I’m still laughing about this email response from Stephen Priest Principal of the British International School Tbilisi, Georgia. The truth is of course that Steve makes rigorous plans which he … Continue Reading
Blog Posts
Coach - Consultant - Programme Designer
July 23, 2026
I borrowed Alan Sieler’s ‘Coaching to the Human Soul’ having seen it on a friend’s bookshelf in 2017. This was my introduction to ontological coaching. Alan writes about our ‘way … Continue Reading
July 23, 2026
In the early days at Zen Educate, well before the online teacher supply platform was launched, we asked: ‘How can we create the best experience for both schools and supply … Continue Reading
July 19, 2026
The Heart Aroused is a great read for anyone grappling with what it means to keep humanity in the daily experience of work; what David Whyte calls the ‘preservation of … Continue Reading
July 1, 2026
Earlier this year I took some time out to travel and spent several weeks hiking and exploring Tasmania and New Zealand. I was enthralled with the mountains, trees, lakes, deep … Continue Reading
June 4, 2026
Scenario Planning or Strategic Planning: Which One, and When? Someone once said we can be certain of two things: death and taxes. Even that feels less stable than it used … Continue Reading
April 15, 2026
One to one meetings are the foundation, the engine room of our business. If they’re led well we get to know our teams and what motivates them, show we care … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
I have two favourite sculptures in London: Dr Salter’s Day Dream on Bermondsey Wall East, and the recent Banksy sculpture at Wellington Place. The juxtaposition of the two has stayed … Continue Reading
January 22, 2026
I’ve noticed this phrase pops up in coaching, consultancy conversations and in investigation interviews. So I’m curious. ‘I would expect that’, in linguistic terms, is an assertion of an assessment: a … Continue Reading
November 20, 2025
Full disclosure, I turned 60 this year. Do I feel any different? No, and yes. I don’t feel old, but most of my colleagues would probably say I’m not young. … Continue Reading
November 13, 2025
“How can we get people to be more resilient?” The question came from a school leader. My first instinct was to think, perhaps we could just be a little kinder? … Continue Reading
October 23, 2025
Much of what is in popular discourse as coaching – in organisations, leadership programmes, or performance conversations – is grounded in models like GROW and its many variations. These frameworks … Continue Reading
October 20, 2025
It was late on a Saturday afternoon in Hebden Bridge, post-walk, coffee in hand, quietly unwinding after a long hike to Stoodley Pike. At the next table, a young man … Continue Reading
October 1, 2025
Yet another “genius” subject line arrives, uninvited, in my inbox: ‘Burnout is the new baseline – are you ready to coach it?’ What do I notice? For a moment, I’m riled. Not … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Many of us leave leadership programmes inspired, energised, and full of good intentions. But if we’re honest, how often does that inspiration turn into daily practice?That’s the question that sits … Continue Reading
June 25, 2025
We’d all like to believe we make decisions rationally, weighing evidence, analysing pros and cons, seeing clearly, acting wisely. But the research tells us something different. Our decisions are swayed … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
Have you ever found yourself saying yes to something and then wondering how exactly you got there? You didn’t explicitly agree, and yet… you’re doing the thing. That’s the power, and danger, … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
🚀 “Can you fire me up into the air so I can fly?” My three-year-old had come downstairs wearing his swimming goggles and the helmet from his firefighter outfit. He … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Have you ever found yourself saying yes to something and then wondering how exactly you got there? You didn’t explicitly agree, and yet… you’re doing the thing. That’s the power, … Continue Reading
May 8, 2025
You’ve built a great team. You value their commitment, trust their capability, and enjoy working together. But there’s a frustrating puzzle you keep coming back to:Why don’t things get done … Continue Reading
