EF Coaching and Consulting, Wilmslow (2026)

25/04/2026

All the tech in the world can’t replace that something special that happens when people get together.

Being self employed (as much as I absolutely love it) can sometimes feel a bit isolating but working with ioda has brought back those much missed team vibes 🎉.

Two days of sun, fun, energy, relationship building, learning and some ducks 🦆 🦆 has been very good for the soul at Ashorne Hill in Leamington Spa for the ioda annual conference.

Thanks for everyone involved in the organising and running of sessions and for the lovely duck themed gifts. It has been amazing to meet everyone face to face and get to know people soooo much better.

19/04/2026

Can a leadership coach work with people from any sector?

Yes of course, and in work I do with one organisation I enjoy and work very successfully with leaders from all different sectors and backgrounds.

BUT after 18 years working in HR in Facilities Management organisations, I know these environments.

I understand the uniqueness of the demands and stresses and I know how amazing the people are that work in these areas.

The pressure of 24/7 reactive environments that don’t switch off.

The relentless pace and requirement for change to meet the demands of customers and internal stakeholders.

Trying to be more strategic but getting pulled constantly into operational or people issues.

The toll this can take on your wellbeing, health and personal life.

That’s not something you fully get unless you’ve been inside it.

It's why I focus a large portion of my work with leaders from these areas.

Because having that impartial, external and experienced support can have such a huge impact.

Having that space to think, space to focus on you for once can be the difference between surviving and thriving.

That’s exactly why I do the work that I do. To see those lightbulb moments when something shifts and the client realises they are in control, they can create the changes they want for themselves, their team and their business.

I know because I have lived it, done it and made the changes I needed.

Message me if you want to find out more.

15/04/2026

You’re a high performer. You know that from feedback received and the results you get but when you’re talking about progressing further and getting that next promotion you’re told:

You need to ‘be more strategic’, ‘think bigger’.

But what does that actually mean? No one ever really explains it.

So you do what most managers do…

You try to think bigger.
You try to speak up more in meetings.
Get exposure to more senior leaders in the business.
You try to focus on ‘the bigger picture’ when you’re perhaps not even sure exactly what that picture is.

But your day still looks like this:

Back-to-back meetings.
Constant problem solving.
Your team relying on you for answers.
Firefighting from morning to evening.
And somewhere in between all of that…you’re supposed to be ‘more strategic’.

But:
Being more strategic isn’t about thinking harder or trying to cram more into your already packed day.

It’s about working and thinking differently.

It looks like:

- Creating space in your week to step back and look for patterns
- Supporting your team to solve more problems without you
- Saying no to things that keep you stuck in the weeds
- Asking better questions instead of giving faster answers
- Shifting from reacting to designing what happens next
- Thinking about success and business goals in a proactive not reactive way

Thinking strategically isn’t a mindset you just switch on. It’s the result of the space you create.

And if you don’t have that space right now that’s not a capability problem. It’s a structural one.

So instead of asking: ‘How do I be more strategic?’

Try asking:

‘What do I need to stop doing to make that possible?’

Most managers aren’t lacking potential, they’re lacking space.

And that’s exactly where the shift starts.

10/02/2026

Personal development is the foundation of leadership (and life).

Absolutely you’ve got to manage the operation, the money, the processes but…….

When you’re building your own and your teams self-awareness, confidence and experience, it doesn’t just improve performance. It creates healthier and more effective individuals, teams, workplaces, and lives.

Whether you work with me 1:1 or as part of a group you get the the space to pause and think about what's working, what could be better, where do you want to be and how can you get there. Having that opportunity to zoom out of the day to day can give you the perspective to make effective and aligned changes.

1:1

You might want 1:1 support to work through how to be more strategic without letting operational issues drop, how to delegate effectively, how to build your own confidence and trust yourself in making decisions. Or it might be to navigate a career change or promotion.

Team:

You might want help with developing your team to become more effective and empowered so they take a more strategic view and lead in a way that aligns with your organisation's vision, values and goals. Or you might want workshops on core HR processes to ensure you are operating within the law and best practice.

Whether it be a one off workshop, a 6 part leadership programme or anything in between, everything I do in my business is aligned with you and your organisation.

We’ll work together to create changes and improvements that drive your goals - not just talk about generic leadership theory (yes we’ll likely include that but it will be about applying it to your role and business).

If you’re interested in investing in your own or your team’s development this year then drop me a message.

In addition to the bespoke 1:1 and team work I provide through my own business, if you are considering investing in a professional, accredited qualification or a leadership and management apprenticeship then I also work as a coach alongside an amazing training provider. Let me know if this is of interest and I can provide further information.

06/11/2025

What are you ignoring?

The end of the year is creeping up and we’ll start seeing all the new year, new you marketing campaigns appearing any time now.

New years resolutions don't stick BUT this can be a great time of year to reflect on what you want for yourself, your team and your business for the next 12 months and put some plans in place to make some changes that will stick.

What are the things you’ve been ignoring recently?

- The signs of stress or overwhelm you’ve normalised and hope will go away on their own?
- The conversations you keep putting off?
- The issues in your team that keep bubbling under the surface?
- Frustrations with your management team not taking ownership and being accountable?
- The accumulation of responsibilities building up and impacting your ability to enjoy time away from work with family and friends?
- The impact of your own negativity on yourself and others?

