1st April 2020
So here we are in day 8 of lockdown as I write this and how life has changed over the last few weeks. It just…
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14th March 2020
I was working with a great bunch of managers last week, helping them to build the skills and confidence to engage effectively with challenging conversations…
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9th March 2020
I’ve dipped in and out of yoga for the last twenty years, but it’s really only been in the last six or seven years that…
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26th February 2020
I do truly believe that where I’m most useful with my clients is as the compassionate observer and witness to what is keeping them stuck.…
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23rd February 2020
This is a question that I’ve been asked quite a few times in the last few weeks. I’ve been working with groups of managers to…
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2nd February 2020
Skills to help us talk about peoples’ psychological wellbeing isn’t something that’s usually included as part of your typical leadership development intervention is it? Speaking…
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26th January 2020
In the last couple of months, on top of the one to one work that I’ve done, I’ve also run number of group sessions aimed…
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20th January 2020
Oh, no, not another post about the power of thinking! Oh yes!!! I know the topic of our thinking is the topic of lots of…
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14th January 2020
I’m often invited to work with managers and leaders, who in some shape or form aren’t making the behavioural changes that their others would like…
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2nd December 2019
It’s not exactly new news to be told that the things that we say to ourselves do have a profound impact on what we feel…
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11th November 2019
A big part of last week was working with a lovely bunch of managers, helping them to find ways to handle conversations with team members…
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3rd November 2019
We’ve all got one. It’s that voice, urge or whisper in your ear that seems to berate, criticise and hijack our thinking when we feel…
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28th October 2019
Have you ever had one of those conversations where you’ve thought to yourself “why is it they just can’t see my point of view?” They’re…
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21st October 2019
I’m reading “How to have a great day” by Caroline Webb and am absolutely loving it. It’s one of those books that’s dead easy to…
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14th October 2019
I don’t know if it’s the change in the weather. Or the busyness of things in the last few weeks, but I’ve definitely felt that…
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30th September 2019
I’ve just finished reading “Rest” by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang; not the most engaging of books but there’s some interesting ideas in there. I’m more and…
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22nd September 2019
One of the key characteristics that a close friend of mine used to look for in a partner was someone, as she put it, who…
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11th September 2019
My favourite advert right now is the Haribo one. The one where the aging, hairy rockers have children’s voices lip synced over their own. There’s…
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9th September 2019
https://twitter.com/BBCArchive/status/1158275192386441216 This brilliant clip popped up in my Twitter feed the other day. It’s an excerpt from a 1976 BBC programme in which they’re discussing…
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2nd September 2019
Although there have been ‘back to school’ signs in the shops for weeks, it’s finally that time when the schools go back and we settle…
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27th August 2019
We’ve all got one haven’t we? You know that inner voice that seems to get louder and more persistent when we’re not feeling at our…
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20th August 2019
Holidays are a great time to get a change of perspective. I always take a notebook and, if I’m feeling like it , I take…
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13th August 2019
The school holidays are well under way now! The biggest sign for me, that school holidays are here, is the distinct lack of traffic on…
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4th August 2019
August can be a tough time if you run your own business. In the 20 Augusts I’ve had, without exception they’re always a quiet time.…
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30th July 2019
I work with TA (Transactional Analysis) a lot. As part of leadership programs or coaching conversations, when we need something through which to understand ourselves…
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23rd July 2019
I suppose it’s only natural when working with people, working on their own unhelpful thinking that you start to become aware of how your own…
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17th July 2019
One of my tutors at Uni made the comment, that as a psychotherapist we often ‘get the clients that we need.’ What he meant was…
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9th July 2019
As a dual trained coach and counsellor, I’m often asked what is the difference between the two and how do you know which is appropriate?…
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2nd July 2019
Would you say that you’re a good listener? I guess most of us would answer ‘yes’ to that one unsurprisingly. In this article https://thriveglobal.com/stories/laurie-powell-listening-skills-are-the-best-skills-a-leader-can-have/Laurie Powell…
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25th June 2019
With the increased attention that’s been given to mental health issues it’s perhaps not surprising that more and more managers are having to have conversations…
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18th June 2019
How good are you at asking for what you want or explaining what you need? For many of us, myself included, it can feel hard…
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12th June 2019
