Author: verawoodhead

Early in my career, asking for help would have meant showing vulnerability, that I would be judged and others would think that I am not competent or resilient enough. So, I didn’t. And like many people who struggle to ask for help, I ended up stressed, burnout out, resulting in poor sleep and impacting on…

4 warning signs that your team member is disengaged and unhappy 🚨 Daily interactions with our teams can sometimes cause us to overlook those subtle signs that gradually accumulate. ❌ Behavioural: withdrawal or reduced participation❌ Performance: decrease in work quality and productivity❌ Enthusiasm: visible disinterest in team activities and meetings❌ Communication: less interaction and slower…

In their seminal work, ‘The Trusted Advisor,‘ Harvard professors David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford introduce the Trust Equation: Trust =  Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy / Self-Orientation Trust is the bedrock of effective leadership. It fosters open communication, drives engagement, and enhances team performance. Without trust, collaboration falters, and innovation…

Where do you seek guidance and inspiration to help you navigate the complexities of your role? Colin Powell’s 13 Leadership Rules provide a powerful framework to inspire and guide leaders through challenges and opportunities: 𝐈𝐭 𝐚𝐢𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤! 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 🌅 Perspective is everything. A new day…

Are you a leader of teams of teams? You will know firsthand that navigating the complexities of leading multiple teams toward common shared goals is no easy feat. This week, I’m diving into common challenges that I have observed when working with teams and which are echoed by senior leaders in individual coaching sessions. Alongside,…

In my work with teams, I observe and offer real time honest feedback 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📱Distracted behaviour: checking phones, nodding without contributing, reluctance to share ideas 👥 Conversation dominated by two people, one of whom consistently interrupted 🛡️ Defensive body language and one direct confrontation 🤷 Vague discussion with no concrete outcomes…

🤔 Is your leader overconfident, refuses to listen to alternative viewpoints, surrounded by many ‘yes’ colleagues? This was one of the topics that came up in a coaching session. A coach can help you elevate your executive leadership presence, confidence and skills to navigate such challenges and dynamics. Here are some strategies that we explored…

As we step into July, I’d love to hear about your most significant achievement or small win from June. My little win that I am most proud of is being able to do half a handstand. Half because I still need to balance against a wall 🤸♀️ Did you know there are 2 types of…

June has been quite gloomy here in Yorkshire so far. Despite the dreary skies and rain, there are always moments of joy and inspiration to be found. What has brought you joy since my last newsletter? For me, it’s been the opportunity to work face-to-face and embrace creative approaches in my practice. From using LEGO…

This week, I have been out and about networking as I grow my business, Executive Leadership Coaching, reconnecting and cultivating new relationships. It reminded me of the power of networks in your advancing your career and is the topic of my next newsletter! As an executive coach who has worked with thousands of leaders, I’ve…