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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I didn’t really think about my values until I became a coach. Sure, I had a sense of my general direction in life – a mix of what I’d call my morals or gut instincts – but I didn’t realise…
Beliefs are opinions you develop loyalty to. That line stopped me in my tracks. As a coach, I see how much power these beliefs hold – especially the ones we don’t question. They shape what we think we’re capable of, even when they’re based on nothing more than a bad experience years ago.
