My Whole Self Stories: Ninth Seat

Ninth Seat is a research agency deeply invested in its team's wellbeing. With a focus on understanding human behaviour, the organisation has embraced MHFA England®’s My Whole Self campaign for workplace culture change.  We spoke to Robyn Drysdale, Associate Director at Ninth Seat about why My Whole Self is important to their organisation.   

"Over recent years we've taken significant strides to understand and prioritise the wellbeing of our people, ensuring it remains at the forefront of our agenda.”  

Ninth Seat's involvement in My Whole Self 

 To kickstart participation, Ninth Seat’s wellbeing team encouraged staff to create and share their own My Whole Selfie.  Colleagues often only see glimpses of each other's lives in the workplace, missing out on the full picture. By sharing My Whole Selfies, Ninth Seat aimed to foster deeper connections and a greater understanding of everyone's unique experiences and identities. 

“It began with encouraging the team to share their My Whole Selfie. With our teams working across different offices, many working entirely remotely, some conducting fieldwork abroad at the time, this simple task allowed us all to reconnect on a profoundly personal level. The light-hearted, creative but meaningful nature of this meant that every person got involved with enthusiasm.” 

 The My Whole Selfie activity sparked a deeper sense of connection. As team members from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life stages participated, it uncovered new layers of colleagues' personalities and experiences.   

"This exercise unveiled new dimensions of our colleagues, and it became apparent that this shouldn't be a one-time event but rather a continuous practice, woven into our fabric.” 

Embracing authenticity 

Ninth Seat's commitment to building authenticity among team members resulted in the creation of an inclusive space where individuals were empowered to showcase their whole self. This shift towards embracing authenticity and diversity has helped to cultivate a sense of belonging, respect and unity within the organisation.  

“Fostering an environment where people feel seen and heard is key to ensuring they feel valued. Therefore, the concept of bringing your ‘whole self’ to work is something we have been and continue to embed within the company. This includes ensuring that our workplace policies, for example, those around menopause, race and diversity and inclusion, are reviewed, updated and shared widely. 

Leading the change  

From a managerial perspective, the impact of My Whole Self at Ninth Seat has been profound. The campaign has provided a platform for open dialogue and authentic communication among team members, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. The My Whole Self Managers’ toolkit has proven invaluable in providing support, offering practical guidance for implementing and maintaining a workplace culture where authenticity is celebrated and valued. 

“The My Whole Self materials such as the My Whole Self Managers’ toolkit has served to support this cultural shift in a more practical, day-to-day manner”. 

To learn more about My Whole Self and explore how it can be integrated into your organisation working culture, please visit our campaign page below.