- Paid Workshop · 3 Hours Live & Online
When ‘Flat Out’ Becomes ‘Normal’
How to tell when busy has become too much, and what to do about it
When the pace builds gradually, you adapt to it. Long hours and a full head start to feel like the way things are, and you’re often the last to notice how much you are carrying.
In this live three-hour workshop, Ian McDermott and Professor Patricia Riddell bring together neuroscience and decades of coaching experience to help you see where you are right now, spot your own warning signs, and leave with one practical change to carry into year end, and beyond.
“Is the pace I’m working at normal, or am I just used to it?”
Paid Workshop · 18th November · 2pm–5pm UK · 3 hours · Live & Online
£125+VAT
With Ian McDermott and Professor Patricia Riddell
What you will gain
- Where you are now — A picture of where you are right now, and how your sense of “normal” has drifted
- Challenge or overload? — The ability to tell the difference between appropriate and unsustainable challenge
- Your early warning signs — A clearer sense of your own warning signs, before “I can cope” results in overwhelm or even breakdown
- Source, not symptoms — A way of looking beyond the symptoms of stress to the underlying causes, so you can choose what to do differently
- Working with your brain — An understanding of why change is hard for the brain, and how to work with that rather than against it
- A plan that lasts — One practical change to carry into year end and beyond, and a way to make it stick
- Permission to refuel — Confidence that putting your own oxygen mask on first isn’t selfish, but the key to contributing more to others
Is this workshop for you?
Have you ever asked yourself:
- Is the pace at which I am working normal, or am I just used to it?
- How do I tell when stress is helping me be at my best, and when it’s too much?
- Am I dealing with the symptoms or the source of my stress?
- I know what I should change but I don’t seem to be able to make it happen. What do I need to do differently?
- How do I get through December without becoming so run down I am ill at Christmas?
- I feel bad if I stop to look after myself. Am I being really selfish?
If so, this workshop will help you find the answers.
Three hours. Two expert guides. One practical change to carry into year end, and beyond.
Your workshop leaders
Ian McDermott
Founder of ITS · Trainer & Coach
Ian McDermott has dedicated his life to giving people the tools to deal with the challenges they face and the skills to create their own solutions. He is renowned for making learning simple and enjoyable, for rekindling people’s curiosity and confidence, and for a teaching style that helps people feel more at ease in themselves and the roles they find themselves in.
Ian is the founder of International Teaching Seminars (ITS) and a leadership, innovation and collaboration consultant. He has trained a generation of NLP Practitioners, NLP Master Practitioners and Coaches working all over the world. His 15 books have been translated into more than 20 languages.
Your workshop leaders
Professor Patricia Riddell
Professor of Applied Neuroscience · Chartered Psychologist
Patricia Riddell is Professor of Applied Neuroscience in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences at the University of Reading, and a Chartered Psychologist. She teaches on the MBA, the MA in Leadership and the MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change at Henley Business School.
Her work focuses on how neuroscience can be applied in the real world to deepen our understanding of coaching, leadership, behavioural change and resilience. She is co-author of The Neuroscience of Leadership Coaching and has written widely on the neuroscience of coaching, bringing the evidence behind behavioural change to the people who put it into practice.
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FAQ
What will I gain from the workshop?
- A picture of where you are right now, and how your sense of “normal” has drifted
- The ability to tell the difference between appropriate and unsustainable challenge
- A clearer sense of your own warning signs, before “I can cope” results in overwhelm
- A way of looking beyond the symptoms of stress to the underlying causes
- An understanding of why change is hard for the brain, and how to work with that
- One practical change to carry into year end and beyond, and a way to make it stick
Why a live, three-hour workshop?
Most of us already have some idea of what we should change to feel less stressed. But doing it is another matter. When the pace builds gradually, you adapt to it, and you’re often the last to notice how much stress you’re carrying. Three hours with Ian McDermott and Professor Patricia Riddell gives you time away from the day-to-day to look at your own situation properly, try out new approaches, and get expert input. Hearing from others in a similar position often helps too, because it’s easier to spot the pattern in someone else first.
Do I need to have attended Applied Neuroscience for Busy People?
No. The workshop builds on some of the same ideas, so it’s a natural next step if you joined the free session on 2nd November, and it works equally well on its own.
Will the workshop be recorded?
Yes. Everyone who registers will receive the recording for a limited time afterwards.
What if I can’t attend after booking?
You can have a 90% refund if you cancel up to 48 hours before the workshop. We’re unable to offer refunds after that, but if your plans change please let us know as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help. All registered attendees will receive access to the recording.
Can I bring my team or colleagues?
Yes, please do! Coming with colleagues means you can compare notes, agree what you want to change together, and support each other in making it stick. Each person books their own place and will receive a VAT receipt by email once their booking is confirmed.
Where can I go from here?
If you want to go deeper, Brain & Behavioural Change is ITS’s certified programme in applied neuroscience, starting in March 2027.
Three hours. A clear picture of where you are. One practical change to carry into year end, and beyond.
Wednesday 18th November 2026 · 2pm–5pm UK · 3 hours
Live online via Zoom with Ian McDermott and Professor Patricia Riddell · £125 + VAT