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.
Leadership
Read MoreLeadership programmes build capability. They don’t build belief. Here’s the difference.
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.
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.
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.
What are your values – and are you living by them?
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…
Are you still loyal to old beliefs?
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.
From self-doubt to confidence
We often think confidence comes from being louder, more certain, or having all the answers. But real confidence starts with self-awareness. In this article, I share how one client moved from self-doubt to self-trust, and how coaching helped them get there.