The F-Word Magazine - 2023 Edition | Elephant Rider Community Year in Review

At the start of 2023, we set out to make everything we do 5% better. We wanted to slow the pace down a bit in the R&E Lab and hurry a bit more slowly. But as I sit here at the end of 2023 and look back on the year, I chuckle to myself. Wow, what a year it's been.

As I read the pages in this magazine below, I feel immensely proud, joyful, grateful, humble, and a little overwhelmed. This beautiful magazine showcases how much our Community and the people within it have grown. There was more ECD activity than we've seen before – thanks to the inspiring, generous, and thoughtful contributions of hundreds of Elephant Riders in our new Community Platform.

This year, our Elephant Rider Community grew to over 1200 people across 43 countries. We ran two ECD Online Masterclasses and welcomed 200 new Elephant Riders into our Community. Ten inspiring humans unlocked their Pro Elephant Rider Badges and became ECD Certified Consultants. Five Elephant Riders moved onto Specialist...

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Transformative Insights: The Five Most Powerful Lessons from My Emotional Culture Journey – By Cathy Shepherd

Originally posted on LinkedIn here >>


Over the last six months I've been on a journey to become a Pro-Elephant Rider using the Emotional Culture Deck from riders&elephants. Working with Jeremy Dean with a select group of 11 others has been amazing. We've done a deep dive into using the Emotional Culture Deck cards in so many situations.

For those that don't know about the Emotional Culture Deck (the ECD), they are a set of cards, black and white, with 47 positive feeling cards, and 38 negative or more uncomfortable feeling cards on them. They can be used in so many ways - with individuals and teams - helping people to discover the incredible power of knowing and using emotions in workplaces. The ECD has a range of tools - handbooks and canvases developed to use with it, and this journey has introduced me to them all.

It's been a great journey as amazing workplace cultures are so important to me. It's something I've valued for a long time and it's become my...

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10 Spots left on March Cohort ECD Online Masterclass Waitlist

Start your journey to Mastery.

You can download The Emotional Culture Deck for free, and that will give you a taste of the potential of the #1 game in the world for better workplace culture. You can buy your own Deck and work with our sanely simple card game to explore, understand and map your emotions and those of your team or organisation. But to really make the most of The Emotional Culture Deck, enrol in our Online Masterclass Course and put yourself enroute to mastery.

You can reserve your place right now here »

See results immediately, feel ripples indefinitely

If you're looking to unlock your full emotional potential and/or create a more emotionally connected workplace, The ECD Online Masterclass Course strikes the perfect balance between lessons and actions to ensure an enjoyable and enriching learning experience:

  • Bite-sized videos explain The ECD in a structured and easy-to-follow way

  • Practical tools and tips aid facilitation, training, and organisational...

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Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow: The ECD and the Whanake o te Kōpara Programme

Leadership doesn't happen overnight. It is nurtured, honed, and continuously developed. This is the ethos behind the Whanake o te Kōpara Programme—a comprehensive leadership development programme delivered by Women in Sport Aotearoa and Shift. Designed for young women aged 19-25, the programme is more than just a series of workshops and discussions. It's an investment in the leaders of tomorrow, specifically for a group that has often been overlooked: young women, particularly those involved in sport, active recreation, and wellbeing sectors in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Why It Matters

In a world increasingly cognisant of the need for strong, well-rounded leaders, the Whanake o te Kōpara Programme plays an instrumental role. It doesn't just aim to fill a professional skills gap; it strives to fill an emotional and mental one, too. Young women emerge from the programme with newfound skills, certainly, but also with an emotional intelligence that enriches not only their...

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Choosing the Right Deck: Navigating Individual Wellbeing vs. Team Culture

Navigating the intricacies of organisational culture and individual wellbeing often raises numerous questions. A frequently asked question that we get asked is,

"I've recently purchased both the Wellbeing Deck and the Emotional Culture Deck. I'd love to know your thoughts on when to use one set over the other." 

Whether you're centred on personal health or keen to enhance team dynamics, discerning the optimal scenarios for each deck can be pivotal. The Wellbeing Deck and The Emotional Culture Deck are powerful tools designed to address organisational health and individual wellness.

The answer to these types of questions is always "it depends." It depends on what you're trying to achieve. What problem you're trying to solve? Why are you injecting these tools into your teams and organisation?

