Table of Contents:

    • What is workplace bullying?
    • Historical and sociological factors: how the NHS bullying culture developed
    • Why and how do bullies bully?
    • The effects of bullying
    • The boss, the bully and the law
    • Acknowledging and altering a bullying workplace: guidance for managers
    • Learning the lessons: the NHS as a developing organisation
    • Suggested further reading
    • Contacts and resources
    • References
    • Further reading
    • Resources/websites
    • International Coach Directory
    • Index

     

Aggression, bullying, harassment and violence are increasingly common within the National Health Service (NHS). Based on pioneering research and the personal stories of midwives, this book examines the bullying culture that permeates every level of the NHS. Bullying behaviours between peers and across the supervisory hierarchy are explored, and the harmful effects of bullying are discussed. 

"Crucially, very clear advice about how bullying cultures can be changed for the better is imparted. All NHS staff should read this book. It would be relevant for other businesses too."

     

The authors provide information on the law relating to intimidation and harassment in the workplace. They offer guidance for managers on how a culture of bullying can be acknowledged and addressed, and offer practical help for both bullies and their victims.

   
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Recommended reading and books of interest (*** = Highly Recommended)
 

Co-Active Coaching by by Laura Whitworth, Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House and Phil Sandahl ***

Peak Evolution by Lauren Holmes ***

NOW Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton ***

Loving What Is by Byron Katie with Stephen Mitchell ***

Emotional Intelligence: why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Working With Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle ***

Practicing the Power of Now: Meditations and Exercises and Core Teachings for Living the Liberated Life by Eckhart Tolle, Marc Allen (Editor)

Stillness Speaks: Whispers of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Destructive Emotions and how we can overcome them. A dialogue with the Dalai Lama narrated by Daniel Goleman

Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership by Joseph Jaworski

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Riuz

The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Riuz

Moments of Grace by Neale Donald Walsch

Love, Freedom and Aloneness by Osho

Embracing The Beloved by Stephen and Ondrea Levine ***

Waking The Tiger by Peter Levine ***

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Co-active Coaching: New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and Life by Laura Whitworth, Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phil Sandahl.

An excellent coaching textbook from the founders of the Coaches Training Institute (CTI). Highly recommended for anyone in coach training or in a coaching relationship, or even just anyone interested in personal development. This is a classic.

   
   

 

 

Peak Evolution by Lauren Holmes

We create our own reality. If we don't like what we see we need to know what to do to change it. This book tells us everything we need to know. You can't afford not to read this. Lauren's gift is to collate reality-creation theories into a working methodology which we can apply moment by moment in our daily lives.

Click Here to listen to a recording of the author Lauren Holmes discussing the state of Peak Evolution.

 

 

     
     
NOW Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton

We are all unique. We like to believe this but most days we often don't feel any different than thousands of other people. This may lead us (and more importantly some employers and managers) to feel that we can all do the same work and that we are dispensable and replaceable. Not so say the authors of this book. Each of us can do some things much better than thousands of other people.

This book not only shows you how truly unique you are, but shows you how, by aligning your work and activity with your natural strengths (and yes, we ALL have them) you will not only be more effective but you will experience more joy and satisfaction in your work. For managers there is an excellent chapter on how to manage people with different strengths.

This book is invaluable both for employers and business owners who want to create a strengths-based organisation (to maximise profit and performance) and for individuals who want to experience more joy and fulfiullment by aligning their work with their true strengths.

     
     
Loving What Is by Byron Katie with Stephen Mitchell

We cannot imagine the sense of freedom that comes when we begin to use our minds rather than have our minds use us. This book is an excellent key for unlocking the prison of the mind and setting us free. If you cannot even imagine what this feels like then you need to read this book. We highly recommend it to chronic worriers and anyone who desires peace of mind and freedom from troubled thoughts. Can you imagine the sense of peace, joy and freedom that comes from simply loving what is?

     
     
Emotional Intelligence: why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Most of us think we are basically stuck with the personality we have from birth. Through reading this we realise that much of what we think of as 'fixed personality traits and temperament' (such as assertiveness, having strong boundaries, a tendency to depression, or shyness) are actually skills that we can learn.

This book doesn't give practical techniques but rather focuses on the science and theory of how we can and do change our emotional 'literacy' to handle ourselves and others better.

For practical tools we recommend you read Effective Coaching in Healthcare by Kathleenruth Hadikin.

     
     
Working With Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

"Emotional intelligence is the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships."

