Leadership programmes build capability. They don’t build belief. Here’s the difference.
Your HoD knows how to be a senior leader. She just doesn't believe she can be one. There's a difference, and it matters.
Joanna Stokes
5 questions to ask your partner before you apply for senior leadership
You've been thinking about that VP role for months. You know you could do it. You know you want it. But every time you imagine the conversation with your partner, your stomach tightens.
So instead of being direct, you test the water. "There might be a restructure coming up." "Do you think I could do an AP role?"
Here's what I know from progressing through senior leadership whilst being the primary parent: avoiding this conversation doesn't make it easier.
If you're serious about stepping up, you need five specific conversations with your partner. Not vague "are you okay with this?" chats. Proper, uncomfortable, necessary conversations that test whether what you need and what they're willing to give actually match.
Many women in FE avoid networking because it feels like cold calling or awkward breakfasts at dawn, but building your network is really about meaningful connections. Here’s how to grow a strong, genuine network that supports your move into senior leadership, without the hard sell.
The 5 emergencies that never happened – what I learnt as a single mum in senior leadership
When I was a single mum working in Further Education, I almost didn’t apply for a senior leadership role because I was convinced family life and leadership couldn’t mix. I imagined endless crises, guilt, and judgement. The reality turned out to be very different — and taught me that the biggest barriers weren’t practical at all, they were the stories I was telling myself.
Reinventing your career: Building on what you already have
When we talk about reinventing your career, it’s easy to think it means starting over. But reinvention is rarely about wiping the slate clean. Looking back at my three careers – catering, further education, and now coaching – I can see the same thread running through them all. Reinvention is really about building on what you already have.
How I Used the Wheel of Life to Sort Myself Out
You don’t have to fix every part of your life at once. Real change happens when you focus on one area at a time. I used the Wheel of Life to take stock, chose where to start, and over five years transformed my health, relationships, business, and finances. This simple exercise can help you see what matters most and decide your next step.
The confidence paradox: why chasing it won’t make you a better leader
Many leaders believe confidence is something you can learn, but chasing it often leaves you feeling like an impostor. Real, authentic confidence comes when you stop performing and start discovering who you are as a leader. This is the confidence paradox: when your self-awareness and self-belief grow, confidence follows naturally.
How to change career when you feel stuck in the fear zone
Feeling stuck in your career? This article breaks down the four-zone model—comfort, fear, learning, and growth—and offers practical tips to overcome doubts and take that essential first step. Discover small, actionable ways to move from fear to growth and start building the career you truly deserve.
Stop telling, start asking
If you want a confident, independent team, stop jumping in with the answers. This article explores why stepping back and asking better questions is one of the simplest and most effective shifts you can make as a leader – and how to start doing it. Includes a free download of powerful questions you can use in everyday work conversations.
How to manage workload and priorites at work
Feeling swamped by never-ending tasks and competing demands? This article shares practical tools like the Urgent/Important Matrix to help managers and leaders manage workload, prioritise effectively, and reduce overwhelm. Take back control of your week with simple, no-nonsense strategies.