Purposeful Change

Why your inability to slow down will ultimately limit how far you can go In the relentless drive to achieve more with less, many leaders find themselves caught in the trap of constant motion. The belief that moving faster will deliver better results is seductive, especially in high-stakes environments. But this cycle of relentless activity often leads to overwhelm and burnout, not just for individuals, but for entire teams and organisations. Nature and neuroscience offer a different perspective: moving fast all the time doesn’t take us further, it holds us back in ways we don’t immediately see. This is the illusion of going fast to be fast. In reality, constant motion without intentional pauses leads to stress, inefficiency, and diminished creativity. The science is clear. The human brain thrives in cycles of effort and recovery. Without moments of rest and reflection, we remain in a heightened state of alertness, driven by stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this undermines our ability to think clearly, make sound decisions, and connect meaningfully with others. When leaders fall into this trap, they unknowingly reduce not only their own capacity but also that of their teams. The irony is that by slowing down - by creating space for rest, reflection, and recovery - we unlock the potential to move further, achieve more, and lead with greater clarity and purpose. #Leadership #Productivity #MindfulLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformance #TeamDevelopment #OrganizationalGrowth #SustainableSuccess #WorkplaceWellness #Neuroscience #GrowthMindset #PersonalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance

What an amazing 2024. Thank you for being part of our jouney 🎄

Your busy-ness is the enemy of your performance, future and health. Full calendars, deadlines, fire drills, team dramas, endless travel, and the dreaded end-of-year scramble—budgets, targets, and the expectation to "hit the ground running" in January. Sound familiar? ...and, oh no, I haven’t thought about my loved ones let alone how I might recharge myself in the middle of so many worries and needs.    Sound familiar?     We defer our intentions to strike a better balance, saying things like, "once this new system is implemented," or "let’s just get to the next quarter, and we’ll have some breathing space." Busy-ness has become a badge of honour - a proxy for our need to be seen and feel good about ourselves in a complex world. It is an illusion. We get stuck in the loop, racing from one task to the next, only to find that when we’re asked about the 10-year strategic vision, our minds draw a blank. We have no capacity left to think about what is important. Ironically, our best ideas rarely come from being busy or at our desks, or even focussed on the problem we are trying to solve. They come from giving ourselves space to breathe and connect with ourselves. The Neuroscience confirms this: creativity thrives in moments of stillness and connection.   Allowing our bodies and minds to do their work without interference is what we need.  AND that’s exactly what Simon Lamb and Hannah Merriman carried out with the Supply Chain, Logistics, and Risk team at Co-op last week. Together we courageously created time to think. We reflected on the past, envisioned the future. We explored our limiting beliefs, celebrated our enabling beliefs, and introduced the power of PAUSE. It was transformational. Try this today: - Pause for just 90 seconds with your eyes closed. Let your mind settle and see what emerges. - Take a walk and notice what inspiration comes from the world around you. What if the best way to achieve more is to pause and think? #universalintelligence #presspause #timetothink #future

When fear drives us, we often become the very thing we fear. One of the biggest things I see when people want to change their lives for the better - when they want fulfilment, happiness, or freedom - is their attachment to drive. It’s a word we often celebrate: being "driven" in our careers, our responsibilities, our commitments. But so often, that drive is fuelled by fear. The fear of not being enough, of letting others down, of losing respect or security. Ironically, fear-driven behaviour often leads us to create the very outcomes we’re afraid of. Take responsibility, for example. So many people value being responsible, but when driven by fear, responsibility becomes control. We step in, we take over, we try to do it all. The people around us don’t get a chance to learn, and we end up feeling resentful that they’re dependent on us. We fear letting others down, but in trying to control everything, we actually prevent others from growing. I remember my own experience with my son, who’s autistic and dyspraxic. My fear for his safety held him back from swimming, from discovering something he loves. It wasn’t until we finally let go that we realised water was his place. Our care, overplayed, had turned into overprotection - preventing his growth and our own trust in him. The lesson here is that fear can often make us cling too tightly, and that clinging ends up creating what we fear most. Instead of being pushed by fear, what if we let ourselves be pulled by purpose? What do we love, what fills us with joy, what energiszes us? Instead of feeling pushed forward by the need to prove ourselves, we can be pulled by the vision of what we truly want. The energy that comes from purpose is different from the energy that comes from fear. It’s lighter, it’s more powerful, and it moves us forward - not because we have to, but because we want to. When we let go of fear-driven drive, we discover that we are so much more than our fears. We can be pulled forward by what matters most - by love, by purpose, by joy—and that is where true growth begins. Let go of being driven by fear Simon

