Hello everyone,

The other day, I opened a newsletter from a friend. He’s a business coach who focuses on marketing systems and AI automation.

Halfway through, there was this line that stopped me mid-sentence. "You can't read the label from inside the bottle."

I'd heard the phrase before. But this time it really got me thinking.

Because if ever there was a phrase that captures what my clients repeatedly tell me, it's this.

You're so busy in the day-to-day. You're so close to the action. It becomes almost impossible to step back, and if only you did, you know you would see so much more.

"I can't believe the answer is so obvious"

Just last month, one of my clients came to our coaching session frustrated by a situation. We talked through it for maybe 20 minutes. I asked a few questions. She talked it out.

At the end, she looked at me and said: "I can't believe now I've talked about it, the answer is so obvious."

That's what happens when you give yourself permission to step outside the bottle for a minute.

That's what coaching can do.

But here's the thing:

You can do so much more of this yourself as a manager and leader, if you just give yourself the time and permission to stop and think.

Not in the car on your commute. Not in the shower or while making coffee.

Structured time. Time to actually lead, not just react. I recommend a non-negotiable hour a week minimum. If possible an extra 30 minutes to think about a particular challenge. Not to work on the work, but stand back from it and assess it.

Where are the blockages? What are the priorities? Who needs support? What conversations do you need to have to move your work forward?

I know from experience form my corporate days and now a decade of coaching, that more you do it the better you lead, and the more confident you feel.

And that's exactly what Manager OS is designed to help you do.

It's not just a collection of templates or frameworks (though you get those too). It's a way of working that helps you become the leader you want to be, by creating the time and the systems to actually lead.

Find out more

Rather than trying to explain everything Manager OS includes in this email, this week's video walks through the whole thing.

I talk about:

• Why brilliant managers like you feel trapped (and why it's not your fault)
• The exact systems I built over 20 years in corporate leadership
• What Manager OS actually gives you, and who it's really for
• How it works as a 12-week implementation sprint

​You can watch it here: LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO​

This video will do a better job of showing you what's possible than I could ever do in an email.

And if after watching it you think, "Yes, this is exactly what I need," you'll know what to do.

But even if you're not ready for Manager OS yet, the video itself will give you clarity on what's actually keeping you stuck and that alone is worth a little of your time.

Look at your diary right now, how much time have you given yourself this week to step back and think?

Are you outside or inside the bottle?

You can create systems and ways of working that help you step back regularly, so you're not constantly stuck inside wondering why everything feels so hard.

That's what this is all about.

Watch the video. Let me know what you think.

Helen

P.S. If you're curious to find out more about Manager OS, you can also click here for an overview