When you’re so used to these things, you start to think they are normal and that you just have to live with it.

One of the phrases that pushed me towards taking action when I was feeling a number of these things was ‘no one else is coming to rescue you’.

The bad news - If you’re feeling like something needs to change then it is on you to do something about it.

The great news - That means it's within your own remit and power to do something about it.

If you know you need to make some changes next year - either for you or your management team then drop me a message and we can have a chat about what you’re looking for.

I can support with:

💡 Leadership training - either one off sessions or full programmes
💡 1:1 Leadership Coaching - to focus on personalised challenges/success
💡 HR/People & Wellbeing strategy design
💡 Wellbeing team sessions

I am now taking bookings for the end of January so get in touch soon for a complementary introductory conversation.

17/09/2025

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind summer. A couple of lovely holidays alongside plenty of juggling work, childcare, and activities.

I’ve also had the pleasure of starting work with a couple of fantastic organisations, involving leadership coaching and some ‘back to my roots’ HR process training.

Recently, many of my coaching clients have been sharing how they’re navigating stress, heavy workloads, and time management while still wanting to protect quality time for family and personal life.

A certain amount of stress can be positive: it motivates us, drives productivity, and helps us hit our goals. But do you notice when it tips into something less helpful? Stress and anxiety don’t just live in the mind, they show up in the body too: headaches, stomach issues, brain fog, disrupted sleep, shifts in energy, changes in appetite etc.

I’m currently designing a workshop focused on wellbeing for leaders, exploring not just leadership skills, but how you want to feel as a leader.

If this sounds like something you or your organisation could benefit from, I’d love to hear from you 📩 .

09/07/2025

Just had some great feedback following the conclusion of a 3 part workshop programme with managers in an electrical building services provider.

Everything I do relates back to real life application & impact. Impact on the individual, impact on their performance in their role and impact on the business.

01/07/2025

I'm attending the EMCC Global Conference virtually today. Looking forward to a day of learning, personal reflection and insights 💡

25/06/2025

🎉 It’s my Grandad’s 90th birthday today 🎉

Wow 90.

Writing his birthday card has hit me at bit.

I’m not far off half that age - if I’m lucky enough to make it to 90 I’m almost halfway through my life.

The world of work has changed so much during his lifetime.

He left school at 14 to become a farmer - he worked all the hours under the sun for all of my childhood. He’d be that tired he would always be falling asleep at family events or whenever we visited. When the last farm he worked on closed down he went into gardening. He did that until he finally retired, only when his health started to catch up with him (not that long ago).

When he worked on the farm all I wanted to do was help out. I loved animals and getting messy so I always volunteered to do anything he needed help with. Especially feeding the lambs who had lost their mothers and needed hand nursing. I loved riding around in the tractors and Land Rovers - I still love a Land Rover Defender (dream car - and not the flashy new ones!).

His work ethic and commitment to his job inspired me and I take that into everything I do (which was quite handy working in FM for so long!).

Today I’ll be celebrating with him at lunch time and feeling very privileged to be related to such an incredible role model.

25/06/2025

‘The squeezed middle’

I’ve heard that term a bit recently.

You are great at sorting out operational issues, you’re motivated and a problem solver, you’re good at building relationships and getting stuff done - you stand out.

You get promoted to management and deal with the shift from being ‘one of the team’ to ‘managing the team’. That was a tricky one. Then you get promoted again and all of a sudden you need to:

‘think bigger’

‘be more strategic’

That’s what you are told.

This transition from first line operational management (managing the team) to managing managers can be challenging.

Suddenly it’s not just problem solving and operational matters that you’re responsible for - you’re getting pressures and responsibilities from all angles.

- Still getting asked to support and advise on operational issues from your team

- Developing and leading your own team of managers

- Building client relationships at more senior levels where you need to do more networking, presenting, sales, reporting

- Attending more senior internal meetings again with more presenting & reporting

- Managing relationships between internal departments

- Managing finances

- Inspiring

- Influencing

- Making decisions

- etc

A lot of management development initiatives focus on First Line Management or Execs and this middle transition can be overlooked.

This middle management shift from operational to strategic needs a mindset shift. This transition can be very personal and so many people find it challenging to come out of their comfort zone of operational problem solving (where they know they do a great job) to that next level of thinking and exposure - it’s where that imposter syndrome can really kick in.

Focusing on your personal and professional development at this time can be the difference between stepping up and smashing it, to getting stressed, overwhelmed and feeling way out of your depth.

The right support in the right areas for you can make a huge difference to your:

💡 Leadership presence & identity
💡 Confidence
💡 People management capabilities
💡 Influencing, negotiating, conflict management & delegating skills
💡 Networking & relationship building skills

At this level it’s often a personalised, tailored approach that is the most help. If you’re in this transition now and would like to find out a bit more about how 1:1 support could help you then get in touch.

Or click the link to sign up to my e-mail list for 4 days of tips for success in your new leadership role:

EF Coaching and Consulting

25/04/2026

19/04/2026

15/04/2026

10/02/2026

06/11/2025

17/09/2025

09/07/2025

01/07/2025

25/06/2025

25/06/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category