Author Archives: Admin
Having Courageous Conversations
Why Do We Put Off ‘Tricky’ Conversations?
Sometimes we avoid giving feedback to team members, peers or clients because we think it will be hard, might go badly or will end in conflict. We fear ruining relationships, particularly if frustrated or angry about the situation as that might show in the way we give feedback.
Find out on how to help these conversations feel better and be more effective here
Coaching for High Performance
The benefits of coaching
Picture your team with improved: competence, confidence, self-awareness, accountability, resilience, relationships, decision making, the list goes on. What difference would it make to you and your company if you could reap these benefits? What would these improvements enable you to do more of/ less of? Almost 30 years ago, as a John Lewis line manager, I learnt how to use coaching as a leadership style. This skill changed my life, reducing my stress levels and making my role as people manager much more enjoyable. My team grew in skill and self-belief, enabling them to use their initiative more and take greater ownership. Business successes swiftly followed.
Read more on getting started with coaching here.
Creating a Successful Team Culture
What is culture?
Many influences on the success of your business may feel outside of your control, but culture is something you as a leader can positively impact. In fact, the cost of not doing so can be crippling. Culture impacts individual and team performance, client service, interpersonal conflict, sickness, retention of talent – the list goes on.
You can’t pick ‘culture’ up in both hands and hold on to it, but you can see, hear and feel it when you walk into a business. Edgar Schein, an American professor of psychology, said culture is “the basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of a business unit.” Those assumptions and beliefs play out in people’s behaviour, their body language, their interactions with others and their response to challenges.
Culture Avenue:
The pandemic proved it is possible to adapt and evolve ways of working and behaving, It had a huge impact on culture and there is no better time than now to review yours. So, where to start if you want to venture down Culture Avenue?…
Find out here
To blog or not to blog?!
I know it makes sense to have a blog but for two weeks I’ve been avoiding getting started. After a great walk in today’s sparkling sunshine I feel ready to begin!
Pure white snowdrops, fast flowing streams brimming with rain water, fresh air smelling somehow cleaner than usual…all of these simple wonders inspired me to be natural, not to try too hard when writing…just to be me.
Being surrounded by rich green fields reminded me to tell you about my logo. When choosing it, acorns stood out as clearly in my mind as the stark trees against today’s clear blue sky. I wanted a symbol to represent my love of nature and one of the key reasons why I enjoy, and often feel humbled by, my role.
The old saying “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow” reflects the huge reward I still feel when a seemingly small realisation during coaching, or piece of learning during training, grows into a strong transformation in a person’s thinking or way of being. Such change can revolutionise clients’ ability to perform, their levels of confidence, their relationships and so many other aspects of their business lives. It is a real honour to be a part of that process.