Helen Sanderson
About Me
I am the founder of Helen Sanderson Associates. I have worked in healthcare and social care for over 30 years and been immersed in the development of person-centered practices for the past 20 years. My PhD is on person-centered planning and organizational change. In 2016 HSA moved towards becoming a self-managed “Teal” organization, this meant me giving up my role as CEO and committing to the evolution of HSA’s purpose. Through H S A we have seeded two other organizations. The first was a new provider organization called Wellbeing Teams, to demonstrate self-management in health and care. The second is a I charity called Community Circles, seeking to create opportunities for people to come together and help each other to have better and more connected lives.
I have written over twenty books on person-centered thinking, planning, community and personalization. I am an altMBA alumni and coach, and a certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator.
I live in the UK and have three daughters, Ellie, Laura and Kate. Although I am a black belt in karate, I now enjoy spending time practicing yoga and mindfulness meditation.
What others like and admire about me
- I am thoughtful
- I am inspirational
- I am visionary
- I am supportive
Whats important to me
- To spend time with my family and see or speak to my daughters each week. Go toEllie’s yoga class each week and stay in touch through our family What’s App group.
- To meditate, go to 2 – 3 yoga classes each week and run most days.
- To read or listen to an audiobook everyday.
- To keep learning new skills. At the moment I am learning to play the Ukulele.
- To live by the sea.
- To swim in the sea with the Pandemic Paddlers three or four times a week and in a lake at the weekend with Jackie.
- To keep in touch with people through Facebook, Linked In and Twitter, and share learning on Linked in, and through blogs and podcasts.
- To work three days a week, with Michelle, Emily and Ben and see them in our weekly tactical meetings.
- To be supported by Claire.
- To write to consolidate my thinking, and to share what we are learning. I usually have a writing project on the go.
- To have honest, trusting relationships with everyone I work with.
How best to support me
- Know that I get frustrated playing telephone tag. Text and emails work best for me or booking a time for a call.
- Get back to me when you say you will and meet deadlines we have agreed or let me know if this is not possible (before the deadline is missed!).
- Know that I drown in detail, but love thinking big picture and strategy.
- Be upfront and straight with me – please don’t rely on me second guessing you or picking up hints. I need people to be frank and honest.
- Know that I get frustrated repeating discussions because we can’t remember what we agreed the first time we talked about it. Please make sure we always know who is recording actions in meetings or conversations.
