Blog
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Invest in your career, whether you are staying put or seeking promotion
Invest in your career, whether you are staying put or seeking promotion Have you ever been complacent or comfortable at work? Perhaps on autopilot? That was me at one stage in my career. Great job, excellent salary, wonderful familyโฆ.life was rosy. I was coasting along. And then I started to notice that my peers were……
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Soul food
Soul food Got my mojo workingโฆ some holidays feed your soul in more ways than one. After 10 days off-grid (yep, no social media ๐ซ๐ฑ) immersed in the vibrant culture, rich history and sheer diversity of New Orleans, I’ve returned with a spring in my step, a song in my heart and my curiosity fed……
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3 key levers for aligning culture with performance
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ. Too often, leaders chase results without building the culture that sustains them. In my experience of driving transformative change, a positive culture, not just targets, drives lasting performance. Culture influences our mindsets, behaviours, attitudes and sense of belonging, leading to higher engagement……
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3 strategies to quickly boost team morale
Last week, I spoke with a leader whose team was struggling with low engagement and energy. Here are the 3 strategies I suggested that will boost the team’s morale quickly: ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ: Invite your team to bring an object that holds personal significance to the next meeting. This simple act of sharing stories……
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Gartnerโs Top 5 HR Trends for 2025
This comes as no surprise. They reflect what I hear from both senior leaders and organisations. ๐ Gartnerโs Top 5 HR Trends for 2025: 1. ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ: 75% of managers struggle with expanding roles and only 36% of leadership programs prepare them for the future. 2. ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐: 57% of managers fail to……
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Bold Leadership: Drive Strategic Change, Elevate Teams and Prevent Burnout
If you missed my October’s newletter, you can still access it here I explored how senior leaders can drive strategic change and innovation by building aligned, engaged collaborative teams, while maintaining high performance and wellbeing. A peek inside: ๐Gartner’s Top Priorities for HR Leaders in 2025 – Leader development retains its number 1 spot ๐คMastering……
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How can a strengths based approach enhance team effectiveness?
Recognising each team memberโs unique strengths is essential for transforming performance. When these strengths are overlooked: โ Team members may not be working in their areas of expertise โ Misaligned tasks can slow down progress โ Disengagement can occur when talents are underutilised What happens when you leverage their strengths? โ Team members thrive in roles……
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Why do some teams excel while others struggle?
Why do some teams excel while others struggle? Back in 2000, while researching team effectiveness at St James Hospital in Leeds, it became evident that teams are a reflection of their leaders. They set the tone, role model postive behaviours, drive the culture. It was here that I came across Amy Edmondsonโs early work on……
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Women in the workplace
McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org recently published their 10th anniversary report on Women in the Workplace While women have made progress in some areas, there is still much work to do to create a workplace experience that is inclusive and equitable for everyone. ยท Womenโs representation in the C-suite has increased to 29%, up from……
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The lasting impact of coaching
This week, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with two former clients – one from 4 years and another from 3 ago. ๐Both shared how the coaching strategies, techniques and mindsets we developed together are still making a significant impact in their lives today. โจTheir stories are a powerful reminder of the long lasting benefits……
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Balancing act: Maintaining high performance while driving change
In a conversation yesterday with a colleague from an organisation undergoing transformational change, I shared a phrase I use when supporting leaders at this critical juncture โ something I call ๐๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ. In organisations that are transforming, leaders must balance the demands of maintaining high performance in their current roles while at the same……
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How small lapses can lead to big consequencesย
Have you ever noticed how small lapses in consistency can have big consequences? This morning, while out on the moors with my Springer Spaniel, something in the bracken caught her attention.She stopped and I carried on. I blew my whistle which isย a signal to come to heel immediately. No response. I called again, still nothing..……
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Leadership unpeeled and the Power of Mindset
I hope you had a rejuvenating summer break. What was the highlight of your summer? For me, it was creating a new model for developing teams. After many iterations and refinements, am chuffed to have reached this point. As we transition back into our professional routines, itโs the perfect time to refocus on our purpose……
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Innovation is a team sport
As a team coach, I believe innovation is crucial to teams and organisations because it drives growth, fosters adaptability and enables them to stay competitive in a constantly changing world. This article from INSEAD Knowledge resonates. Innovation thrives on well-combined teams rather than individual stars. In a study of over 500 research projects, the most……
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Great leaders ask, not tell: Transform your team with powerful questions
The most effective leaders donโt have all the answers; they ask the right questions. Asking powerful questions help to generate new insights, perspectives, build stronger connections with your team and fosters a coaching mindset. Here are some impactful questions to consider: ๐คTo understand your teamโs perspective:What challenges are you facing right now and how can……
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Self care for leaders: Tackling inner fires to boost resilience
๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฎ’๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฌ – ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ? As leaders, we navigate complex landscapes, juggle responsibilities, meet tight deadlines, grapple with unrealistic expectations and unforeseen challenges. And thatโs just at work, never mind home! Amidst this whirlwind, our own well-being often takes a backseat. Practicing self-care……
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Authentic leadership support for women
This recent HBR study reveals that women often see power as the freedom to make choices, while men typically associate it with control. This difference matters because many programs focus on teaching women traditional leadership skills, which can unintentionally pressure them to conform to outdated norms. This often leaves women, especially those in senior roles,……
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3 ways to lead your team more authentically
2 joyful things happed today ๐ The sun has finally arrived in Yorkshire, yah ๐ก The tall scaffolding from the house below ours has been removed. It had completely changed the vista and perspective from our house, acting as a barrier to what lies beyond. I was reminded as they started to dismantle it this……
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Is your ladder facing the right wall?
