As a coach, I have the privilege to work with a range of leaders helping them to see ways forward. One of my leaders last week explained her approach with staff. She said, “I give them a fishing rod not a fish.” I love this metaphor and asked her if I could share it wi...

You opponent opposite you, turns to his next card. He scans the categories: Top Speed, Power, Cylinders. Which one will he choose to play his card on? You fight back the smile that is bursting within you as you look at your card. You know his fight will be pointless as...

The 7.17am train to London was packed. I was one of the lucky ones with a table seat and my laptop was out and I had an hour and half to complete some tasks and run through the talk on coaching I was going to give that day. As I ran through it, making a few last minute...

Things do not always go to plan. That’s what happens in life. So what is key when things go wrong?

On 24th October a train line came down near Colchester. On that particular day, I was heading into London for some coaching training and as I arrived at Stowmarket station...

It's a cute picture. Nothing gets attention more than a cute puppy. But there are some lessons in leadership here. Let me explain. Here is Scooby the pup. He's spent the last 3 months learning how to be part of the pack from Lola the black Lab and Alfie the Spaniel. He...

Bernie did her very best to manage her poker face. She wasn’t sure if it was working but her boss seemed to be taking it. Inside she could feel her frustration brewing. She loved working for this company, she loved the vision and values. She liked her boss, but she was...

There is a lot of partisan anger about at the moment. Right wing vs left wing; Conservative vs Labour; Leavers vs Remainers. Each person certain of their view and unwilling to consider each other’s point of view. So how do we respond in a world like that?

A quick look a...

She walked into her office, shut the door, slumped into her chair and took a deep breath. It had been a difficult meeting, more difficult than she expected. How could outlining her new initiative have gained this reaction. Most had sat there, to be honest with a slight...

How long have you been leading? It doesn't take many years leading others to realise that, to coin a phrase that I use in my training, 'plop happens'. It's a polite way of saying that in life and leadership bad things occur. Things you don't want to happen. Things that...

I can clearly remember where I was watching the rugby world cup in 2003 when Jonny Wilkinson took that now famous drop goal to beat Australia and win the Rugby World Cup. I remember jumping up with elation and then hearing the shouts resounding in the neighbourhood as...