Even when an innovative approach is proposed, procurement processes often prevent its adoption. Procurement teams tend to require like-for-like comparisons based primarily on price, which limits their ability to evaluate solutions beyond narrow cost metrics and reduces the role of innovation in decision-making.
““True leadership demands complete subjugation of self, honesty and integrity, uprightness of character, courage and fearlessness, and above all a consuming love for one’s people.””
“My schedule is intense right now. Work and family commitments require constant attention, and the pressure from always-on technology adds another layer to it. I do not often express this, but the pace can feel overwhelming. Even so, I am addressing several major challenges, and I expect the most demanding part of this period to ease within three to four months. When that happens, I plan to take two to three weeks to reset. I will focus on my family, regain structure, and begin a healthier routine. I believe that this shift will put me on a more sustainable path.”
If this feels familiar, contact with me via this link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call.
““Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ”
6 active questions to ask yourself every day.
Did I do my best to be happy?
Did I do my best to find meaning?
Did I do my best to be fully engaged?
Did I do my best to build positive relationships?
Did I do my best to set clear goals?
Did I do my best to make progress toward goal achievement?
““Our mission in life is to make a positive difference, not to prove how smart we are and not to prove how right we are.” ”
Procrastination is often a response to fear, and acknowledging fear can be challenging. Yet fear plays a role in almost every meaningful endeavour. I believe that no one creates work of real value without experiencing both self-doubt and self-belief. Self-doubt keeps us alert, reflective, and committed to improving. Self-belief gives us the courage to act, persist, and take risks. Progress requires the presence of both.
““Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination. When you fall into the funk of competition, think of literature, think of the early bloomers and the late bloomers. Think of the very many experimental novels that do not follow the traditional form. Your story does not have to have a traditional arc.””
I think Mary Oliver’s beautifully expressed words remind us that growth does not follow a single path, and neither does creativity. Your work, your pace, and your process are allowed to be your own.
c/o @GregorPurdy
Many people still distrust counsellors, therapists, or other support professionals, and as a result, become too numb to resist the weight of their struggles. However, working with a coach can be transformative. After working with me for three, six, or twelve months, my clients develop a deep understanding of themselves, learn to trust their instincts, and to feel secure in their own decisions.
I think when guiding leaders, the aim is always to empower them to think independently and act on their own behalf, ultimately making the coach’s role unnecessary. Through this process, clients come to recognise and harness the remarkable strength that lies within them.
““I have never learned anything from talking. I only learn things by asking questions.””
Do you tie your sense of identity to your achievements?
Many high performers do, often without realising it. Promotions, recognition, and external success can become the markers we use to measure our worth. Research shows that when we prioritise the external over the internal, our wellbeing suffers. I think the drive for achievement can easily blur into anxiety, self-doubt, and fear of falling short.
That inner voice , the one that questions your ability or tells you to hold back, often speaks loudest when you are stretching yourself. Yet, those same moments can be opportunities to grow. Learning to recognise and work with that voice, rather than against it, is one of the most powerful shifts you can make as a leader.
With the right tools, it’s possible to reframe stress from something threatening to something that signals growth, a challenge you can rise to and learn from. If this feels familiar, you are welcome to book a complimentary 30-minute discovery call to explore how coaching can help you strengthen your mindset and reclaim a healthier relationship with achievement. Book me…
““Never complain. Never explain.””
I have learned to pause before reacting.
I have learned to choose patience over anger.
I have learned to control my tongue, not by dominating the conversation or trying to prove that I am right, but by truly listening.
What have you learned?
““Prejudice is an emotional commitment to ignorance.””
““Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.””
The underpinning philosophy is still enlightening to this day, even though this proverb is from thousands of years ago. In today’s context, truly empowering communities means working with local partners at the forefront and supporting their needs. Often, it requires you to resist the urge to present yourself as the agent of change, taking a step back and sitting in the background. I think real impact comes from enabling others to lead.
Research shows that there are 60.000 thoughts going through your brain everyday. Let me know what you think about Flavilla’s network - Black Rise.
Investing in coaching is one of the best investments you can make if you are a leader, manager, or aspire to become one. How much time do you spend coaching your direct reports?
Here are 10 essential coaching skills to develop:
1. Empathy – Put yourself in their shoes.
2. Self-management – The ability to regulate your own emotions and behaviour.
3. Building trust – The foundation of all relationships.
4. Observational skills – Accurately reading situations and people.
5. Planning – Increasing the likelihood of reaching goals.
6. Active listening – A core skill for effective coaching.
7. Communication skills – Explaining clearly and holding others accountable.
8. Encouragement and praise – Reinforcing effort and growth.
9. Honest, useful feedback – Delivered constructively to drive improvement.
10. Analytical and problem-solving skills – Supporting others to find solutions.
Have you ever felt stuck in a rut, unable to reach your goals despite your best intentions?