What does success mean to you? How do you define it? Is it… A role in a big companyYour job titleStatus at workLots of money๐ฐA big house or perhaps two or three ๐กExpensive cars ๐Luxury holidays โ๏ธ I’m exploring this with my client, Joe. He’s climbing the ladder for all these things. He wants them.……
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Strategies to reduce inefficiencies and drive innovation
PwC’s 27th Annual Global CEO Survey reveals that 40% of time spent on tasks like emails and meetings is inefficient, impacting money, morale, and time. In a perfect world, companies would run smoothly, but most face inefficiencies, or ‘sludge’, that hinder progress. Sometimes, sludge / friction prevents hasty decisions and reckless actions. In highly regulated……
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3 strategies to tackle team communication challenges
Effective communication is the backbone of successful teamwork and organisational culture. Itโs the glue that holds everything together.Yet, itโs often where many teams face their biggest hurdles. When communication flaters, you might notice: โย Critical information getting lost between teamsโย Inconsistent or unclear communication from leadershipโย Slow or inadequate feedback loops This can lead to: โย Repeated mistakes that……
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Dual Leadership: Overcoming CEO self doubt
As an executive coach, a common theme that leaders bring to coaching is navigating the complex challenges they face in their roles and how to perform effectively while also driving innovation and transformation within their organisations. The Workforce 2024 report by Korn Ferry resonate with this theme, highlighting that a significant 71% of US CEOs,……
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From winning to leading: Lessons in teamwork and leadership
๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ป. ๐๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐บ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐บ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฒ. I was part of a 4 man team in an overnight sports challenge. A few kilometres from the finish line, my 3 colleagues were exhausted and moving at a snail’s pace.Driven by the desire……
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From dialogue to action: Insights from the 68th Session of CSW
Received my certificate for participating in the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women CSW68. Iโve had the privilege of engaging with global leaders, advocates, and activists, all united by a common goal: advancing gender equality. It has been an incredibly enriching experience that highlighted the harsh realities faced by women……
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Deloitte Women @ Work 2024: Key Insights on career progression and wellbeing
Deloitte Woman @Work 2024 Global outlook is out, shedding light on the challenges and workplace dynamics affecting women today. Sharing my key takeaways: Career Progression: ยทย Many women aspire to senior leadership roles, but barriers such as company hashtag#culture and pay disparities deter a 1/4 of them. Key reasons include dissatisfaction with culture (23%), concerns about……
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Empowering women leaders: How coaching transformed Sarahโs journey
Curious about the impact of coaching on empowering women leaders? I partnered with Sarah on her leadership journey. Sharing some snippets of how coaching helped her to step into her leadership power ๐ผ Owning her journey: Sarah possessed a keen sense of ambition and drive. Together, we crafted a strategic roadmap and development plan for……
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Invest in mothers: ย A call to action from CSW68
A call to change the narrative: Invest in Mothers #CSW68 My brief takeaways from this rich and encouraging UN Women discussion with such an inspiring panel. Did you know that are 2.2 billion mothers in the world? The worldโs biggest โprofessionโ that is unpaid โฆ. mothers run the most demanding startup, serve as primary caregivers,……
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Courage as Capital: Lessons from the 68th CSW on gender equality
Attended my first Commission on the Status of Women, 68 session meeting yesterday where member states shared their statements on “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective” Emotions were evoked listening to hear the harsh realities……
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Beyond IWD: Everyday actions for gender equality
#internationalwomensday Let’s remember that gender equality and women’s empowerment go beyond a single day of recognition. This commitment requires us to act every day, embedding inclusivity, support and equal opportunities for women across all aspects of life and work, not just on March 8th. Creating environments where women can thrive, lead, and share their invaluable……
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Navigating between the balcony and the dance floor
Last Saturday night, amidst the flashing lights and sounds of my 1980s fundraising disco, I found myself oscillating between the dance floor and our group table. It reminded me of a metaphor that I often share with my clients. โMoving between the balcony and the dance floorโ Coined by Ronald Heifetz, Marty Linsky and Alexander……