Last week I organised and spoke at the Thrive Yorkshire Business Growth Conference. I facilitated a discussion on Thriving. I deliberately chose to focus on ‘the self’ as often in our busy 24/7 lives we tend to forget about the most important asset –ourselves. We can learn new skills, acquire knowledge about marketing, sales and how to be…
Tag: business
Storytelling in leadership development
This week I was facilitating a new leadership development programme with a group of directors. For the past couple of years, the company has been going through some challenging times due to being acquired by a large global organisation resulting in changes, restructuring and shifts in culture. There was a feeling of powerlessness and a…
Empathy in leadership: can it be developed?
Heather, the boss storms out of the department, slamming the door behind her. She is grouchy from lack of sleep, being kept awake by her youngest who is ill. ‘Bloody staff’, she muttered to herself, ‘why can’t they do what they are told’ . Lisa stands, red-faced and humiliated. She has just had a ticking…
Growth and development is ageless: 5 nuggets to becoming a better you
I often get asked to speak at schools and universities about my journey. Afterwards, many of the professionals feedback that they have also found it stimulating. This has made me realise that some of the fundamentals of growth and development is ageless. Here are 5 nuggets which I share with a younger audience and believe that they are…
One day
One day One day I will spend more time with my family One day I will do something that I want to do One day I will catch up with all my friends One day I will get fitter and healthier One day I will leave my boring job One day I will finish that…
Is creativity inherent in your leadership? 9 ways to harness
My group is drifting into the first day of a leadership development programme. As they pass the tables laid out with an array of creative materials I could hear some mutterings of delight and also of ‘oh no I can’t draw, I am no good at making…’ I try to use a number of creative…
A tale of 2 leaders: same organisation different leadership cultures
Last week I donned my NHS governance hat and visited 2 hospital wards. They belonged to the same organisation, were in the same building, yet the difference between the 2 was so prominent they could have been in 2 different organisations. Whilst both were clean, tidy, patients cared for, looked after….it was their style, attitude…
Life can be like a bowl of spaghetti: Making sense of midlife
It has been 6 weeks since my last blog post. I have had so much that I wanted to write about and whilst have mulled them over in my head have not managed to put fingers onto the keyboard. I was very disappointed in myself that I couldn’t find the time to write which was…
7 simple yet powerful ways to get the most out of your team
Do your staff just turn up to work, do what is required of them and then go home? One of the challenges of leadership is to create an environment where people actually care about what happens in the business, to the business and its success. Imagine the impact on your business if all of your…
Don’t leave your career to fate. 5 tips to help women manage their careers
In my last article, I shared the story of one of my clients, Susan who like many mums get caught up in the treadmill of work, family and life and don’t take time out to actively manage and make plans for progressing their careers. 3 fundamental questions were asked to help Susan get started: What…