Can you stay still when the storm is raging? In life and leadership, it’s easy to be thrown off course by the things that press our buttons and threaten to unravel the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve. Almost 18 months ago, we met a wonderful group of senior leaders in the gaming industry. With cheeky smiles, they told us they were "pressure bonded." Intrigued, we invited them to join us on a leadership development journey, exploring these experiences with care and curiosity. Along the way, we challenged assumptions, shed limiting beliefs, and let go of behaviours that no longer served us. Or did we? Our last session together turned out to be nothing less than a test of everything we’d worked toward. Why? We happened to schedule it at the dawn of the US election results—a time ripe for contrasting opinions, mixed reactions, and heightened emotions. It was fertile ground for distractions that could have easily pulled us back to where we started: pressure bonded. And yet, the expected unexpected emerged. After 18 months of working together, we hoped the group would hold steady, and they did us proud. They came prepared with visions (and models!) of their future selves: new habits, new beliefs, and new connections. The energy in the room transformed into resilience and resourcefulness. People were filled with hope, empowered to sustain their blossoming identities and envision a world where connection overcomes separation, creating more space for diverse voices. We always have a choice and hope, even when it feels like we don’t. Let us know if you would like to partner with us to create a lasting impact & sustainable change. #leadership #impact #culturechange

Can you stay still when the storm is raging? In life and leadership, it’s easy to be thrown off course by the things that press our buttons and threaten to unravel the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve. Almost 18 months ago, we met a wonderful group of senior leaders in the gaming industry. With cheeky smiles, they told us they were "pressure bonded." Intrigued, we invited them to join us on a leadership development journey, exploring these experiences with care and curiosity. Along the way, we challenged assumptions, shed limiting beliefs, and let go of behaviours that no longer served us. Or did we? Our last session together turned out to be nothing less than a test of everything we’d worked toward. Why? We happened to schedule it at the dawn of the US election results—a time ripe for contrasting opinions, mixed reactions, and heightened emotions. It was fertile ground for distractions that could have easily pulled us back to where we started: pressure bonded. And yet, the expected unexpected emerged. After 18 months of working together, we hoped the group would hold steady, and they did us proud. They came prepared with visions (and models!) of their future selves: new habits, new beliefs, and new connections. The energy in the room transformed into resilience and resourcefulness. People were filled with hope, empowered to sustain their blossoming identities and envision a world where connection overcomes separation, creating more space for diverse voices. We always have a choice and hope, even when it feels like we don’t. Let us know if you would like to partner with us to create a lasting impact & sustainable change. #leadership #impact #culturechange

What if imposter syndrome wasn’t a hurdle, but the key to becoming a more adaptive leader? Instead of battling it, what if we embraced it? Imposter syndrome isn’t a sign of weakness. In fact, it can be a powerful reminder to stay humble, keep learning, and remain open to new perspectives. Leaders at every level—whether senior executives or front-line managers—experience that familiar self-doubt. "Am I good enough?" "What if I’m not as capable as I seem?" But what if, instead of letting these thoughts hold us back, we used them to fuel our growth? By leaning into imposter syndrome, we can actually become more adaptable, empathetic, and resilient. These are the very traits that leaders need in today’s fast-changing world. Imposter syndrome challenges us to push beyond our comfort zones, making space for new ideas, learning, and connection with others. It’s not about letting self-doubt derail us—it’s about recognizing it, acknowledging its voice, and then deciding how to proceed. Each time we face a new challenge, take a risk, or push through discomfort, we build our leadership muscles. Imposter syndrome is part of the journey, but it doesn’t dictate where we go. By embracing it, we open the door to more authentic, adaptive leadership. So, let it ride along with you. But remember—you’re the one steering. #adaptiveleadership #leadership #impostersyndrome

Recently with a global travel company, Vanessa Short & Simon Lamb worked on shifting limiting beliefs and transforming behaviours. It can really help to know why embracing our humanity can drive both personal growth and business success. One of the most powerful insights we shared with leaders was the importance of asking questions that create real human connections. By humanising work, we can see beyond just the KPIs, and instead we can see the people who deliver them. During the session, some leaders resisted, while others embraced the opportunity to engage in genuine, human conversations. Those who demonstrated vulnerability and leaned into this opportunity helped shift the limiting beliefs of others in the group, unlocking the full potential of connection and collaboration. Now ask yourself honestly today - Do you think you would resist? Or would you lean in? #leadership

We recently had an amazing session with a leading retail business where - We explored the crucial role of psychological safety and how it impacts challenging conversations. 💬 How did we do this? By being conscious of what minds may be in the room ⬇️ When people don’t feel safe, sessions like these can sometimes be perceived as tone-deaf, leaving participants feeling disconnected. Coaching through these moments and addressing the wider organisational context, we emphasised that psychological safety is a two-way street. It doesn’t need to be present across the entire organisation at once – it can start in small teams and gradually blossom wider and deeper. This approach empowered teams to start fostering pockets of safety, building stronger, more open connections, and over time, creating a ripple effect throughout the organisation. #leadership #phychologicalsafety #leadershipdevelopment

In our modern lives as “responsible grown ups,” we rarely get the chance to be kids – to break free of our inhibitions, to push boundaries and explore, and to emote, freely and without shame.  There are good reasons for this restraint, of course. Our need to conform, for one. External expectations to appear sturdy and sensible for another. Many of us are so deeply programmed to be “serious,” that we’ve forgotten completely that play is (as children’s TV legend Mr. Rogers once said) “serious learning.”  Leaders tell us all of the time that their businesses need more creativity and innovation, better problem-solving, adaptability and collaboration. Play helps to stimulate all of those things. So why aren’t they more willing to embrace it? How can you bring the power of play into your business? #play #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding