Hi there, You know when you are flat out with work, and someone suddenly stops you to ask you a question... You say, āIām just really busy right now.ā Totally normal, right? I know, you are in back-to-back with meetings, your inbox is overflowing, and youāre juggling more than ever. However you have a problemā¦ āIām busyā is quietly damaging your leadership. It doesnāt sound strategic ā it sounds reactive. When your team or peers hear it, they often interpret is as: Theyāre not important...
8 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Hi there Youāre busy. Youāre setting goals, running meetings, chasing deadlinesā¦ but somehow, are your team still isnāt hitting targets? The problem isnāt effortāitās that most managers miss one critical step that high-performing teams use. The best teams donāt work harderāthey plan smarter. This is something Iāve seen time and time again: Managers and leaders not giving themselves time to stop and plan and a result spend too much time in reactive mode responding to events. My guesstimate is...
14 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hi there, Well its all a bit mad out there right now isnāt it? One thing for sure is the management job market is experiencing some big shifts. Layoffs, AI disruption, economic uncertainty - it's a lot to handle. As you think about your future career here's the hard truth: working hard won't protect you anymore. Organisations will make tough decisions when they need to, regardless of your dedication. To help I've been thinking about what managers need NOW to not only insulate themselves from...
22 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Hi there, Letās be honestācoaching an underperformer is one of the hardest things about being a manager. You donāt want to demotivate them, create tension, or make things awkward. So, like many managers, you might put it off, cross your fingers, and hope things improve on their own. But hereās the problem: they usually donāt. And by the time you do step in, it feels like a big confrontation rather than a simple course correction. The good news? It doesnāt have to be this way. I always...
29 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hi there, Have you ever been to the circus or Covent Garden and seen the plate spinners? I watched a chap get over 10 plates whizzing along on sticks, whilst chatting and telling jokes. He spent a little time getting each plate spinning, and then would return to it and give it the softest of touches as it started to slow down or wobble. He made it look effortless, not one plate fell. This is what one-on-ones do for your team, you give them just enough āspinā for them to whizz along and do...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hi there, Ever set career goals only to find yourself in the exact same spot months later? You're not alone. As a leadership coach I've discovered that the reason most personal development plans fail isn't lack of timeāit's strategy. The three biggest mistakes I see that keep ambitious managers stuck are: The Knowledge Trap: Chasing more knowledge isn't always the answer to leadership success, as so much of great leadership is in behaviours, habits and skills that you learn faster in the day...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hi there, Are you feeling the squeeze to deliver more results with fewer resources? You're not alone. I'm hearing this challenge from virtually every leader I work withāand we're only in January. I remember well the pressure to do more with less from my corporate daysāI know it's a hard place to be. But trying to absorb all that pressure yourself isn't just unsustainableāit's harmful to both you and your team. š¤Æ So I'd like to share an approach that's helping my clients navigate this...
about 2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read
Hi there, If you're a manager who hasn't fully embraced AI yet, I need you to pay attention to what I'm about to share. Because here's the truth: the biggest threat to your career success isn't AI itself - it's your mindset about AI. Let me put this in perspective. When I started my career at Procter & Gamble, I was using phone cards to call in orders from public phone boxes. My presentations? Pre-printed A4 pages that I'd personalise with felt-tip pens. Sounds ancient, right? But here's...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Hi there, If you're a manager looking to get ahead, maybe promoted to the next level, then knowing this is going to help you. This week Iām focusing on the real difference between management and leadership, and how to spot if you're already showing natural leadership traits. In my work, I often see very effective managers but who are lacking a leadership spark. Iāve been thinking about what makes the difference and I've identified 6 clear signs that show you're already developing as a leader:...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read