The Human Side of Performace

On Wednesday 7 October, BCCQ welcomed members and guests to Al Messila for an evening that combined relaxed networking with an important conversation about workplace wellbeing and the pressures facing today’s professionals.

The event brought together a wonderful mix of attendees, from members who have been part of BCCQ for many years to those who have joined the Chamber more recently and were attending their first event.

We were equally pleased to welcome non-members interested in meeting the people behind the BCCQ network, creating an engaging atmosphere with plenty of opportunities for new conversations and connections.

The evening’s interactive session was led by Kayleigh Basford, a leadership and workplace wellbeing specialist, transformation consultant and executive coach.

Drawing on more than 20 years of leadership experience, alongside her professional expertise and lived experience, Kayleigh explored what happens when the pressure to perform begins to become unsustainable.

Her presentation challenged us to look beyond the expectations we place on ourselves and our teams, considering how we recognise the early signs of burnout, manage stress more effectively and establish healthier boundaries without losing sight of performance and ambition.

The session was thoughtful, honest and exceptionally well received, prompting an important reminder for business leaders and professionals alike: sustainable performance depends on recognising the people behind the roles, targets and responsibilities.

With World Mental Health Day taking place on 10 October, the discussion was particularly timely.

Workplace wellbeing is not separate from business performance; it is an important part of building effective teams, healthy workplace cultures and organisations in which people can thrive over the long term.

Bringing people together, and giving them something to take away

At BCCQ, networking remains central to what we do, but we are increasingly looking at how our events can offer members and guests more than the opportunity to meet new people.

By drawing on the knowledge and expertise within our own membership, we can create opportunities to learn from professionals who understand the challenges businesses and individuals face every day.

Kayleigh’s session was an excellent example of this approach, combining meaningful connections with practical insight that attendees could take back into their working lives.

Our thanks go to Kayleigh for sharing her experience and expertise, and to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a positive evening.

We look forward to welcoming you to more BCCQ events over the coming months, as we continue to bring our business community together through networking, specialist insight and opportunities to learn from one another.

Explore Kayleigh’s work: Connect with Kayleigh on LinkedIn | View Kayleigh’s BCCQ member profile

Discover upcoming BCCQ events: View the events calendar