WISH North West Spring Newsletter

Christmas Drinks

The evening began with a prosecco arrival and carols from the North-West Stroke Choir. The choir were an absolute delight and really got everyone in the Christmassy mood, there song “nana was a suffragette” went down brilliantly.

We then moved upstairs where we enjoyed gorgeous canapés. Majestic Wines hosted a Gin and Wine tasting table, this proved very popular with our members who also received gift vouchers courtesy of Majestic.

Sasha Deepwell, Chief Executive Irwell Valley / WISH North Chair welcomed members, reflected on our year, and announced our first event of 2018. Collette King, Chief Executive Equity explained why she is championing WISH and talked about all the work the amazing Equity Foundation Charity do.

All money raised via ticket sales and the raffle has been matched by WISH North West, and will be donated to the Equity Foundation. With your help, have raised a grand total of £1,000.

Push or Pull – What’s your style?

Hosted and sponsored by Grant Thornton at their impressive Manchester city centre offices, our latest WISH North West event was held on 1st February. We enjoyed a highly interactive and informative session on how to Influence and increase your impact led by Sarah Smith of Indigo Coaching and Leadership development.

Sarah engaged us all from the first moments, sharing her personal experiences and connections with housing. Using volunteers, Sarah physically demonstrated the difference between the Push and Pull styles and she taught us the four styles of Influencing

• Assertion – Tough combative confronting and evaluative
• Bridging – Open, empathising, warm, sincere
• Convincing with Logic – rational, analytical, balanced, cold
• Attraction – high energy committed and involved, open and honest, catalytic

She had us on our feet for most of the time moving from group to group testing our abilities to build rapport, understanding and sharing what our favourite approach is and how we may be able to adapt our style to influence others.

She gave us some top Tips on Influencing

• Be Objective start with the end in mind
• Get buy – in early and get mutual agreement
• Know the gatekeepers – you may need to influence them first
• Have a fall-back position
• WIFM – ‘What’s in it for me ‘factor. People buy in to an idea if they can see the practical and emotional benefits
• Match and mirror those you want to influence – we are all ‘tribal’
• Stay Flexible

Our final sessions saw us working together in small groups on a very practical exercise, examining real life scenarios for members of the groups. Considering the best way for them to influence those who were creating barriers for them with a very helpful ‘Take Away’ of the planned and prepared opening lines for their negotiating stance!

However, one member of the group Adele blew us away with her Influencing skills that had allowed her to set up a Street Kitchen for the homeless and encouraged all her friends to come along and help every week- she certainly had an impact on us all as we donated the remainder of our fine buffet to that nights Kitchen!

New Faces

At WISH NW, we are delighted to have two brand spanking new board members. We would like to extend a massive welcome to:

Gillian Harrison
As an architect with a keen interest in how the built environment influences and impacts people’s lives, Gillian has designed and delivered buildings across a range of sectors. Since joining Levitt Bernstein in 2012, she has specialised in housing, both general needs and that for older people – devising inventive solutions to create beautiful and functional places to live. She also campaigns for better quality housing and sits on the GMCA housing strategy steering group.

Outside of practice, Gillian mentors architecture students, volunteers with the Manchester International Festival and spends her spare time learning and honing new craft skills.

Nicole Kershaw
Nicole is an executive housing professional with over 15 years leadership experience in both the social housing and commercial sectors. Her current role is Director of Customer Experience at The Guinness Partnership and prior to that Executive Director of Customer and Homes at Wulvern Housing.  She specialises in transformational change, innovative service design and delivering first-class experiences for customers and colleagues. She is also passionate about enabling others to realise their full potential and cultivating talent.

Up Coming Events

We have a jam-packed schedule of events for our members in 2018, following on from feedback on the members survey we have hopefully tried to capture some of your comments and requests.

11th April – WISH Northwest Social – Haigh Hall, Wigan

16th May – A Strength based approach to working in communities – Great Places Didsbury

12th June – Women at The Top – Grant Thornton Liverpool – Details to be confirmed

June – CIH – Drinks / social – Manchester

20th September – Benefits of becoming a board member / governance – Liz Cross Connectives – Progress Housing

November – Boost your career – Rochdale Borough Wide Housing

6th December – Northwest Christmas drinks and celebration