It happens to the best of us. The good news is that change is always within reach, but it rarely comes from one big breakthrough moment. Instead, it’s built day by day, through the small, consistent actions that shape who we become.
Your habits are the secret ingredient, they are the bridge between your intentions and your results. When your daily routines align with your vision, progress becomes inevitable. And when they don’t, even the most inspiring goals can feel out of reach.
I think the shift starts with awareness, seeing which habits serve you and which hold you back, and then committing to steady, intentional change. Over time, those changes compound, creating momentum that makes achieving your goals not only possible, but sustainable.
““Success is a product of daily habits, not once in a lifetime transformations.””
Why would a colleague recommend your coaching business to an HR leader?
I think they will only do so if it enhances their own credibility and expands their influence in shaping people and culture outcomes. HR professionals are often seen as trusted advisors within an organisation. When they introduce a coach to a leader or team, it’s not just a referral, it’s a reflection of their ability to identify meaningful, high-impact development solutions.
To earn that level of trust, you need to build a coaching practice that delivers real transformation. One that helps leaders grow, creates space for honest reflection, and aligns with business outcomes. HR leaders are far more likely to recommend a coach who addresses the challenges they care about most: inclusive leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, and sustainable performance. When your coaching creates value at this level, HR leaders won’t just refer you, they will advocate for you because your success reinforces theirs.
““The more you practice your work, the better it will be. Practice opens channels of possibility in the brain.””
Most of what people are rushing to do isn’t actually urgent. And in today’s fast-moving environment, urgency can feel like the default setting. As a leader, your power lies not in keeping up with everything, but in your ability to slow down and think clearly when everything around you is speeding up. This is where emotional intelligence (EQ) becomes critical.
““You should meditate every day and if you don’t have time, you should meditate more.” ”
Intellectual curiosity is the foundation of wise and adaptive leadership. It's about learning to search for grounded truth, not just what's comfortable or familiar. The best leaders remain open to changing their minds when facts or evidence challenge their prior beliefs. They understand that growth comes not from being right, but from being willing to learn. I think the strongest leaders are lifelong students as well as being lifelong teachers.
““Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” - ”
I have been studying the fear of change, both in myself and in the people I coach. What I have discovered is as startling as it is deeply human: our resistance to change isn’t just a mindset. It lives in our nervous system, our habits, and even our sense of identity, because change often feels like a threat to our safety. Even when something no longer serves us, whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a way of thinking, we often cling to it simply because it’s familiar. Sad but true… If this resonates, contact me via email to book a free 30-minute discovery call.
““The free soul is rare, but you know it when you see it - basically because you feel good, very good, when you are near or with them.””
c/o Paul Sloane ©
Healing and self-punishment cannot coexist. Many of us try to move forward into new relationships, roles, or versions of ourselves while still carrying guilt or shame from the past. I don’t think you can truly grow if you are quietly telling yourself you’re undeserving. Healing begins when you stop treating your past like a debt to be repaid with suffering. It asks for compassion, not penance. You are allowed to begin again, without shame or self-judgment as that’s not weakness, it’s courage.
““Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.””
““I told them an artist’s first responsibility was to himself. I said if he kept getting upset with what other people think he ought to do, he never would get too far, or he sure wouldn’t last. I tried to make them see how I had worked all my life to play myself… They said they understood. I hope they did.””
c/o Morten Vammen
If you promise to actively participate then I will promise not to waste your time. To quote William Shakespeare - "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - would be a disservice.
““Do well by doing better and do better by doing well.””
Passion is often sparked by what excites us, what we enjoy, what energises us. On the other hand, purpose runs deeper as it is anchored in what we believe, the values we hold, and the change we want to see in the world. When we lead with purpose, passion transforms, it becomes more than personal fuel, it becomes a force for meaningful impact. And the lens through which we choose to see the world profoundly shapes what we experience. If we move through life in search of excellence, for example, with curiosity, hope, and an openness to be inspired, then we are far more likely to encounter excellence in people, in moments, and in ourselves. On the contrary, if we move through life scanning for flaws and failures, our view narrows, and all we see are problems. What we look for becomes what we find and often, what we create.
““What a piece of bread looks like depends on whether you are hungry or not.””
c/o @LizAndMollie ©
One of the most powerful things you can do is learn to be okay alone. I think when you are truly comfortable in your own skin, you no longer crave external approval. This inner strength can be cultivated through practices like meditation, journaling, or training on your own, all of which help you build confidence, clarity, and self-reliance.
““Rest and be kind, you don’t have to prove anything.””