     
     
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

This book, (or the shorter version below) is invaluable for teaching us the simple joys and enormous power of simply being present. This is something that has to be experienced to be really understood and these books offer useful guidance and exercises which allow us to let go of the mind and simply enjoy our being. It's not all about navel gazing though: although enjoyment may be our motivation, some important side-effects of this practice are improved focus, memory, confidence and performance.

     
     
Practicing the Power of Now: Meditations and Exercises and Core Teachings for Living the Liberated Life by Eckhart Tolle, Marc Allen (Editor)

Our minds cannot grasp the power of being present. Indeed the mind gets bored. It is only then, when the mind loses its' grip on us, that we really begin to understand. This book is crammed with thoughtful and inspirational quotes, and meditative practices to encourage us to stay fully present: right here, right now.

     
     
Stillness Speaks: Whispers of Now by Eckhart Tolle

Along the same theme as the above titles, this book contains more short phrases and beautifully inspired verses designed to inspire meditative practice and invite the reader to arrive even deeper into the stillness that is: right here, right now.

     
     
Destructive Emotions and how we can overcome them. A dialogue with the Dalai Lama narrated by Daniel Goleman

This is a fascinating book on the practical application of techniques such as meditation in everyday living, and what the impact that would be on reducing aggression in our society. Regardless of religious belief there are techniques which we can all learn which can shift our emotions, moods and even basic temperament to a more peaceful state. This book is full of sound research and references which could be a starting point for any researcher into this topic.

     
     
Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership by Joseph Jaworski

Human potential, service, leadership and yes, synchronicity or 'meaningful coincidence'. If you don't understand the threads that weave them all together, optimising whole systems, this book is a must-read for you.

     
     
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

A course in discovering and recovering your creative self. Whether you consider yourself creative, an 'artist' or not, this book will re-kindle your creativity through a practical 12 week program, leading you to a greater ability to enter flow state, enjoy life and be your natural self.

     
     
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Riuz

A very simple and yet powerful code to live by. By simply following the four 'agreements' we let go of many limiting beliefs and embrace greater happiness. This book offers an excellent explanation on why nothing is personal; if you are somone who feels somehow responsible for how others think and feel, then this is the book for you.

     
     
The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Riuz

More timeless wisdom given in the simple manner of Don Miguel Riuz. Is it really so simple? Yes. It really is.

 

     
     
Moments of Grace by Neale Donald Walsch

Einstein is reputed to have said there are only two ways to look at life: as though nothing is a miracle or as though everything is a miracle. This book reassures us of the everyday miracles that are happening all around us, all the time, we only have to notice them.

     
     
Love, Freedom and Aloneness (Paperback)by Osho

"Love is not what is ordinarily understood by the word ...

The model of the traditional family is breaking down, children barely into their teens are experimenting with sex, and half of all marriages in developed countries end in divorce. In LOVE, FREEDOM AND ALONENESS, Osho explains why these phenomena are happening and how they can actually be viewed as a cause for celebration rather than worry. In a post-ideological world, where all the old moralities are clearly out of date, we have a golden opportunity to redefine and revitalize the very foundations of our lives. Literally starting fresh with ourselves and our relationships to others, and defining fulfillment and success for the individual and for society means understanding the new realities of our basic condition. Until we learn to live by ourselves and with ourselves, we will deny ourselves the possibility of finding love and happiness with someone else. This book is a provocation and a guide for that fresh start.

     
 

 

 
Embracing the Beloved: Relationship as a Path of Awakening by Stephen and Ondrea Levine

This book should be on the shelf of everyone who is seriously committed to a relationship, whether that be partners, friendships or lovers. I wish I'd read this before my relationship broke up. In fact, I wish I'd read it just as my relationship was starting out. It doesn't gloss over the challenges of a long term relationship but it offers sound advice and encouragement and shows us how the challenges that we experience in our relationships can be used for our growth, if we know how. This book tells us how. An excellent source of wisdom.

     
     

Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma - The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences by Peter Levine

In an age of Prozac and victimhood, we are not encouraged to take control of our behavioural ailments. This book, based on the authors' years of work with stress and trauma victims, aims to pass control back to the individual and away from the treatment centre. It challenges the myth that trauma stays with you for the rest of your life, and presents powerful exercises to reconcile traumatic experiences with "normal" life. By understanding the source of trauma - whether it be by violence, loss, or natural disaster - you can pick up the psychological and physical tools to resolve and complete a natural traumatic reaction.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

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