In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the mental wellbeing crisis within UK politics. Our guest, a veteran journalist with over 40 years of experience covering Westminster, reflects on the shocking scale of the issue, brought to light in the BBC documentary “Broken Politicians, Broken Politics.”

How deep is the problem? And more importantly, what can be done?

We explore the work of Compassion in Politics and discuss how the science of compassion and cross-partisan initiatives are helping MPs and government staff. Can the system really be reformed for more compassion in politics?

Plus, practical tips on how politicians – and those who support them – can build resilience and foster compassion, even in the toughest environments. We wrap up with: how to find light at the end of this political tunnel?

Find out more about Jennifer Nadel and her work on https://www.jennifernadel.com and https://www.compassioninpolitics.com.

Find out more on https://politicwise.org, on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/politicwise/ and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-daniel-matteo/.

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In this podcast episode, I’m sharing 5 obstacles to winning the Inner Game of Politics.

Performance = Potential - Interference

In politics, we always play an outer game and an inner game.

The outer game is formulating good policy, forming coalitions, expressing your ideas convincingly etc.

The inner game is being aware of what really matters to you and others, managing your thoughts and emotions, staying grounded etc.

Playing the inner game effectively is less about adding than subtracting:

Performance = potential - interference

Reducing interference allows you to play fully to your potential.

What are the inner interferences / obstacles getting in the way in politics?

1. Lack of Focus

* Where to focus is about prioritising (via ‘the 1 thing’ or ‘impact-feasibility matrix’)

* What matters most is about knowing your criteria for prioritising, i.e. your values and those of your group; and ‘knowing’ this cognitively, emotionally, somatically

* How to keep focus is about selective attention and open monitoring; creating habits/systems against distraction to avoid ego depletion & Zeigarnik effect; saying ‘No’ to important things

2. Chronic Stress

Chronic stress interferes in three ways:

* Cognitive impairment, especially for those parts of the brain involved in executive functions like decision-making and planning

* Emotional dysregulation: long-term stress causes anxiety and it makes the brain's amygdala more sensitive to threat, feeling on edge

* Declining physical health: chronic stress weakens the immune system and can also increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases

3. Cognitive Bias

Brains evolved with several mental shortcuts that made sense over a long stretch of our specie's existence, but can and often get in the way of deliberate decision-making for a complex problem.

I collected 30 cognitive biases you fall for in politics.

4. ‘House Divided’

“A house divided against itself, cannot stand” - Abraham Lincoln

The inner ‘house divided’ is about parts of yourself sabotaging your efforts.

5. Feeling Powerful (unchecked)

Feeling powerful can make you …

* More aggressive

* More risk-taking

* Have a (false) sense of control

* More goal-focused, less vigilant

* More ego-centric and less empathetic

* Take action more boldly (as limitations on action are removed)

These effects can be helpful, but also become an obstacle if unchecked.

From Civil Society to the City Council of Munich

Felix Sproll is a civil society activist turned city councillor in Munich for the pan-European party Volt Europa. Felix shares his journey from civil society to politics and the importance of staying true to your values. He emphasizes the need to build a network of like-minded individuals and learn from their experiences. Felix also discusses the challenges of being in the public eye and dealing with hate and threats. He advises aspiring politicians to communicate honestly with citizens and be open to different opinions. Lastly, he highlights the importance of being straightforward and transparent in decision-making.

Find out more about Felix at https://www.instagram.com/felix_sproll/ and about Volt at https://volteuropa.org.

Find out more on https://politicwise.org, on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/politicwise/ and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-daniel-matteo/.