User story:

We spent some time with Daleen hearing her growth story and the impact that Mygrow has had on her life. The following is what she had to say, shared with her permission.

My story is one of growing in empathy and understanding for those around me. I have learnt how to really see and appreciate the individuals in my team and family. I now see people in context – not isolated from their histories or stories, and this has grown my compassion for them. I can confidently say that Mygrow has grown me in ways that other learning and development courses haven’t and that I am a better leader, employee and family member for it.

I am a senior area manager at The Fix and have worked in retail for 22 years. I have been on many learning courses over the years that have been helpful, but Mygrow has been the best development journey I have been on so far, for a number of reasons.

I really like that you are able to do Mygrow at your own pace. It doesn’t take very long, it’s convenient because you can do it anywhere and it gives you the chance to practise and live the learnings out each day.

Mygrow stands out to me because it not only impacts and benefits the way you operate at work, but also impacts your personal life for the better too.

My journey has led to a greater understanding of how the way that you grow up affects you more than you may think. This includes the very essence of how you see life, others and yourself. I have recognised the importance of having a good support structure and healthy family. This was significant in my growth because even though I do not battle with negativity myself, I would often get frustrated when those around me would get stuck in a constant cycle of negativity. It’s very easy for us to point out the negatives in our lives and it takes a new way of thinking to be able to see the positives – Mygrow gives you the tools to develop this.

I have grown in empathy for those who did not have a supportive family like I did. This has meant that I am now able to offer better support to those around me, both at work and at home. One such person has been my husband, who did not have anyone to fall back on when things got tough. People who did not have support growing up can become extremely driven and believe that they have to do everything on their own – they often battle with negativity as a result of this. I have seen that your thinking can be rewired if you have the right tools to help you.

I have also come to love the ‘Giving Praise’ technique that I learnt on Mygrow. I love how we are taught to ‘catch someone doing something right’ instead of only noticing people’s faults and errors all the time. It is really uplifting and changes how we see others. This in turn, positively impacts our relationships.

“I really like that you are able to do Mygrow at your own pace. It doesn’t take very long, it’s convenient because you can do it anywhere and it gives you the chance to practise and live the learnings out each day.”

The technique that I found challenging but also very helpful was the ‘ABCDE’ technique. The more you do it, the easier the thinking becomes but it has been really helpful in recognising that when things go wrong and we experience triggers, we go into what is called ‘extreme thinking’. Extreme thinking is when it feels like the world is about to come to an end.

This technique has helped me to become a calmer person. I work in retail and everyone knows that when a situation pops up there is a need to act quickly and it often feels like there is no time to even think things through. I am learning to stop for a second and pause, then think things through and even figure things out together, taking the time needed to consider what the best response would be.

I am hoping to lead the 15 store managers that I oversee into this kind of thinking too. Situations may feel impossible but we can work together and problem solve together as a team.

I would love for my whole team to do Mygrow but in the meanwhile I am doing my best to teach others what I am learning and take them on the journey with me in that way. I really believe that Mygrow has the potential to have a powerful and positive ripple effect throughout our company. This kind of growth is for everyone!

DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS
IN YOUR TEAM, COLLABORATE BETTER
AND TRANSFORM YOUR COMPANY CULTURE