I’m increasingly noticing the ‘space’ in my life and that of my clients at the moment. At times there can seem like there’s no space…
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5th June 2019
I bumped into a lovely chap that I know last week, and we had a form ‘verbal handshake’ that really got me thinking. He’s one…
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30th May 2019
It struck me as I was having my 6 monthly dental examination last week, literally as I was in the chair, that habits and consistency…
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17th May 2019
I’ve been working my way through a whole range of Brene Browns’ stuff just recently. She’s done some brilliant TED Talks, written some great books…
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30th April 2019
It’s not often I get angry….although maybe my family would tell you different?! It does USUALLY take a lot to really rattle me. But last…
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23rd April 2019
One of the reasons that I love Fridays is the sense that another week has passed and there are the endless possibilities that a lovely…
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16th April 2019
I love this way of thinking about how you can measure the level of trust evident in any relationship – whether it’s work or personal…
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2nd April 2019
I was watching a short video by the brilliant Simon Sinek who as usual was talking about how important it is for people to love…
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20th March 2019
It seems like hardly a week goes by that isn’t “national something week.” My personal favourite is “British Pie Week” but that one’s been and…
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12th March 2019
Whenever I’m working with a coachee on the topic of influencing or communication, one of the best places to start is to work through a…
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7th March 2019
I’ve gotta admit, I love that film and I can’t help but think of it every time I hear“I got you babe”, which is the song…
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21st February 2019
What is culture? It’s the way we do things around here. it’s the subliminal messages that we get about what’s OK and what’s not OK.…
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12th February 2019
I know there will be lots of you reading this, who like me and many of the people that I work with, struggle to keep…
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5th February 2019
I took this picture while I was out walking our dog last week. It’s a point in the walk when I can make a choice…
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30th January 2019
Coming to the end of January, I’m on the final few days of my own little ‘dry January’ challenge. I have to be honest, it…
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22nd January 2019
I’ve seen lots of people talking about ‘blue Monday’ and how January is a tough month. I’ve heard people talk about the grey uninspiring weather;…
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15th January 2019
Coaching can be a lonely old business. You’re spending your time thinking about others, their issues and how to be with them in a way…
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19th December 2018
I know that sounds like a huge claim and I don’t make it lightly, but the more I’ve worked in the field of personal development…
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13th December 2018
So we’re in full swing now, in the run up to Christmas. I have to admit I’m not one of those people that worries about…
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4th December 2018
I’ve been hugely lucky to have two soulmate-girl friends in my life. One of these gorgeous women died on the 26thDecember 2014 at the age…
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27th November 2018
A good friend and I often joke that, at those times when I’m really struggling or something is really getting on top of me; I…
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20th November 2018
Age is a funny thing isn’t it? My Mum always told us as kids, that ‘it’s rude to ask someone’s age’ and so in some…
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19th November 2018
Maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking and focusing on self-care for the last week, that I’ve noticed both for myself and others that we can…
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11th November 2018
Self-care seems to pop up all over the place at the moment. From discussions with managers around how they can build resilience to cope with…
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6th November 2018
In a coffee shop in Leeds the other day, a couple sat down next to me and I couldn’t help but over hear the interaction…
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9th October 2018
One of the programs that I have run time and time again is about gaining a better understanding of behavioural styles and the impact that…
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8th October 2018
When I ask people to describe the type of character traits that they find hardest to deal with in others; more often people mention those…
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20th August 2018
It was Benjamin Franklin, writing in 1789 who was said to have made the comment, “the only certainties in life are death and taxes.” Two…
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6th August 2018
Personally my heart always sinks when clients ask me to run a session on ‘time management.’ Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I hate…
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30th July 2018
If you’re a shoe fiend like me, you’ll probably notice that even though you’ve got a whole range of shoes for every occasion…and maybe even…
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23rd July 2018
“no dramas, pass me my pyjamas…” I can’t use the word ‘dramas’ without smiling as I remember the famous song, by the fabulously talented Victoria…
Read more... 16th July 2018
Over the last couple of months I’ve been working with a couple of great people, who have been helping me to refresh and redirect my…
Read more... 10th July 2018
I was doing a workshop recently with senior managers, and we were looking at how we build acceptance of change and build commitment towards it.…
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