But here's a breakdown to guide you when you might opt for one over the other:

  1. Purpose & Focus:

    • Wellbeing Deck: Use this when your primary goal is to address...
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How Understanding Emotional Culture Can Lead To Change Program Success with Jeremy Dean

Listen here on the New Way Podcast with Dr Kate Byrne >

"The conversation about emotional culture is so powerful and yet an often neglected aspect of the workplace. I hope you take so much away from Jeremy's insights and practical advice, highlighting the power of emotions in driving human behaviour and culture. It's clear that by embracing emotional culture, organisations can not only navigate change more effectively but also create a healthier and more empathetic work environment."


Introduction to the Podcast Episode

Emotions play a pivotal role in the workplace, particularly during times of change. When teams and stakeholders emotionally align with a strategic vision, change initiatives flourish. However, the topic of emotional culture is often pushed aside until emotions become problematic.

Recently Dr Kate Bryne had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with Jeremy Dean, the founder and creative force behind our company. We design...

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Transform Your Workshop Leadership Skills with The ECD Masterclass Course

ecd online masterclass Sep 11, 2023

When it comes to fostering emotional culture and understanding the complexities of human behaviour in a workplace setting, few courses match the depth and utility of The Emotional Culture Deck Masterclass Course. But don't just take our word for it; listen to the glowing testimonial of a recent graduate:

"The Emotional Culture Deck Online Masterclass Course exceeded my expectations. It provided a comprehensive education in emotional culture, equipping me with practical tools and transformative insights. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in enhancing their understanding of emotions and their impact on personal and professional life."

Gain Comprehensive Knowledge

One of the standout features of our course, as mentioned by our esteemed graduate, is the comprehensive understanding of emotional culture it offers.

"The course provided me with a comprehensive understanding of emotional culture."

Our Masterclass curriculum is designed to give you a full...

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Celebrating Steven Hargreaves: Europe's First Master Elephant Rider

master elephant rider Sep 11, 2023

It's with immense pride and joy that we announce a remarkable milestone in the Elephant Rider Community. Steven Hargreaves has officially achieved the prestigious title of Master Elephant Rider, a feat accomplished by only two others in the entire world!

Steven's remarkable achievement makes him the first Elephant Rider in Europe to have attained this elite status.

A Journey of Mastery and Dedication

Steve's journey toward ECD mastery began in June 2019 when he completed the ECD Masterclass in London. This turned out to be just the starting point for an extraordinary journey of expertise and leadership within the Elephant Riding Community.

Since completing the Masterclass, Steve has been nothing short of exceptional. He's facilitated an impressive 65 ECD Team Workshops, conducted dozens of ECD 1:1s, and hosted over 5 ECD Meetups. His contributions go far beyond numbers; his impact is felt in the transformations he has enabled in teams and individuals across the UK.

Moments That...

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Unlocking Emotional Culture: How Senior Teachers Used The Emotional Culture Deck at the National Kindergartens Association Hui

The recent Hui for Senior Teachers from the National Kindergartens Association was a phenomenal success, thanks to the incorporation of The Emotional Culture Deck. This unique tool proved to be a game-changer for 50 passionate educators looking to advance both personally and professionally.

The workshop began with a "self-branding" exercise, allowing each participant to identify key traits they wanted to be recognised for, as well as traits they wished to avoid. Following that, The ECD Deck served as a reflection tool for the teachers, helping them evaluate their emotional state over the past week and set intentions for the upcoming week.

Perhaps one of the most powerful applications was its use as a strategy to manage challenging relationships. Teachers were encouraged to identify the feelings triggered when interacting with someone they find difficult and to come up with an actionable plan to re-approach that person without bias.

The ECD also aided in facilitating...

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The Inner Journey: Lessons Learned from Self-Mastery with The ECD by Cathy Sheppard

Uncategorized Aug 23, 2023

Life's journey is full of twists and turns, pushing us to reevaluate ourselves and our strategies. The recent challenge I undertook, which involved completing five handbooks using the Emotional Culture Deck (ECD), led me to some eye-opening insights. In this blog, I want to share the top three lessons I gained from this experience and discuss how they can make a positive impact on both personal and professional life.

The five handbooks I had to complete were: the ECD Know Yourself Handbook, ECD Leadership Handbook, ECD Know Yourself in Change Handbook, ECD Values Canvas, and the ECD Partnership Handbook. Talk about powerful! These together cover so many useful aspects of life and successful business.

1. Building Strong Partnerships: The Partnership Handbook

As a business owner, partnerships can be a game-changer. But let's be real—partnerships aren't all rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes they end up messy or disappointing. The Partnership Handbook, fueled by the ECD, offers...

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