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Most coaching tells you to “dream big”...
Most coaching tells you to “dream big.” I start by asking: What part of you needs to die before anything real can begin? There's no point setting goals if you don't even know yourself. Stephen
HeRO Chronicles
For people who want regular personal or professional development advice from a qualified executive coach.
You don’t need more motivation. You need structure. You need truth. You need someone who won’t let you lie to yourself. You need this. Stephen
Therapy helps you understand your past. Coaching (done properly) stops your past from deciding your future. Stephen
Saying no does not come naturally to me. My name is Stephen and I am a recovering people pleaser ✋🏻 But because of my work I know that a lot of highly successful people also struggle with saying no. And so, I am trying to get better at it. In case that is something you are working on, here are a couple of stories I have collected recently that I find helpful. The first is a story that ex footballer Gary Neville told about advice he got from fellow ex footballer Roy Keene in their playing...
Do you remember that song by The Stranglers, No More Heroes? With it's eloquent lyrics such as: "Whatever happened to All the heroes? All the Shakespearoes?" Sounds better than it reads doesn't it? In fact, if you read all the lyrics you'd think there were some parts missing. It doesn't make a lot of sense. But the chorus is on my mind right now. No more heroes anymore. No more heroes anymore... And the reason is only loosely linked to the name of this newsletter, which is actually named for...
Yesterday I spent the morning with the rather fabulous Finn Communications team in Leeds. Finn is Leeds' best and coolest marketing agency. Check out the website to see what they've done for brands like Jason's Sourdough, Taylors of Harrogate and Tena, just to name a few. I was with them to run a Leader as Coach workshop for their senior team. They are smart as hell. And super creative -- as you'd expect (see above). When I run this workshop, I teach people some basic techniques borrowed from...
Part of the job of a coach is to help people to navigate transitions and changes. Often this causes turbulence. Think of any big organisational restructuring or life events you've experienced - it was unsettling, right? But there's an unexpected version of this that I see with my clients from time to time. And that's the turbulence caused when things go right, rather than going wrong. We tend to think of success as a moment, don't we? We see someone stood on a podium with a medal around their...
Hello Friends, I was telling a client about this yesterday, so I thought I would share it with you. It's a little bit of coaching wizardry. One of the main uses of coaching is that it holds a mirror up to people. It helps them to look at themselves, their challenges and their opportunities in a fresh way. Because, as coaches, we know that people have the answers to their questions within them. Our job is to help them express that. Which means, part of the service we provide is simply to help...
I've been away for a few days. Unusually and luxuriously, I spent three nights completely on my own, sleeping in a wooden cabin a few miles outside Norwich. Picture it, made by hand from local wood, set into some trees, overlooking a private field. Inside everything was natural, but also stylish. Local pottery. Towels with natural dies. And a wood burner. Outside there was a covered veranda with a hammock and some blankets. You could swing there and look at the stars. Listen to the owls....
Ask yourself this question: Without reference to the past or future, who are you? Sit with that for a while. See what you notice. See you next week, Stephen