Navigating Organisational Change
Everton FC’s Fan Centre staff were operating under significant psychological stress due to a period of intense organisational change. As the frontline for fan engagement, the team faced mounting public-facing pressures and emotional regulation challenges, necessitating a proactive approach to protect staff wellbeing and operational performance.
Strengthening Resilience and Regulation
At the request of the Fan Team leads, SO Health was tasked with delivering a targeted intervention to:
- Identify and manage emotional triggers and “amygdala hijack” moments.
- Equip staff with practical tools for stress management and mindfulness.
- Foster a safe environment for reflection and collective validation.
- Bridge the communication gap between frontline needs and organisational protocols.
The “Respond Don’t React” Programme
SO Health delivered a series of workshops titled, including “Respond Don’t React: Mastering Emotional Control.” The intervention focused on three core pillars:
- Psychoeducation: Teaching staff the science of the “amygdala hijack” to help them understand their physiological responses to pressure.
- Practical Toolkits: Training the team in mindfulness-based techniques, including the S.T.O.P. technique, Breathing exercises, and the “Island of Safety” concept.
- Reflective Practice: Creating a supportive forum where staff could express their needs, ensuring they felt heard and validated by the organisation.
Result: Cultivating a Culture of Care
The workshops served as a catalyst for culture change, moving beyond a simple intervention to foster empathy and collective resilience. Key outcomes included:
- Skill Acquisition: Staff gained proven, practical tools to respond calmly and constructively under pressure.
- Improved Sentiment: High satisfaction scores and positive qualitative feedback indicated immediate wellbeing benefits.
- Strategic Roadmap: The sessions identified a clear need for ongoing support, leading to recommendations for a Zero-Tolerance Communications Plan and a club-wide Wellbeing Strategy.
- Ongoing Partnership: Following the success of these sessions, a proposal was developed for a 12-month support package via the Reflective Practice Academy to embed these resilience practices into the club’s daily DNA.
